Inspirational Islamic Stories

Death Of Second Caliph- Umar Ibn Al-Khattab

The assassination was planned several months earlier. In the Hijri year 23 (644-645), Umar (ra) undertook a Hajj to Mecca, during which the assassins pronounced Umar's (ra) imminent death that year, and the massive crowd of the congregation was used by the conspirators as a veil to hide themselves. It is related that when Umar (ra) stood at Mount Arafat he heard a voice saying:
"O Caliph, never again will you stand on the Mount of Arafat."
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A companion of Umar (ra), Jubayr bin Mutim is reported to have said:
We saw a man standing at the top of the hill and crying 'Verily that is the last Hajj of Umar. He will never come here again.
During one of rituals of Hajj, the Ramy al-Jamarat (stoning of the Devil), someone threw a stone on Umar that wounded his head, a voice was heard that Umar will not attend the Hajj ever again.
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After the battle of Nihawand, many Persians, men, women and children were taken as captives by the Muslims. The captives were sold as slaves. One of these slaves was Firoz Alias Abu Lulu. He was Magian (the fire worshipper) and non believer and had a roman origin. He was a Persian Sasanian soldier who served under the chief-commander of the Sasanian army Rostam Farrokhzad, but was captured in the battle of Nihawand in 636 CE when the Sasanian were defeated by the Muslim army of Umar ibn Al-Khattab (ra) on the western bank of the Euphrates River. His name indicates that he is originally from the ancient city of Nihawand, a town in Iran (Persia).
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He was purchased by Mughirah Shu'bah the governor of Basra. This Firoz, was a craftsman, a carpenter, an iron smith and a painter. Umar did not allow non-Muslim adult captives to reside in Madina. He believed that these defeated people who hated Islam and had plenty of motives to conspire and plot against Islam and the Muslims. Mughirah sought special permission for the residence of Firoz in Madina on the ground that as he was skilled craftsman, he would be of service to the people. Umar (ra) gave the permission as a special case.
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One day, Firoz waited on Umar (ra) and complained that the tax which his master Mughirah was exacting from him was too high. He wanted the Caliph to reduce the levy. Umar (ra) enquired what work did he do. He said that he worked as a carpenter, painter and  an iron smith. He added that he could make windmills as well. Umar (ra) next enquired as to the amount of the tax that he was required to pay to his master. He said that he had to pay two dirhams a day. Umar (ra) said that keeping in view the lucrative nature of the jobs done by him, the levy of two dirhams a day was prima facie not excessive. Umar (ra) said that he would, however, write to Mughirah, and examine the question further in the light of what Mughirah said. That did not satisfy Firoz, and he went away sulking.
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Umar (ra) wrote to Mughirah, and in reply Mughirah quoted facts and figures to establish that what he took from his slave was by no means excessive. When Firoz called on Umar (ra) again, Umar (ra) explained to him that as the levy was not excessive, no reduction therein was called for that made Firoz angry. In order to humor Firoz, Umar (ra) said, I understand you make windmills; make one for me as well. In a sullen mood, Firoz said, Verily I will make such a mill for you, that the world would talk about it. As Firoz went away, the Caliph told the people around him that the Persian slave had threatened him.
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There were Persian children slaves in Madina. Seeing them, Firoz would say, you have been enslaved at such a tender age. This Umar sees eaten my heart. I will take his heart out. He made for himself a dagger with a very sharp age and smeared it with poison. At the time of the morning prayer, Firoz went with his dagger to the Prophet's (ﷺ) Mosque and hid himself in a corner in one of the recesses of the Mosque. When the faithful stood for prayer after straightening the lines, and Umar (ra) took up his position as the Imam to lead the prayer. Firoz emerged from his place of hiding and rushed at Umar (ra). Firoz attacked Umar (ra) while he was leading the morning prayers, stabbing him six times in the belly and last on the navel, that proved fatal. Umar (ra) was left profusely bleeding.
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Narrated by 'Amr bin Maimun:
"I saw 'Umar bin Al-Khattab 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 can not bear."
They said: "No, (we haven't)."
'Umar added: "If Allah should keep me alive I will let the widows of Iraq need no men to support them after me."
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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. Whenever Umar 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.
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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 held the hand of 'Abdur-Rahman bin Auf and let him lead the prayer. Those who were standing by the side of 'Umar 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 and they were saying, "Subhan Allah! Subhan Allah! (i.e. Glorified be Allah)."
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Abdur-Rahman bin Auf led the people a short prayer. When they finished the prayer, 'Umar said: "O Ibn 'Abbas! Find out who attacked me."
Ibn 'Abbas kept on looking here and there for a short time and came to say: "The slave of Al Mughira."
On that 'Umar said: "The craftsman?"
Ibn 'Abbas said: "Yes."
'Umar 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) used to love to have more non-Arab infidels in Medina."
