Martyrdom of Umar bin Al-Khattab (R.A) and Selection of Usman (R.A) as Third Caliph (Part : 1)

Amr bin Maimun (May Allah be pleased with him) I saw 'Umar bin Al-Khattab (May Allah be pleased with him) a few days before he was stabbed in Medina. He was standing with Hudhaifa bin Al-Yaman and 'Uthman bin Hunaif to whom he said, "What have you done? Do you think that you have imposed more taxation on the land (of As-Swad, i.e. 'Iraq) than it can bear?" They replied, "We have imposed on it what it can bear beCause of its great yield." 'Umar again said, "Check whether you have imposed on the land what it cannot bear." They said, "No, (we haven't)." 'Umar (R.A) added, "If Allah should keep me alive I will let the widows of Iraq need no men to support them after me."



But only four days had elapsed when he was stabbed (to death). The day he was stabbed, I was standing and there was nobody between me and him (i.e. Umar) except Abdullah bin 'Abbas (R.A). Whenever 'Umar (R.A) passed between the two rows, he would say, "Stand in straight lines."

When he saw no defect (in the rows), he would go forward and start the prayer with Takbir. He would recite Surat Yusuf or An-Nahl or the like in the first Rak'a so that the people may have the time to Join the prayer. As soon as he said Takbir, I heard him saying,
"The dog has killed or eaten me," at the time he (i.e. the murderer) stabbed him. A non-Arab infidel proceeded on carrying a double-edged knife and stabbing all the persons he passed by on the right and left (till) he stabbed thirteen persons out of whom seven died. When one of the Muslims saw that, he threw a cloak on him. Realizing that he had been captured, the non-Arab infidel killed himself. 'Umar (R.A) held the hand of 'Abdur-Rahman
bin Auf (R.A) and let him lead the prayer.

Those who were standing by the side of 'Umar (R.A) saw what I saw, but the people who were in the other parts of the mosque did not see anything, but they lost the voice of 'Umar (R.A) and they were saying, "Subhan Allah! Subhan Allah! (i.e. Glorified be Allah)." Abdur-Rahman (R.A) bin Auf led the people a short prayer.



When they finished the prayer, 'Umar (R.A) said, "O Ibn 'Abbas (R.A) ! Find out who attacked me." Ibn 'Abbas (R.A) kept on looking here and there for a short time and came to say. "The slave of Al Mughira." On that 'Umar (R.A) said, "The craftsman?" Ibn 'Abbas (R.A) said, "Yes." 'Umar (R.A) said, "May Allah curse him. I did not treat him unjustly. All the praises are for Allah Who has not Caused me to die at the hand of a man who claims himself to be a Muslim. No doubt, you and your father (Abbas R.A) used to love to have more
non-Arab infidels in Medina." Al-Abbas had the greatest number of slaves. Ibn 'Abbas said to 'Umar. "If you wish, we will do." He meant, "If you wish we will kill them." 'Umar (R.A) said,
"You are mistaken (for you can't kill them) after they have spoken your language, prayed towards your Qibla, and performed Hajj like yours."

Then Umar (R.A) was carried to his house, and we went along with him, and the people were as if they had never suffered a calamity before. Some said, "Do not worry (he will be all right
soon)." Some said, "We are afraid (that he will die)." Then an infusion of dates was brought to him and he drank it but it came out (of the wound) of his belly. Then milk was brought to him and he drank it, and it also came out of his belly. The people realized that he would die.
We went to him, and the people came, praising him. A young man came saying, "O chief of the believers! Receive the glad tidings from Allah to you due to your company with Allah's Apostle and your superiority in Islam which you know. Then you became the ruler (i.e. Caliph) and you ruled with justice and finally you have been martyred." 'Umar (R.A) said, "I wish that all these privileges will counterbalance (my shortcomings) so that I will neither lose nor gain anything."

When the young man turned back to leave, his clothes seemed to be touching the ground.
'Umar (R.A) said, "Call the young man back to me." (When he came back) 'Umar (R.A) said, "O son of my brother! Lift your clothes, for this will keep your clothes clean and save you from the punishment of your Lord." 'Umar (R.A) further said, "O 'Abdullah bin 'Umar! See how much I am in debt to others." When the debt was checked, it amounted to approximately eighty-six thousand. 'Umar (R.A) said, "If the property of 'Umar's family covers the debt, then pay the debt thereof; otherwise request it from Bani 'Adi bin Ka'b, and if that too is not sufficient, ask for it from Quraish tribe, and do not ask for it from any one else, and pay this debt on my behalf."




'Umar (R.A) then said (to 'Abdullah), "Go to 'Aisha (the mother of the believers) and say: "Umar is paying his salutation to you. But don't say: 'The chief of the believers,' beCause today I am not the chief of the believers. And say: "Umar (R.A) bin Al-Khattab asks the permission to be buried with his two companions (i.e. the Prophet, and Abu Bakr)."

Guidelines

"Good deeds are not equal to the evil ones. Repel other's evil deeds with your good deeds. You will see that he with whom you had enmity, will become your close friend.
But none will attain this quality except those who patiently endure and none will attain this quality except those who are truly fortunate."

Chapter: 41, Verses 34-35, Al-Quran

Sharing is Caring!

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Get Email Updates

Enter your email address:

Delivered by FeedBurner