Justice Rules on Earth: The Life of Hazrat Umer Bin Khatab (R.A)

By Mohammad Latif Raja

Angel Gabriel said, I do not know, how someone knows about Paradise and can sleep. How can be anybody who knows about hell and can sleep. But we are living in a state of sleep, unawareness. The problem with us is, we only wakeup, when we die we ask Allah to wake us way before that. And to grant us forgiveness. That will forgive our sins and make us die as Martyr, like Umer bin Khatab together with them in Jannah tul Firdous.
I must have made many mistakes, they are mine, from myself. I did make mistakes; these mistakes are from myself. If there is any good, that is from Allah.
We ask Allah to forgive us all. Praise belongs to Allah, Glory to be Allah.

• Language: English
• Publisher: AuthorHouse UK
• Release date: Jul 7, 2021
• ISBN: 9781728393841

Mohammad Latif Raja

Mohammad LR Raja has taken 15 years to research the history and lives of all the prophets who have been mentioned in the Quaran. He uses texts from the Qaran, the Hadith, the Taura, The book of David, the Old and New Testament Bibles, old history books and Ibin e Kaseer to gather information on each and every prophet, writing as full an account of their history as possible. He writes in the belief that all the Prophets are guided by Allah and Allah says ‘follow their ways’; but In order to follow them fully, we first must fully understand their history and the texts in which they exist. Thus, his mind filled with knowledge, he felt the need to share his work, in the belief that everyone, no matter what belief, should use this book as a resource. Mohammad asks you to read the book from beginning to end, and if it has added to your knowledge, pray for him.

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Umer Bin Khatab (R.A)

(His Life and Times):

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Life before Islam, life during Abu Bakar (R.A) and finally his Calipha. Life during the life of the Prophet (PBUH).

I turn to Allah for safety from satin (Iblees). I begin with the name of Allah who is most merciful and compassionate. Praise belongs to Allah. Allah says O’ you who believe do not let death approach you unless in the state of Taqwa. We ask Allah to give all of us Taqwa in Sunnah al Baghavi. Abdullah Bin Masood, Allah be pleased with him says, Whoever is going to follow a path, should follow the path of those who died because the living could fail in their trials.

