Bismillahirrahmanirrahim.
I'm feeling pretty 'historic' today. Aiman, my little brother is giving us constant updates on the contents of the books that he's reading. You know, the Islamic warriors series by Abdul Latip Talib (PTS). Great author.
Anyway, when I told him that I will buy him anything that he wanted to when we were in KL last week, he immediately chose three of those books to add to his collection. I was surprised at first, for I thought that he would surely want a new football of something, but I'm pleased. It's nice that he finally has a quiet hobby for a change.
Anyway, the point is I want to talk about my favourite caliph and Rasulullah's best friend (imagine that! being the great rasul's best friend!), Saidina Umar Ibn Al-Khattab. He's one of the companions that's been guaranteed the ticket to Heaven (imagine that too!) and he's one of the bravest men known. Even the shaytan is afraid of him.
Ibn `Abbas, may Allah be pleased with both of them (i.e. Ibn `Abbas and his father `Abbas), said: The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, 'There is no angel in the heaven that does not respect `Umar, and no shaytan on the earth but that he is afraid of `Umar.'
Respect.
"Conversion of Hazrat ‘Umar strengthened Islam. Hitherto, Muslims had lived in constant fear of disbelievers, and most of them were concealing their faith. The Muslims were now able to offer their Salat (ritual prayers) publicly. When Hazrat ‘Umar became a Muslim he declared his faith openly before the Quraish chiefs. No one dared harm him.
Then he requested the Prophet (SAW) to offer Salat in the Ka'bah. On getting the consent of the Prophet (SAW) , Hazrat ‘Umar led a party of the Muslims to it. Hazrat Hamzah , who had accepted Islam a few days before Hazrat ‘Umar carried another party of the Muslims to the Ka'bah. When all the Muslims gathered in the Ka'bah they offered their Salat in congregation. The Prophet (SAW) led this first public Salat in the history of Islam. For this courageous and bold action of Hazrat ‘Umar the Prophet (SAW) gave him the title of "al-Faruq" i.e., the one who makes a distinction between Haqq (Right) and Batil (Wrong).
When the Muslims were ordered to migrate to Medina, most of them left Mecca quietly and secretly, but Hazrat ‘Umar declared it openly. He put on his arms and first went to the Ka'bah. After performing the Salat he announced loudly: “I am migrating to Medina. If anyone wants to check me, let him come out. I am sure that his mother would cry for his life.” There was no man in Mecca to accept the challenge of Hazrat ‘Umar ."
If that doesn't give you the chills, I wouldn't know what would.
Someone said to Abu Bakr during his (last) illness, 'What will you say to your Lord, when you have appointed `Umar?' He said, 'I will say to Him, "I have appointed over them the best of them."
Not to mention that this great caliph has some serious amazing quotes.
"Umar Ibn Al-Khattab said: "Do not be fooled by one who recites the Quran. His recitation is but speech - but look to those who act according to it."
— [Al-Khatib, Iqtida Al-'Ilm Al-'Amal, no 109]
"‘Umar Ibn Al-Khattaab said: “Do not put off today’s work until tomorrow, lest work accumulate and you achieve nothing."
— [Munaaqib Ameer Al-Mu’mineen, by Ibn Al-Jawzee, p.129]
"We used to say that this Ummah will be doomed by knowledgeable hypocrites."
— ‘Umar Ibn Al-Khattaab (radiAllaahu ‘anhu) [Al-Wilaayah ‘Alaa Al-Buldaan, 1/142]
"‘Umar Ibn Al-Khattaab would write to his governors during his caliphate and say: “The most important of your affairs in my view is prayer; whoever prays regularly has protected his faith, but whoever neglects it, is bound to be more negligent in other issues of faith."
— [At-Taareeqah Al-Hakamiyah, p. 240]
"By Allah, besides Whom there is no other god, if I had all the gold and silver in the world, I would pay it to avoid the terror of what comes after death."
— 'Umar ibn Al Khattab (radiAllaahu 'anhu) [Saheeh At-Tawtheeq Fee Seerat Wa Hayaat Al-Faarooq, p. 383]
"The happiest of people is the one under whose care people are happy because of him, and the most miserable of people is the one under whose care people are miserable because of him."
— Umar ibn Al Khattab (radiAllaahu ‘anhu) [Manaaqib ‘Umar, by Ibn Al-Jawzee, p.130]
"Jibrael (alayhi sallam) came to me and said, ‘Convey greeting to Umar and say to him his satisfaction is wisdom and his anger might.’"
— Messenger of Allaah (sallallahu alayhi wa sallam) [Al-Tabrani in Kabir, (Vol. 10, Page 207, Hadith 12302)]
"Do not mix with with an arrogant person lest he influences you with his contumelies. Never trust such a person with your secret, and ask advice only from the God-fearing people."
— Umar ibn Al-Khattab (radiAllaahu anhu) [Hilyat-ul Awliya]
"When one’s intention is sincere, Allaah (jalla wa alla) will suffice his needs, protect him, and guide him in his dealings with the people. However, if one adorns himself to please the people in this world, only Allaah knows what ends awaits him in the hereafter."
— Umar ibn Al-Khattab (radiAllaahu anhu) [Hilyat-ul Awliya]
"Go easy on yourself because the destinies of all matters are in Allaah’s Hand. Those that he has thwarted can never come to you just as those that he has commanded can never be thwarted."
— Umar ibn Al-Khattab [Baihaqi in his Asmaa wa Sifaat (pg. 243)
"Patience is the healthiest ingredient of our life"
— Umar ibn Al-Khattab (radiAllaahu anhu) [Hilyat-ul Awliya]
"If I desire comfort in this world, I would harm my lasting comfort in the hereafter, and if I desired the hereafter, I must renounce comfort in this world, and hence, I decided to give up the ephemeral. Therefore, if you find the same, then it is surely better for you to endure a little discomfort in this life."
— Umar ibn Al-Khattab (radiAllaahu anhu) [Hilyat-ul Awliya]
"Mix with those who have patient, for their hearts are the softest."
— Umar ibn Al-Khattab (radiAllaahu anhu) [Abu Na’im, Hilyat-ul-Awliya]
Who will be the next Umar?
