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Umar Caliph Calligraphy –

Top 10 Interesting Facts about Umar

Umar was the second Rashidun caliph, ruling from August 634 until his assassination in 644. He succeeded Abu Bakr as the second caliph of the Rashidun Caliphate on 23 August 634. Umar was a senior companion and father-in-law of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. He was also an expert Muslim jurist known for his pious and just nature, which earned him the epithet al-Faruq meaning the one who distinguishes between right and wrong.

Umar initially opposed Muhammad, his distant Qurayshite kinsman and later son-in-law. Following his conversion to Islam in 616, he became the first Muslim to openly pray at the Kaaba. Umar participated in almost all battles and expeditions under Muhammad, who bestowed the title al-Faruq (‘the Distinguisher’) upon Umar, for his judgments. After Muhammad’s death in June 632, Umar pledged allegiance to Abu Bakr (r. 632鈥�634) as the first caliph and served as the closest adviser to the latter until August 634, when the dying Abu Bakr nominated Umar as his successor.

Here are the top 10 interesting facts about Umar

1. Umar is viewed by historians as one of the most influential Muslim caliphs in history

Umar is revered in the Sunni Islamic tradition as a great just ruler and paragon of Islamic virtues, and some hadiths identify him as the second greatest of the Sahabah after Abu Bakr. He is viewed negatively in the Twelver Shia tradition.

2. Under Umar, the caliphate expanded at an unprecedented rate

Caliph 士Umar ibn 士Abd al-士Az墨z with his council –

This made the Sasanian Empire and more than two-thirds of the Byzantine Empire. His attacks against the Sasanian Empire resulted in the conquest of Persia in less than two years (642鈥�644). 

According to Jewish tradition, Umar set aside the Christian ban on Jews and allowed them into Jerusalem to worship. Umar was assassinated by the Persian slave Abu Lu’lu’a Firuz in 644.

3. Umar was a gifted orator

Despite literacy being uncommon in pre-Islamic Arabia, Umar learned to read and write in his youth. Though not a poet himself, he developed a love for poetry and literature. According to the tradition of Quraish, while still in his teenage years, Umar learned martial arts, horse riding, and wrestling. He was tall, physically powerful, and a renowned wrestler. He was also a gifted orator who succeeded his father as an arbitrator among the tribes.

4. In 610, Umar opposed Islam and even threatened to kill Muhammad

Muslim depiction of Muhammad –

In 610, Muhammad started preaching the message of Islam. However, like many others in Mecca, Umar opposed Islam and even threatened to kill Muhammad. He resolved to defend the traditional polytheistic religion of Arabia. 鈥�

He was adamant and cruel in opposing Muhammad, and very prominent in persecuting Muslims. He recommended Muhammad’s death. He firmly believed in the unity of the Quraish and saw the new faith of Islam as a cause of division and discord.

Due to persecution, Muhammad ordered some of his followers to migrate to Abyssinia. When a small group of Muslims migrated, Umar became worried about the future unity of the Quraish and decided to have Muhammad assassinated.

5. Umar converted to Islam in 616 in front of Muhammad

Umar converted to Islam in 616, one year after the Migration to Abyssinia. The story was recounted in Ibn Ishaq’s 厂墨谤补丑. On his way to murder Muhammad, Umar met his best friend Nu’aym ibn Abd Allah who had secretly converted to Islam but had not told Umar.

Umar then went to Muhammad with the same sword he intended to kill him with and accepted Islam in front of him and his companions. Umar was 39 years old when he accepted Islam.

6. In 624, Umar participated in the first battle between Muslims and Quraish of Mecca

Muslim dignitaries hold council before the Battle of Badr –

When Muhammad arrived in Medina, he paired each immigrant with one of the residents of the city, joining Muhammad ibn Maslamah with Umar, making them brothers in faith. Later in Umar’s reign as caliph, Muhammad ibn Muslamah would be assigned the office of Chief Inspector of Accountability. 

Muslims remained in peace in Medina for approximately a year before the Quraish raised an army to attack them. In 624, Umar participated in the first battle between Muslims and Quraish of Mecca. 

In 625, he took part in the Battle of Uhud. In the second phase of the battle, when Khalid ibn Walid’s cavalry attacked the Muslim rear, turning the tide of battle, rumors of Muhammad’s death were spread and many Muslim warriors were routed from the battlefield, Umar among them. However, hearing that Muhammad was still alive, he went to Muhammad at the mountain of Uhud and prepared for the defense of the hill.

7. Umar’s daughter Hafsah was married to Muhammad

Later in the year, Umar was a part of a campaign against the Jewish tribe of Banu Nadir. In 625, Umar’s daughter Hafsah was married to Muhammad.

Hafsah was the wife of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. She’s also a daughter of 士Umar ibn al-Kha峁�峁�膩b, the second caliph of the Rashidun caliphate. In Islamic writings, her name is thus often prefixed by the title “Mother of the Believers” 

8. In 628, Umar witnessed the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah

Great Mosque of Mecca –

The Treaty of Hudaybiyyah was an event that took place during the time of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. It was a pivotal treaty between Muhammad, representing the state of Medina, and the Qurayshi tribe of Mecca in January 628 (corresponding to Dhu al-Qi’dah, AH 6).

It helped to decrease tension between the two cities, affirmed peace for a period of 10 years, and authorized Muhammad’s followers to return the following year in a peaceful pilgrimage, later known as The First Pilgrimage.

9. Umar participated in the conquest of Mecca

 In 630, when Muslim armies rushed for the conquest of Mecca, he was part of that army.

The conquest of Mecca was the capture of the town of Mecca by Muslims led by the Islamic prophet Muhammad in December 629 or January 630 AD. The conquest marked the end of the wars between the followers of Muhammad and the Quraysh tribe.

10. Umar’s political capacity manifested as the architect of the caliphate after Muhammad’s death

While the funeral of Muhammad was being arranged a group of Muhammad’s followers who were natives of Medina, the Ansar (helpers), organized a meeting on the outskirts of the city, effectively locking out those companions known as Muhajirs (The Emigrants) including Umar.

Umar found out about this meeting at Saqifah Bani Saadah, and, taking with him two other Muhajirs, Abu Bakr and Abu Ubaidah ibn al-Jarrah, proceeded to the meeting, presumably to head off the Ansars’ plans for political separation. Arriving at the meeting, Umar was faced with a unified community of tribes from the Ansar who refused to accept the leadership of the Muhajirs.

However, Umar was undeterred in his belief the caliphate should be under the control of the Muhajirs. Though the Khazraj were in disagreement, Umar, after strained negotiations lasting one or two days, brilliantly divided the Ansar into their old warring factions of Aws and Khazraj tribes. Umar resolved the divisions by placing his hand on that of Abu Bakr as a unity candidate for those gathered in the Saqifah.