There are two companions of the Prophet (PBUH). Abdullah bin Masood, Allah be pleased with him is telling the Tabaeen (the next generation), who is the second greatest generation. He is telling them do not follow the lives of those who are living among you. Even some of these may be Aulia, Saints, Scholars, Mujahedeen who worship Allah all the time. Abdullah bin Masood is telling them, Do not follow the living among you but follow the dead companions of Prophet (PBUH). Why? Because there is no guarantee that this person who is living would not fail in some of his trials. But the Sahaba, Allah be pleased with them, they have got the stamp of approval. Anyone who is living no one knows what the outcome will be. Because the Prophet (PBUH) says, There are some people who will be on the track of people of paradise in their worship and their actions, they are doing what people of paradise do, but before they die they commit the actions of the people of hellfire and then they end up going into hell fire. Why? They fail in fitnah, trails. Everyone is going to be faced with trails. Well, nobody knows the outcome. This is the reason the Prophet (PBUH) used to say, O’ The one who changes the heart, make our heart steadfast on Islam. (Kalb) Heart in Arabic it means it changes, goes up and down. Abdullah bin Masood would say, Follow the companion of Prophet (PBUH). He was saying this at the time of Tabaeen, which is the second-best generation. The question is what should we say today? No one has a guarantee that they will go to paradise. But the ones who were with Prophet (PBUH), the ones who were in the battle of Badar, the ones who gave Biya, (commitment) under the Rizwan, (aTree) the ones who fought with the Prophet (PBUH), the ones who had patience with him, the ones with whom Prophet (PBUH) was pleased when he died, those are the ones we should follow. Well, then he gives us other reasons that we should fallow them. They were the best of this Ummah. The Prophet (PBUH) says that the best generation is my generation. And they had the most pious heart and most taqwa in their hearts. No one can compete with Sahaba in taqwa, they have achieved the highest limits and they had the deepest knowledge. Please note here the choice of words. Abdullah bin Masood did not say that they had the most knowledge, he said they had the deepest knowledge. Because those are the people who came after Sahaba. They may not have known for example in Bukhari:(An authentic book of Hadith) - he knew more hadith than Many of the Sahaba. Why? Because he knew hadith, what Umer had, what Abu Bakar had, what Usman had what Ali (R.A) had. He is an encyclopedia of hadith. When it comes to fiqa, some of the great Imams of this Ummah. They do not combine fiqa of one but of many. Abdullah did not say most knowledge but the deepest knowledge. Even though some of the scholars of hadith may know some of the things that Sahaba did not know. However, none of the people who came after the Sahaba have the depth of the knowledge that the Sahaba had. Because even though a Sahabi may know two hundred or three hundred hadith. But he was there when that hadith was spoken by the Messenger of Allah. He knew the circumstances why the messenger of Allah said it. He was there and he lived that hadith. An opportunity that none of us have. Therefore, they had an edge over every one of us. They were there when ayat of the Quran were coming down, they lived it and experienced firsthand. Therefore, everyone who comes after the Sahaba is only scratching the knowledge. But the Sahaba had the depth of the knowledge. Their understanding was deep. When one has deep understanding it makes outlook to life and actions, would have more knowledge than we do. Well, these are the reasons we should follow the actions of Sahaba, Allah is pleased with them. Because they had the deepest knowledge. And they were the least superficial. Sahaba, Allah be pleased with them, they would not put out a fake image of Islam. They were not superficial; they did not pretend to be sophisticated. Know a book has been written and a brother comes and says, Masha Allah. This is an excellent book, I read it from the beginning to end but did not understand it, such a sophisticated book. That was not the way of Sahaba’s. The way of Sahaba was conclusive, their speeches were short, their words were concise and clear. They would not like to approve that they are knowledgeable by choosing sophisticated long words and put them in a long speech. Their words were very simple. Because Sahaba, Allah be pleased with them came from a very simple background. The Arabs of Arabia were not adult rated like the other nations of the world. They were not affected by the luxurious lifestyle of Persians and Romans. They were not affected by the theology of Latin. Most of them were illiterate. They were very simple, straightforward and honest people. Even the poetry in the time of jahalia, they were very simple, not philosophical, they were descriptive, they would describe nature, they would describe women, that was their poetry. They were simple in their dress and they would eat simple food. Well, this is the reason the fitnah nature of Sahaba was very clean. Therefore, when they accepted Islam for them to practice Islam was very easy because the Quran came on an empty plate. However, with other nations, the Quran has to clean their hearts. Quran has to heal the scars which were left by the old life. Because fitnah was the first and that is the reason for Biddah the early innovation did not start in Makkah and Madinah but started in other nations. In Iraq and other Syria, Sham the nations which are affected by the philosophy of Greek, Religious teaching of other nations.

For Arabs in their religions, there was no methodology, like Hindus. That did not have that imagination. They just worship these idols, they would hold on some virtues, truth, shivery, loyalty. Being loyal, the kinship that was their religion. That was not a religion but a set of morals. And bow down to slaughter animals. For them even their religion was simple. Therefore, when they became Muslims, they carried forward that straightforwardness, honesty, and decency. When they became Muslim, they went straight for the action. They did not involve themselves in philosophical, theological discourses.

Sahaba’s were not into that, that only came later in Khilafa by Umer, Usman, and Ali (R.A). When these other nations were accepting Islam, they were talking about issues Qadar and they turned it into theology.

UMER BIN KHATAB, was on top of it with his stick. These were the people whom Allah choose to be the companions of the Messenger of Allah. To establish Allah’s religion, there is a reason, Allah chooses them. They were hand-picked. To be the Sahaba of greatest Prophet of Allah. The Prophet (PBUH) says every Prophet has companions, Allah choose these Sahaba to be the companions of the Messenger of Allah for the reason because they were most fit for that responsibility.

When the final Messenger pbuh passed away, there is no need to send another Prophet until the Day of Judgement. Why? Because the Sahaba, Allah be pleased with them, can carry it on their own. These reasons we are talking about Sahaba. Also, Abdullah bin Masood said, Recognize their virtues, we need to recognize the Sahaba who they are. We have to put them in the HIGHEST esteem, raise their level.

Now we are going to talk about one Sahaba, HAZRAT UMER BIN KHATAB (R.A). This is an attempt on our behalf to recognize who they are. To hold them in high esteem. Finally, he says, follow their footsteps, do what they did. Follow whatever one can and hold onto their character, their religion because they were on the straight path. They are the ones who are guided and given the stamp of approval by Allah Almighty.

This is the reason we speak about Sahaba in general. Out of all Sahaba, we give special emphasis to four Sahaba. Why?

