OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION

Manzoor Ahmad

Hadhrat Umar bin Khattab occupies a unique position not only in the annals of Islam but in the history of the world, which is vividly manifested by placing him at 51 among the 100 most influential persons in history by Michael H. Hart.

On his embracing Islam, the Muslims hitherto offering their Salaah (Prayers) in concealment, began to perform those with him openly in the Holy Ka’bah. The Quraish who knew him as the most inveterate enemy and relentless persecutor of the converts, seeing this radical change in him were totally astonished, bitterly depressed and completely shocked; but it happened to be the occasion when Hadhrat Umar earned the epithet of ‘al-Farooq’ which henceforth became an integral part of his name. He, since then followed the Holy Prophet (SallAllaho Alaihe WaSallam) steadily and resolutely as a devoted disciple.

After conversion to Islam he remained in Makkah al Mukarramah till migration to Madinah al Munawwarah, where during the lifetime of the Holy Prophet (SallAllaho Alaihe WaSallam), he participated in almost all the battles. At the conquest of Makkah al Mukarramah, the Holy Prophet himself took oath of allegiance from males and he was blessed to take oath from females.

On the occasion of battle of Tabuk the Muslims of Madinah al Munawwarah, despite severe hardships, contributed whatever they could towards the sinews of war; he volunteered half of what he possessed.

During the caliphate of Hadhrat Abu Bakr, he had been an active member of Majlis-i-Shoora, Consultative Council, and performed as Qazi but it is worth mentioning that during his tenure of about two years not a single case was registered for hearing.

Hadhrat Abu Bakr on his death-bed after consulting prominent Sahaabah (Companions) of Prophet Mohammad (SallAllaho Alaihe WaSallam) and finding the general consensus in favor of Hadhrat Umar, nominated him as his successor to take care of Muslim Ummah.

Assuming as Caliph he addressed the people:

“O Allah! I am stern, soften me; I am weak, strengthen me. Verily Arabs are (like) headstrong camels, whose nose-string has been given in my hand, but I will lead them on the (right) path.”

At the time of his installation as Caliph, the Muslim society internally was tranquil but externally Muslim armies were engaged both in Syria and Iraq. On subjugation of Syria at the hands of Muslims, the Byzantine Emperor, Heraclius had uttered, “What an excellent country this is for the enemy.” When Jerusalem was besieged, its Patriarch appealed for peace and agreed to surrender but only to the Caliph, on which Hadhrat Umar taking only one attendant reached there setting a noble instance that the victor in deference to the wishes of the vanquished undertook a long journey unescorted and without any sort of pageantry.

It was during his caliphate that the Muslim society in Madinah initiated with the arrival of the Holy Prophet (SallAllaho Alaihe WaSallam) and consolidated during the caliphate of Hadhrat Abu Bakr emerged as a formal state, the largest of the then world; Syria, Jerusalem, Egypt, Iraq and Persia, mainly, had come under the sway of Islam.

For good governance of the vast state, a mechanism most suited had to be evolved. It was he who formulated a policy to streamline the administrative set-up yet not found; it was based on sound footing and was cable to progress further.

At the centre, eminent and notable Allah-fearing Sahaabah comprising the Shoora were consulted on all occasions concerning the state affairs. In day-to-day working he was had the support of pious and respected Sahaabah by Hadhrat Usman and Hadhrat Ali. “He divided the conquered lands,” says a historian, “into compact governorships, so as to enable his lieutenants to develop the resources of the countries in their charge.”

The whole territory under Islamic Caliphate was divided into provinces which were subdivided into districts. Each province was under the charge of Wali (governor) who was responsible for admin-istration at the provincial level.

For smooth management of the finances, an institution of Diwan was established to maintain the record of the receipts and expenditures. He also constructed buildings for Bait-ul-Maal (Public exchequer), at the centre as well as at the provincial headquarters. At district levels Aamils (Revenue Collectors) were appointed.

It was he who established the ‘institution of judgeship’ and appointed Qazis on regular basis. The Qazi had to be an adult, male, free Muslim in the full possession of his physical and mental faculties as well as a scholar thoroughly conversant with the Islamic law and having an irreproachable character. The incumbents were highly paid and held in high esteem.

He paid his full attention for dissemination of education; for the purpose he secured the services of certain prominent Sahaabah and deputed them to promote the teaching of the Holy Quraan in the conquered lands. They were also handsomely paid. Further elementary schools were also founded in such territories where salaried teachers were appointed. Likewise the Imams and Moazzins of the Masjids were appointed.

He organized the military on sound lines. The standing army was maintained on regular basis and the soldiers were paid salary. The army was composed of infantry and cavalry. The cities founded in the conquered lands also served as cantonments.

The credit goes to him that he, with the thorough consultation with Sahaabah, regulated the Hijrah calendar starting from the first of Muharram of the year during which the Holy Prophet (SallAllaho Alaihe WaSallam) had migrated to Madinah al Munawwarah.

He, for the first time, introduced the system of ‘accountability’ and during his caliphate he himself was the Mohtasib. He had initiated the policy of obtaining details of assets of the state employees and if anyone was found to have amassed wealth beyond known means, he was taken to task. He listened to the complaints against the state functionaries on the occasion of Hajj.

During his caliphate the cities of Basrah, Kufah, Fustat and Musel were founded and Masjids, office buildings, military barracks, roads, bridges, caravan-serai, posts, prisons and canals were built there. The canal connecting the river Nile with the Red Sea, the ‘forerunner of the Suez Canal’ was cleared and renamed ‘Khalij Amir al-Mu’minin’ through which navigation from the Mediterranean Sea to the Red Sea had become possible.

During his caliphate, spread over more than ten years, he strictly followed the noble path set by the Holy Prophet (SallAllaho Alaihe WaSallam). He was a paragon of simplicity, austerity and piety.