Sunni view of Umar
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- This is a sub-article to Umar
Umar (died 644) was the second Sunni caliph, regarded by Sunnis as the second of the four Rashidun and one of the greates personalities of the history of Islam. Sunni and Shi'a hold diametrically opposite views of `Umar, the Shi'a viewing that he and Abu Bakr usurped authority that properly belonged to Ali.
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[edit] Introduction
Most Sunnis consider him a strong, wise, humble and competent ruler, the second rightly-guided Caliph. They consider him a sincere Muslim and a brave and fierce warrior. He did not seek advancement for his own family, but only to serve the Muslim community, the ummah. One hadith, or oral tradition, credited by Sunnis says at the time of his death he was asked if he would like to nominate his son `Abd-Allah ibn `Umar as caliph and he replied: "One is enough from `Umar's family."[citation needed].
Some Sunni take a more nuanced view of Umar. They note that even amongst the early Muslims, he had a reputation for strict militancy and conformity and was even accused by contemporaries of being harsh in religious matters. On several occasions he even opposed Muhammad when the latter wished to be merciful toward religious and political enemies[citation needed].
[edit] Biography
The followin is Umar's biography from a Sunni perspective.
[edit] Family
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Please help improve this section by expanding it. Further information might be found on the talk page or at requests for expansion. |
[edit] Early life
Sunnis portray him as one of the nobility of Quraysh, and that he had the role of ambassador in the Pre Islamic period, that whenever war broke out among Quraysh or between Quraysh and others, they would send Umar as an ambassador, i.e. a messenger, and when someone called them to judgement often over a matter of standing or lineage then they sent Umar as a response to that [1].
His family consisted of those that were scared of him. His sister had converted and when he heard this, he went over there to beat his sister and her spouse and demand them back to the old ways. when he went there, he asked and beat the sister's husband, he asked to read what they were reading. The sister replied that he had to purify himself, so he washed up and read it. He thought that this ayat was beautiful, he demanded to see the prophet, and when he did, the companions of the time were scared and ready to fight, but he went to convert.
[edit] 610 – 632: Muhammad's era
Another popular belief is that when he came to his house, His sister and her husband who were reciting the Quran were so scared that they hid the Quran by throwing it into a burning food cooker. When Umar came entered the house, he asked his sister about the quran, and started searching for it. He found the Quran untouched within burning flames, he converted after seeing that miracle[citation needed].
Sunni state that it was only after Umar accepted Islam that Islam was shown openly in Mecca, and that the Muslims rejoiced in him [1].
[edit] Battles
| “ | An-Nawawi said: 'Umar attended, along with the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, all of the battles, and he was one of those who stood firm beside him on the Day of Uhud. [1] | ” |
He was a great warrior, of defence and to fight, he defended the warrior and was a brave and couragous man.
[edit] Umar and Muhammad
Sunni quote a large number of narrations where Muhammad is quoted praising Umar.
[edit] 632 – 634: Abu Bakr's era
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Please help improve this section by expanding it. Further information might be found on the talk page or at requests for expansion. |
[edit] 634 – 644: Umar's era
| “ | Isma'il ibn Ziyad said: 'Ali ibn Abi Talib passed by the mosques in Ramadan and in them there were lamps, so he said, 'May Allah illuminate 'Umar in his grave, as he has illuminated our mosques for us.'
Ibn Sa'd said: 'Umar appointed a meal (flour) house and put flour in it, parched barley meal, dates, raisins and necessities, in order to help the traveller whose journey was interrupted (through need or other causes), and he established between Makkah and Madinah on the road that which would be useful to travellers whose journeys were interrupted. He demolished the Mosque of the Prophet, added to it, expanded it and floored it with pebbles. He was the one who evicted the Jews from the Hijaz (and sent them) to Syria, and evicted the people of Najran (and sent them) to Kufah. He was the one who moved the Station of Ibrahim back (from the Ka'bah) to where it is today, and it used to be adjoining the House [2]. |
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Suyuti, a 15th century Sunni Islamic scholar stats that An-Nawawi said in his Tahdhib:
| “ | (Umar) was the first to adopt the whip. Ibn Sa'd mentions it in the Tabaqat, and he said: It used to be said, after him, 'The whip of 'Umar is more terrible than your sword.'
He (an-Nawawi) continued: He was the first to appoint Qadis in the provinces, the first who established the provinces of (the cities of) Kufah, Basrah, and of Mesopotamia, Syria, Cairo (Egypt), and Mosul [2]. |
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[edit] Legacy
[edit] Merits
Sunnis honor him as the following:
- One of the Rashidun [1]
- One of the Ten Promised Paradise [1]
- one of the in-laws of Muhammad[1]
- one of the great men of knowledge of the Companions [1]
- one of their abstinent people. [1]
Suyuti, a 15th century Sunni Islamic scholar
| “ | Al-'Askari said:
This is the end of what al-'Askari mentioned [2]. |
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[edit] Salaf about Umar
[edit] Umar and the Qur'an
[edit] Umar and miracles
in another version:
[edit] particulars of Umar's biography
All of the following are from Ibn Sa'd. [2]
All of the aforegoing are from Ibn Sa'd. [2]
From various sources it is known that the mother of 'Umar ibn al-Khattab was Hantamah the daughter of Hisham ibn al-Mughirah and she was the sister of Abu Jahl ibn Hisham, so that Abu Jahl was his maternal uncle. [2]
[edit] Judgements
Sulayman ibn Yasar related that the Jinn wailed in mourning for 'Umar [2].
[edit] Views on the Sunni view
[edit] Non-Muslim view
Edward Gibbon, a 18th century non-Muslim Islamic scholar wrote:
| “ | The Sonnites, who are supported by the general consent and orthodox tradition of the Mussulmans, entertain a more impartial, or at least a more decent, opinion. They respect the memory of Abubeker, Omar, Othman, and Ali, the holy and legitimate successors of the prophet. But they assign the last and most humble place to the husband of Fatima, in the persuasion that the order of succession was determined by the decrees of sanctity. [4] | ” |
Ali Asgher Razwy, a 20th century Shi'a Twelver Islamic scholar states:
| “ | For many centuries, the Sunni Muslims have raved over what they call "the justice of Umar." Is his order to kill the dissenting member or members of his electoral committee a sample of that "justice?" Is it the sample of justice that they proudly uphold to the nations of the earth? [5].. | ” |
[edit] References
- ^ a b c d e f g h History of the Caliphs by Suyuti, quoting An-Nawawi[1]
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd be bf bg bh bi bj bk bl bm bn bo bp bq br bs bt bu bv bw bx by bz ca cb cc cd ce cf cg ch ci cj ck cl cm cn co cp cq History of the Caliphs by Suyuti [2]
- ^ This hadith is narrated of Yahya ibn Sa'id by Malik and by a number of other compilers of hadith.
- ^ The History of the Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire , section Discord of the Turks and Persians.
- ^ A Restatement of the History of Islam and Muslims on Al-Islam.org [3]