Because the Prophet (PBUH) says, Follow my Sunnah and the Sunnah of Khulpha. The righteous Khulpha, and who are they. They are = ABU BAKAR - UMER BIN KHATAB – USMAN -AND ALi ibn-e-Abu Talib (R.A). Out of these four, we especially need to talk about Abu Bakar and Umer bin Khatab. Another Hadith: The Prophet (PBUH) says, Follow the two men after me, Abu Bakar and Umer. This Hadith is in Tirmizi. Allah says about Sahaba, Muhammad the Messenger of Allah and the ones around him are the sterner, harsh with non-believers and merciful, passionate and soft with believers. You see them making Sajood, Raikou and giving Zakat. We have a separate course for Abu Bakar Siddique. Now in this course, we shall talk about UMER BIN KHATAB.

Dear Brothers and Sisters, Umer bin Khatab is a special person. The unique thing with Abu Bakar is Imaan. With Umer, bin Khatab is his personality. Umer bin Khatab has a unique personality. History does not produce men like Umer bin Khatab. Hadith in Bukhari and Muslim. The Prophet (PBUH) said, These are people who are Muhtadeen. Meaning are coming. These were Muhtadeens in the nations before me and if there is going to be a Muhadaf in my Ummah, that will be Umer. The meaning of Muhadaf: High Ecstasy.

A scholar in his commentary on Bukhari; gives few different opinions. No.1 Men who are inspired by Allah. No.2 The men whose intuition is right because of something which is put in his heart. No.3 Is the one who speaks the truth. The truth flows on his tongue naturally with him intending, even without trying it truth naturally comes on his tongue. No.4 opinion is that; he is a man to whom angels speak to without him being a Prophet. And that is Umer bin Khatab (R.A), the truth flows naturally in his tongue. His intuition is always right as if the angels are speaking to him. Well, we shall talk later about some situations, where he would say something, and the Quran will come down to approve it. As if he is speaking with the light of Allah. These are the reasons that Umer bin Khatab is a special person and that is the reason we should follow him. He is a man who spoke the truth and acted upon it.

The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) says Allah shows the truth on the tongue of Umer and in his heart. This Hadith is in Tirmizi. There is another Hadith in Tirmizi. The Prophet (PBUH) says, if there is any prophet after me, that would be Umer. Umer bin Khatab had so many attributes of the Prophet (PBUH) in him, built into his system that if there is any other Prophet, Allah will choose Umer. And he would be most similar to, who? Among the Prophet of Allah, Moses (PBUH). The Prophet (PBUH) said that Umer, you were similar to Nooh and Moses (Peace be upon them). These are the Prophets with strength. Umer uses to carry a stick just like Moses (PBUH).

Our sources of these series, it is obvious when going to history, classical sources that are where history is but with classical, the style of our early scholars was to write down everything even they might know that this particular information may not be authentic but for the sake of documentation. They wanted to document everything. Even though we are using Tabury. We are using it with care. Some of the narrations of Tabury are not very strong, there is some exaggeration and sometimes these are weaknesses, or these are some fabrications. Therefore, it has to be used with care. However, we will base the series, the primary source will be a contemporary book written by Sheikh Ally Salary, a professor in Islamic Studies. We are using his sources because he has combined classical sources one by one and he has retained the gems, the treasures out of these old books and compiled them into one version. We call it contemporary because he has his own words in it. It is a classical reference because he is quoting from classical books and bringing them in one reference. Therefore, that is used as a primary source. And we shall also be consulting Tabury, one of the earlier history books written.

UMER BIN KHATAB We are going to talk about his name, his character, his family. We will talk about his life in Jahalia, we shall talk about his Islam, Hijra. We shall talk about Umer and Quran, Umer and Jihad. Some incidents that happened in Madinah. We shall talk about his virtues, we shall talk about Umer during the reign of Abu Bakar and we shall talk about the Calipha of Umer, Allah is pleased with him. We shall talk about Umer and his family, Umer with society, we shall talk about the government of Umer bin Khatab. We shall talk about the conquests that happened during the time of Umer bin Khatab, in Iraq and Sham, included larger area at that time. And then we shall talk about his last days. This is a blueprint for our book. course.Book

Let us start. We ask Allah, to give us tofeeq, we ask Allah Ikhlaas. We ask Allah to benefit us from these sessions and to make these sessions surrounded by angels which Allah Almighty throws in tranquillity and mercy upon us. Well, we are talking about Saliheen. This is to encourage us to be like them. We ask Allah to make us those who follow the best of words.