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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 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 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 Alright soon)."
Some said: "We are afraid (that he will die)."
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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 said: "I wish that all these privileges will counterbalance (my shortcomings) so that I will neither lose nor gain anything."
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When the young man turned back to leave, his clothes seemed to be touching the ground. 'Umar said: "Call the young man back to me."
(When he came back) 'Umar 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 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 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."
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'Umar 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 bin Al-Khattab asks the permission to be buried with his two companions (i.e. the Prophet, and Abu Bakr)."
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Abdullah greeted 'Aisha and asked for the permission for entering, and then entered to her and found her sitting and weeping.
He said to her: "Umar bin Al-Khattab is paying his salutations to you, and asks the permission to be buried with his two companions."
She said: "I had the idea of having this place for myself, but today I prefer Umar to myself."
When he returned it was said (to 'Umar): "Abdullah bin 'Umar has come."
'Umar said: "Make me sit up."
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Somebody supported him against his body and 'Umar asked ('Abdullah): "What news do you have?"
He said: "O chief of the believers! It is as you wish. She has given the permission."
'Umar said: "Praise be to Allah, there was nothing more important to me than this. So when I die, take me, and greet 'Aisha and say: "Umar bin Al-Khattab asks the permission (to be buried with the Prophet ), and if she gives the permission, bury me there, and if she refuses, then take me to the grave-yard of the Muslims."
Then Hafsa (the mother of the believers) came with many other women walking with her. When we saw her, we went away. She went in (to 'Umar) and wept there for sometime. When the men asked for permission to enter, she went into another place, and we heard her weeping inside.
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The people said (to 'Umar): "O chief of the believers! Appoint a successor."
Umar said: "I do not find anyone more suitable for the job than the following persons or group whom Allah's Apostle had been pleased with before he died."
Then 'Umar mentioned 'Ali, 'Uthman, AzZubair, Talha, Sad and 'Abdur-Rahman (bin Auf) and said: "Abdullah bin 'Umar will be a witness to you, but he will have no share in the rule. His being a witness will compensate him for not sharing the right of ruling. If Sad becomes the ruler, it will be alright: otherwise, whoever becomes the ruler should seek his help, as I have not dismissed him because of disability or dishonesty."
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'Umar added: "I recommend that my successor takes care of the early emigrants; to know their rights and protect their honor and sacred things. I also recommend that he be kind to the Ansar who had lived in Medina before the emigrants and Belief had entered their hearts before them. I recommend that the (ruler) should accept the good of the righteous among them and excuse their wrong-doers, and I recommend that he should do good to all the people of the towns (Al-Ansar), as they are the protectors of Islam and the source of wealth and the source of annoyance to the enemy. I also recommend that nothing be taken from them except from their surplus with their consent. I also recommend that he do good to the 'Arab bedouin, as they are the origin of the 'Arabs and the material of Islam. He should take from what is inferior, amongst their properties and distribute that to the poor amongst them. I also recommend him concerning Allah's and His Apostle's protectees (i.e. Dhimmis) to fulfill their contracts and to fight for them and not to overburden them with what is beyond their ability."
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So when 'Umar expired, we carried him out and set out walking. 'Abdullah bin 'Umar greeted ('Aisha) and said: "Umar bin Al-Khattab asks for the permission."
'Aisha said: "Bring him in."
He was brought in and buried beside his two companions.
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When he was buried, the group (recommended by 'Umar) held a meeting. Then 'Abdur-Rahman said: "Reduce the candidates for rulership to three of you."
Az-Zubair said: "I give up my right to Ali."
Talha said: "I give up my right to 'Uthman,"
Sad: "I give up my right to 'Abdur-Rahman bin 'Auf."
'Abdur-Rahman then said (to 'Uthman and 'Ali): "Now which of you is willing to give up his right of candidacy to that he may choose the better of the (remaining) two, bearing in mind that Allah and Islam will be his witnesses."
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So both the sheiks (i.e. 'Uthman and 'Ali) kept silent.
'Abdur-Rahman said: "Will you both leave this matter to me, and I take Allah as my Witness that I will not choose but the better of you?"
They said: "Yes."
So 'Abdur-Rahman took the hand of one of them (i.e. 'Ali) and said: "You are related to Allah's Apostle and one of the earliest Muslims as you know well. So I ask you by Allah to promise that if I select you as a ruler you will do justice, and if I select 'Uthman as a ruler you will listen to him and obey him."
Then he took the other (i.e. 'Uthman) aside and said the same to him. When 'Abdur-Rahman secured (their agreement to) this covenant, he said, "O 'Uthman! Raise your hand."
So he (i.e. 'Abdur-Rahman) gave him (i.e. 'Uthman) the solemn pledge, and then 'Ali gave him the pledge of allegiance and then all the (Medina) people gave him the pledge of allegiance."
