Excellence of Hadhrat 'Umar Farooq (May Allah be well pleased with him)

  

Excellence of Hadhrat ‘Umar Farooq

(May Allah be well pleased with him)

 

Hadhrat ‘Umar Farooq (May Allah be well pleased with him) was very brave and fearless.  After embracing Islam, he freely declared it, because of which he had to face many difficulties as well.  With his presence, the hopes of the Muslims were raised.

 

Hadhrat ‘Abdullah bin Mas’ud (May Allah be well pleased with him) says:  From the time ‘Umar (May Allah be well pleased with him) embraced Islam, we lived with dignity and grandeur.  (Sahih Bukhari)

 

There is another Hadith narrated again on the authority of Hadhrat ‘Abdullah bin Mas’ud (May Allah be well pleased with him):  We didn’t have the strength to offer Salaat near the Ka’aba.  When ‘Umar (May Allah be well pleased with him) embraced Islam, he fought with the Quraish to the point that he offered Salaat near the Ka’aba and we also offered Salaat along with him.  (Izaalatul Khifa, Vol. 2, Pg. No. 119)

 

Participation in battles

 

In the Battle of Badr, Hadhrat ‘Umar (May Allah be well pleased with him) achieved many excellences.  He didn’t care for familial or other relationships in obeying the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) for the pleasure of Almighty Allah.  In this battle, the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) didn’t allow the killing of Hadhrat ‘Abbas (May Allah be well pleased with him).  When others hesitated to accept this, Hadhrat ‘Umar (May Allah be well pleased with him) said:  Will you strike the face of the uncle of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) with the sword?  Others became silent on this.

 

In the Battle of Uhud, when the Muslims were in the valley and a group of the Quraish advanced to attack them, Hadhrat ‘Umar (May Allah be well pleased with him) fought with them along the Companions and pushed them back.

 

Hadhrat Abu Bakr Siddiq made Hadhrat ‘Umar (May Allah be well pleased with them) his successor

 

After the passing away of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam), Hadhrat ‘Umar (May Allah be well pleased with him) made efforts to secure the caliphate of Hadhrat Abu Bakr Siddiq (May Allah be well pleased with him).  In this caliphate, he was the deputy and advisor of Hadhrat Abu Bakr Siddiq (May Allah be well pleased with him) and was appointed as the judge of Madina.

 

In his last days, Hadhrat Abu Bakr (May Allah be well pleased with him) made Hadhrat ‘Umar (May Allah be well pleased with him) his successor and declared him the best of the Ummah.

 

It is narrated on the authority of Hadhrat Jabir bin ‘Abdullah that Hadhrat ‘Umar addressed Hadhrat Abu Bakr Siddiq (May Allah be well pleased with him) with these words:  O best of all after the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam)!  Hadhrat Abu Bakr (May Allah be well pleased with him) replied:  I have heard the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) say:  The sun has not risen on anyone better than ‘Umar.  (Jame’ Tirmidhi)

 

Being severe and mild for the sake of Almighty Allah and His Beloved Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam)

 

The Companions of the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) are true pictures of the following verse of the Holy Quran:

 

Muhammad (blessings and peace be upon him) is the Messenger of Allah. And those with him are hard and tough against the disbelievers but kind-hearted and merciful amongst themselves.  Surah Fath (48:29)

 

Hadhrat ‘Umar (May Allah be well pleased with him) was very strict in enforcing the Shariah and on those who disrespected the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam).  Thus, when Dhul Khuwaisrah said:  O Prophet of Allah (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam), be just!  Hadhrat ‘Umar (May Allah be well pleased with him) said:  Permit me to behead him.  The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:  Let him be!  You will consider your Salaat to be nothing before the Salaat of his friends.  (Sahih Bukhari; Sahih Muslim)

 

The reins of the self were in his hands and he would always drive it towards good deeds.  He was so humble that even when the common people told him something, he would readily accept it.  If somebody would tell him, “O ‘Umar (May Allah be well pleased with him), fear Allah,” he would gladly thank that person and say:  May Allah shower that person with His Mercy who makes us aware of our faults.  (Tabari)

 

The understanding of Hadhrat ‘Umar (May Allah be well pleased with him) is in accordance with the Holy Quran

 

The Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) said:  Almighty Allah has caused truth to emerge on the tongue of ‘Umar.

 

There are about 20 verses of the Holy Quran in which the divine command confirmed the opinion of Hadhrat ‘Umar (May Allah be well pleased with him).  (Lama’aat Sharh Mishkaat)

 

Thus, there is a Hadith in this regard:

 

Translation: Hadhrat ‘Umar (May Allah be well pleased with him) says:  I requested the Holy Prophet (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam):  O Prophet of Allah (Sallallahu alaihi wa sallam)!  It would be nice if Maqaam Ibrahim is declared a place for offering Salaat.  Almighty Allah revealed the verse:  And (remember) when We made this House (the Ka‘ba) a central place for mankind to turn to (and assemble) and a sanctuary for peace and (commanded:) ‘Make the place, where Ibrahim (Abraham) stood, a place of Prayer.’   Surah Baqarah (2:125)