Umer Bin Khatab:

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According to one opinion Umer bin Khatab was born, eleven years after the year of the Elephants. The final Messenger of Allah (PBUH) was born in the year of the Elephant. That is when the army of Abraha tried to destroy Al-Kabbah. Umer bin Khatab was eleven years younger than the Prophet (PBUH). According to this opinion, Umer bin Khatab was twenty-nine years old when the final Messenger of Allah (PBUH), received the Prophethood. And some years older when he became Muslim. However, in the opinion of Sohuty, that he was younger than that, therefore he was in his late twenties when he embraced Islam. That was Sohuty.

We start with a mental image, also with Abu Bakar. The mental image of Umer will help us to learn about him. Have a mental image of the person.

Physical Description of

Umer Bin Khatab

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Ladies and gentlemen, Umer bin Khatab was a towering figure. Whenever he would be with any group, he would be tallest among them. He is described as when you see him from some distance in a group, you will feel that he is riding his mound while everybody around him is standing. As if he is on top of his camel and everybody else is standing around him. He was well built. He was not overweight but described as there was a lot of flush on his bones but all muscles. Umer bin Khatab was a wrestler. He had a body of wrestler and use to wrestle. He used to be a wrestler in Jahalia. His limbs were large. He had a large frame; large bones and his limbs were large. His hand and his feet were large. He was boldly headed. He is described as fair skin relative to the skin of people in Arabia which is predominantly dark. Relatively he was fare. There was some redness in his color. When he was old, he used to use Henna in his hair, that red dye. The tips of his mustache, whiskers were long. He used to twist them in his fingers whenever he was upset. When he was angry, he would twist his mustache. Whiskers were long. He was described when he would walk, fast. When he would speak, one can hear him. When he would strike, he strikes with strength, which hurts. He was a personality of strength, his voice was strong, his way of walking was strong, and he strikes with strength. Umer bin Khatab had that presence, his presence was intimidating to his enemy and would strike fear even in his friends. It happened at many occasions’ Sahaba, Allah is pleased with them, they were afraid of Umer bin Khatab. Abu Musa Al-Ashari, once he was asked to do something, we shall talk about this story later, but when he left his face was pale. Sahaba asked, what happened? He said Umer did this. His face was pale. On another occasion, Umer bin Khatab was walking with some of Sahaba, suddenly he turned around and there was a pregnant woman behind him. She had a miscarriage. Well, Sahaba were debating, whether he would pay blood money for that. Well, he did not intend to cause all the trouble. Then Ali bin Abu Talib said, the blood money should be paid because of the damage that was done but the money should be paid by the government treasury of the Muslims.

When the enemies of Allah would hear the name of Umer, their knees would shake, and their hearts would tremble. The unique thing about the personality of Umer is, even though he had all these characteristics, his eyes would follow tears easily and he had a very compassionate and merciful heart. Also, he was very humble. That is very unique about the personality of Umer. Usually, a strong person like that tends to be harsh, aggressive and arrogant and people who have soft and compassionate hearts tend to be weak. But Umer bin Khatab had these opposing characteristics in personality and that is the reason he was unique.

His father was Al-Khatab bin Nofil. He was a very harsh man. Umer had a very tough upbringing. His father was very harsh with him.

Umer bin Khatab, when he was Calipha, he was with his companions and came to this place where he used to be a Sheppard, he used to bring his father’s camel in that area. He said the highest and the great, who gives whatever he wants and to whomever he wants. He said I used to be a Sheppard for the camels of my father in this place. I would wear some harsh wool clothes, and his father was harsh, he would make me exhausted when I work, and his father beat him if he did not work. One day, there will be no one between Allah and myself, this Umer bin Khatab was telling his companions. Being the Calipha of Muslims on the leader of classifications. He is the highest, there is no one between Him and Allah. Umer is saying, there was a day, I was a Sheppard for my father, and he would beat me up. He would hit me and be very harsh to me. And look at where am I. Allah gives whatever he wants and to whomever He wants. Well, who would imagine, that this would be given to Umer, Sheppard of yesterday? He was not only a Sheppard of his father but he used to work for other women, aunties. Umer bin Khatab says, there were some aunties, he would take their goats and sheep to the valley for grassing, when he could come back after all day, they would give him hand full off raisins and dates that was his income for a day job.