(Bukhari, Vol 5, Book 57, no. 50)
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Umar appointed a band of fifty armed soldiers to protect the house where the meeting was proceeding. Until the appointment of the next caliph Umar appointed a notable Sahabi, a mawali, Suhayb ar-Rumi (Suhayb the Roman) as a caretaker caliph. While the historic meeting for selection of a caliph was proceeding, Abdulrehman ibn Abu Bakr and Abdur Rahman bin Awf revealed that they saw the dagger used by Firoz, the assassin of Umar. A night before Umar's assassination, reported Abdur Rahman bin Awf, he saw Hurmuzan, Jafina and Abu Lulu, while they were suspiciously discussing something, bewildered by his presence, the dagger fell, it was the same two-sided dagger used in the assassination.
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Abudulrehman ibn Abu Bakr, son of the late caliph Abu Bakr (ra) also confirmed that a few days before Umar's assassination, he once saw this dagger with Hurmuzan. After the mystery of assassination got uncovered by the two of the most notable governmental figures, it seemed clear that the assassination was planned by the Persians residing in Medina. Infuriated by this, Umar's younger son Ubaidullah ibn Umar sought to kill all the Persians in Medina. He killed Hurmuzan, Jafinah, and the daughter of Umar's assassin Abu Lulu, who is believed to have been a Muslim.
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Ubaidullah was intercepted by the people of Medina withholding him from the massacre. Amr ibn al-Aas is said to have intercepted him and convinced him to hand over his sword. The murder of Jafinah enraged Saad ibn Abi Waqqas, his foster brother, and he assaulted Ubaidullah ibn Umar and again the companions intervened.
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When Umar was informed about the incident, he ordered that Ubaidullah should be imprisoned and the next caliph should decide his fate. Umar died and  Uthman succeeded him as the caliph. After prolonged negotiations, the tribunal decided to give blood money to the victims and released Umar's son Ubaidullah on the ground that after the tragic incident of Umar's assassination people would be further infuriated by the execution of his son the very next day.
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Imam ibn Khatir said that when Umar (ra) concluded his rites of Hajj in 23 Hijri, he prayed and asked Allah (ﷻ) to take him to Himself and to grant him martyrdom in the land of the Prophet Muhammed (ﷺ) just as it is narrated by Zaid bin Aslam: Umar (ra) said:
"O Allah! I ask you for the martyrdom in your cause and death in the land of your Messenger (ﷺ)." (Bukhari 1890)
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Umar died of the wounds few days later. We should note that umar had learned from the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) that he would be killed and that he would meet Allah (ﷻ) as martyr.
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"Narrated by Anas bin Malik:
The Prophet once climbed the mountain of Uhud with Abu Bakr, 'Umar and 'Uthman. The mountain shook with them.
The Prophet said (to the mountain),' Be firm, O Uhud! For on you there are no more than a Prophet, a Siddiq and two martyrs.' "
(Bukhari, vol 5, book 57, no. 24)
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Thereafter Umar (ra) gave detailed instructions to his son regarding his funeral. He said:
"Be moderate in the expenses of my shroud, for verily if there is anything of good with Allah (ﷻ) in my favor, He will give me in exchange what is better than it, and if I have been otherwise, He will strip me of all that I have.
And be moderate in the grave that you dig for me, for verily if there be anything of good with Allah (ﷻ) in my favor, He will widen it for me, and if I have been otherwise, He will make it narrow for me to squeeze my body.
And let no woman go with my funeral.
Praise me not for that which is not in me, for Allah (ﷻ) knows best what I am.
Therefore when you carry me to the grave, hasten in your going for if there is anything of good with Allah (ﷻ) in my favor you will speed me to that which is good, and if I have been otherwise, you'll cast from your necks an evil that you bear.
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Thereafter Umar (ra) turned his face to the Qibla and breathed his last. There was serene smile on his face as he lay dead.
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Sunni scholars agree that the main factor of killing Umar (ra) is Firoz's hatred and resentment towards Umar (ra) because he defeated the Persian Empire and spread Islam there.
Some Scholars believed that the assassination was staged by Hurmuzan, the last Persian King, who allegedly converted to Islam and moved to Madina, whereupon he planned the Persian revenge on Muslim.
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Abu Lulu was a fire worshipper. A memorial tomb for Abu Lulu (the murderer) is built in Iran in the 11th century by the Enemies of Islam called "The Persian Hero". The walls of the tomb have been inscribed in Farsi with the words "Marg bar Abu Bakr, Marg bar Umar, Marg bar Uthman" (Death to Abu Bakr, Death to Umar, Death to Uthman). Shrine is visited by the Rafidaah, worshipping and thanking him for the murder of Umar ibn Al-Khattab (ra), the second Caliph of the Muslims.
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I hope we can get lessons from the story. We can see a responsible leader who gave concern to his people, even when his lifetime came close to the end. Masha Allah.