Abdul Rahman is narrating the story. He says Umer bin Khatab called people to Masjid, when they all assembled, Umer bin Khatab stands up on the pole pit. This is when he was Califah. He said, I used to be a Sheppard for some of my Aunties, when I would come back at the end of the day those aunties would give me a hand full of raisins and dates, I would have had a miserable day meaning, I work for all day. And came down from the pol pit. That was the rumination for full day work. That is, how poor he was. Abdul Rahman bin Ouf said you have done nothing but belittle yourself. That was your speech. What is the point? Why? All you have done is belittle yourself for everyone. Umer bin Khatab said wow to you, O’ son of Ouf,

My inner self was telling me now you are Ameer ul momineen, who is better than me. Therefore, I wanted to teach myself a lesson, to let it know who it is. I wanted to tell myself that who it is. How humble it is because I was playing games with me. Trying to tell me, I am the Ameer ul momineen, who is better than me.

When we are going through the life story of Umer. We should reflect on His sayings and his actions because that tells us a lot about his personality. Umer bin Khatab cannot be fooled by anyone including himself. His inner self was trying to play games on him, telling him that you are the best. Look at yourself who you are.

Ladies and gentlemen, Satin cannot come to you unless you allow him to do so. On the day of judgment, people will go to Satin and complain. Satin will say, I have no authority over you. But you are people who transgress. Satin cannot have excess to your heart unless you give him the keys. Umer bin Khatab was closing all of the cracks which would allow Satin to come in. but as far as we are concerned, we do not have any cracks, but we have opened over gates. We have opened our doors for satin to come in, satin cannot come to you unless you allow him to. When satin went to Adam in paradise, what did he tell him? Did he tell him to go and eat from that tree that Allah has banned? Go and eat from the tree that is Haram. Go and disobey Allah, No. Satin told Adam. Ya Adam, O’ Adam, I am going to tell you about a tree, that will give you everlasting life and a great kingdom. Satin Iblees knows what appeals to our hearts. We want to have power, we want to live forever, these are the gates from which he came into the heart of Adam Peace be upon Him. Satin needs a way to come in. Umer bin Khatab was sealing all those cracks. He shut them, closed them all. Umer bin Khatab says, I am not a deceiver, nor would I allow anybody to deceive me. I do not go around deceiving people and at the same time no one can deceive me. This is a reason the Prophet (PBUH) says, If satin Iblees sees Umer going on the road, Satin would change and would go on the other road. Satin Iblees has given up on Umer bin Khatab, there is no hope no way, it will be just a waste of time for satin Iblees.

The father of Umer was very rough and harsh. The way he used to bring up his children. The mother of Umer, there is one opinion says that she is from the family of Banu Makhzoom, the family of Khalid bin Waleed. But most of the historian says she was the cousin of Abu Jahal, Intinah binte Sham or Hindinah binte Sham.

Umer bin Khatab married to seven or eight wives in total. He married Zainab binte Mahoon, Sister of a great Sahabi. He married her during the time of Jahalia. She was the mother of Abdullah, Abdul Rahman the oldest and Hafsa. He married Malika binte Burwell and she was the mother of Abdullah. But Umer divorced her. He married Kareeba binte Ali Makhzoom. He divorced her later on. She married again to Abdul Rahman son of Abu Baker.

Umer, married to Ummah Haqeem binte Tharaf. She was previously married to Akrama bin Abu Jahal. When Akrama died in the battle of Yarmook. Umer bin Khatab married her. After the death of Umer bin Khatab, she married again. She was the mother of Fatima, also Umer bin Khatab married Jameela binte Osam bin Sabit. He married Attika binte Zahid bin Amar bin Nofil, she was his relative. She was married before to Abdullah bin Abu Bakar. After the death of Umer bin Khatab, she married to Zubair bin Awam. Umer bin Khatab wanted to marry the youngest daughter of Abu Bakar. Her name is Ummah Kalsoom. She was born when Abu Bakar passed away. She was his youngest daughter. Umer bin Khatab asked her hand in marriage but she refused. Ayesha, Allah be pleased with her asked her, you do not want to marry Ameer ul Momineen? She replied, his lifestyle is harsh. Well, women want to have an easy lifestyle even in those days. She would want her husband to take care of her and wants an easy and comfortable life. But she said I do not want him. Ayesha, Allah be pleased with her told Amar bin Aas. He went to Umer and told him, I have a suggestion for you, why don’t you marry Ummah Kalsoom, the daughter of Ali, Allah be pleased with him. By marrying her, you will have a relationship with the family of Prophet (PBUH). Because Ummah Kalsoom is the daughter of Fatima, Allah be pleased with her. Ummah Kalsoom is the granddaughter of Prophet (PBUH). Well, Umer asked her hand in marriage, she agreed, and he married her. She is the daughter of Ali bin Abu Talib. We know Ali bin Abu Talib is much younger than Umer bin Khatab. And Ummah Kalsoom, daughter of Ali was very young. There is another woman, her name is Lowhiea. She is either a wife or a slave girl. There are different opinions. She gave birth to Abdul Rahman, the youngest. Then he had a slave girl, her name is Ruqaiya, she is the mother of Zainab.

Umer bin Khatab had thirteen children from his marriages. Zaid the eldest, Zaid the youngest proper translation. Zaid ul Asghar and Zaid ul Akbar. He named two of his sons Zaid after the name of his brother Zaid. He used to love his brother very much. Zaid was his elder brother. He was martyred. Then Assam and Abdullah and then Abdul Rahman eldest, Abdul Rahman middle and Abdul Rahman the youngest. Umer used to like the name Abdul Rahman, he named three of his sons Abdul Rahman. Abdul Rahman Akbar, Abdul Rahman Assam, and Abdul Rahman Asghar. He had Abdullah and Ayyaz. These were male children. He has four daughters, Hafsa, Ruqaiya, Zainab and Fatima.

Just a little explanation about marriages in those days. While we are talking about the marriages of Umer bin Khatab. First of all, we notice he married more than four. But please note he did not have more than four wives at any one point. We are talking about the total number of women he married, they are seven during his lifetime. Seven or eight. You will also notice, he divorced two of his wives that were in Islam and not in Jahalia, Abu Bakar divorced. Many of other Sahaba divorced. Although divorce was not high their perception of divorce was different. They used to see a marriage between two souls. There needs to be compatibility, if it does not work out it is just like a business agreement. They agree to go separate ways. Now a day, we see divorce in a different life. Now divorce is a stigma, especially for women and no one wants to marry her. During the time of Sahaba, no women would be left without a husband. For Muslims, a male or female family is the assent of our lives. Family is the most important. For Muslims, the family is most important. We are not living a lifestyle of Kaffar if there is no partner, that is fine. Go from one place to another and enjoy life. That is not a lifestyle of Muslims. Sahaba would not leave anybody without the opportunity of marriage and that is the reason polygamy was widespread. And it was acceptable. We also have seen great differences in age as long as both sides agree. There was no cultural problem. Umer bin Khatab was very old when he married to Ummah Kalsoom binte Ali bin Abu Talib. Also, Ummah Kalsoom binte Abu Bakar did not refuse because of old age, because then she married to Talha bin Abdullah, he was also old. As long as both sides agreed they had no problem with culture. Therefore, our perception of marriage and divorce is different from Sahaba. At the time of Sahaba, marriage was early and easy. Everyone was allowed to be part of the family. At present, there is a big problem in the Muslim world. This is not a big problem in the west but in the Muslim world. There are millions of women waiting for or to be married. But it is a big social problem. Millions of women are growing older and older and cannot get married. The reason is that many people do not want to marry them when they are old, many people do not allow polygamy therefore many women are unmarried. If we look at the problem from this point of view, polygamy is better than this situation. That will give many more women to get married. At present, in population women are more than men. Well if polygamy is not accepted then chances that some women will not get a chance to be married and have a family. The champions for women’s rights should be asking for legalization for polygamy.

The first profession of Umer bin Khatab was Sheppard. He was a Sheppard for his father and his aunties. Then next he started a business. He was a very successful businessman. He would travel to Syria and Yamen for trade and he became a very wealthy businessman. He was one of the wealthy men of Quresh. He was also a wrestler, he used to join in competitions. He was powerful and unbeatable. Umer is not a person who would do something halfhearted efforts. He would put in his best efforts into everything. He was a very committed, disciplined person and he would go ahead with what he believed in. he would not sit on the sidelines that were not his nature. He would get involve. Therefore, in Jahalia, he was the most effective man of Quresh. In the inquisition of Muslims, he was at the forefront in persecutions of Muslims. Well, that is the nature of Umer. He would pursue whatever he believed in, he would not sit on the sidelines. He used to torture a slave girl. He would lash her with his whip when he would get tired and sit down. What would he tell her? He would say to her, I did not sit down because I feel sorry for you but I stopped because I am tired. She would respond and say, Allah has made you stop that was the Imaan of this slave girl, Strong Faith. It was unacceptable to the minds of Muslims that one day Umer will become Muslim.

One day Umer was walking down in the streets of Makkah, he saw, one of the Sahabiat, she was on her way to Abbay Cinia. She was making Hijra to Habsha, Umer asked her, are you leaving? She answers yes because you have oppressed us and persecuted us. We will travel to the land of Allah; in order, we can practice our religion freely. What did Umer bin Khatab say? He said, may Allah be with you. This statement was contrary to the nature of Umer. Umer showing compassion to a Muslim. When Naheem bin Abdullah, that women’s husband came back. He was with her. She told him what happened. He said it appears that you are hoping for Umer bin Khatab to become a Muslim. She said, yes. He said the donkey of his father will become Muslim before he does. Well, he was telling her, you women go with your emotions but Umer will never become Muslim. But he was wrong, and she was right. But this is to show you that Muslims did not think that one day this man Umer could become Muslim. But we know guidance is in the hand of Allah. We never know who is going to embrace this.

How did he become Muslim? There is one incident narrated by his son Abdullah. He says, one day a handsome man walked in front of us, my father looked at him. Looked his face and said, if my intuition is right, this man was a fortune teller for his people. This is what we call Farasa. Farasa is the art of reading the face. Umer bin Khatab had the ability. It is a gift from Allah. One can read by looking at the face of his personality. Umer was good at Farasa. He never met that man before. By looking at his face, Umer read his face and said, this man was a fortune teller for his people. They called that man. He was amazed and said, I have never seen anything like this in my life. Umer asked him to tell me about yourself.

By the way, Farasa is an art. People use to go to Yamen to learn this art. This is an art could be learned. In some cultures, for example in China, they have different versions of Farasa, reading the face.

The Prophet (PBUH) says, be aware of Farasa of the believers by the light of Allah. Therefore, it is a gift given by Allah to some people and Umer had this gift.

Umer called the man. The man said, yes I was the fortune teller for my people. Abdullah bin Umer said, very rarely, the intuition of my father goes wrong. It was always on target. Umer bin Khatab asked him to tell me, the strangest thing that your Jin has told you. These fortune-tellers deal with Jin. . The man said, my Jin has come to me and mentioned these rhyming words. Speaking about the coming of a Prophet. Umer bin Khatab said, yes that is true. One day a man was sacrificing next to Kabbah, I heard a very loud voice and this voice was saying something similar that a Prophet is coming. Umer bin Khatab said, soon after that Muhammad bin Abdullah (PBUH) claimed to be a prophet. These were small hints, were coming to Umer to prepare him for Islam. These things happened in the beginning.

Another incident happened between Umer bin Khatab and Sahabiat when his heart was feeling soft. We can see him, Umer was getting closer to Islam. His stance was changing.

One day while mushriqeen was discussing how to deal with this Islamic Religion problem of Muhammad (PBUH). They ask for a volunteer who will kill him and end this problem. Umer bin Khatab volunteered and said, I shall kill him. The leaders, especially Abu Jahal said yes, you are the one. You are the one who can do it. Umer bin Khatab carries a sword, during the mid-day in summer, a very hot day in Makkah. He was walking down the street towards Dar-ul-Arqam, he was told the Prophet (PBUH) was having a meeting there. At that time many of the Sahaba had made Hijra to Abbay Cinia. Therefore, the Prophet (PBUH) was left with a small group of Sahaba. People like Hamza bin Abdul Muttalib who had become Muslim three days earlier, other Sahaba included Abu Bakar Siddique. Umer bin Khatab was heading straight in the streets of Makkah and one can see evil in his eyes. One of the companions of the Prophet (PBUH) who was practicing Islam in secret, saw Umer bin Khatab and he realized that there is something wrong. He asked Umer, where are you heading? Umer bin Khatab said, I am going to that man who has disunited our people, made fool out of us and has cursed our Gods. I am going to kill him. That companion of the Prophet told him, it seems that you are too confident in yourself. The question, do you think that Banu Abdul Munaf, relatives of the Prophet will let you walk on the face of the earth after you will kill their man? It was a tribe system in Arabia. Umer bin