Download Omar: Sunni, Shi`a, Western Views

Omar (r)
As Viewed by the Sunni, the Shi’a
and
Western Writers
A.S. Hashim, MD
From wikipedia.com
Sources of Reference
Al Farooq, Omar, Muhammad Husayn Haykal
al-Tabari, History of the Prophets and Kings
Tabqat ibn Sa'ad.
al-Suyuti, The History of Khalifahs
Madelung, Wilferd. The Succession to Muhammad.
K. Y. Blankinship, The History of al-Tabari
Early Khilaafah, Muhammad Ali, Muhammad Ya’qub
Khan
Modern Islamic political thought, Hahmid Enayat,
Encyclopedia Britannica
al-Bidayah wa al-Nihayah by ibn Kathir
Armstrong,
In this Slide Show
Omar’s Legacy
Sunni Point of View
Sunnis Remember Omar
Most Sunnis Consider him a Strong…
Some Sunni Take a more Nuanced View
Shi’a Point of View
Shi'a hold an opposing perspective
Differing Mainly in Two Points
The Umayya View
Western Writers Point of View
1. Washington Irving
2. Sir William Muir
3. Gibbon
4. Professor Philip Khuri Hitti
5. Encyclopedia Britannica
4
Omar: Legacy
Al-Farooq, Sahaabi, Khalifa
The Islamic Empire
As Considered by Sunni versus Shi’a
The Influential Figure
The Politicaly Savvy
The Good Manager
The Compactness of his Political Rule
Omar’s Demeanor
Al-Farooq, Sahaabi, Khalifa
Omar ibn al-Khattab, also known as Omar the Farooq:
(The one who distinguishes between right and wrong)
Omar was the most powerful of the four Rashidoon
Khalifas
He is regarded as one of the most powerful and
influential Muslim rulers.
He was a Sahaabi (companion) of Prophet Muhammad.
He succeeded Khalifa Abu Bakr as the second of the
Rashidoon Khilaafah on 23 August 634.
He was an expert jurist known for his justice, that earned
him the title Al-Farooq.
Also, Omar was the first Khalifa to be called Amir alMu'minin (Commander of the Faithful or Prince of the
Believers).
The Islamic Empire
Under Omar the Islamic empire expanded at an unprecedented rate
Ruling over the whole Sassani Persian Empire
and more than two thirds of the Eastern Roman Empire.
Omar’s reputation as a great political and military leader, and:
his legislative abilities,
his firm political and administrative control over a rapidly
expanding empire
and his brilliantly coordinated multi-prong attacks against Sassani
Persian Empire had resulted in conquest of Persian Empire in
less than two years,
It was Omar who for the first time in 500 years since expulsion of
Jews from the Holy Land, that allowed them to live in Jerusalem
and practice their religion freely.
As Considered by Sunni versus Shi’a
Religiously a controversial figure in the
Muslim world:
Omar is regarded by Sunni Muslims as one of
four Rashidoon or rightly guided Khalifas who
were true successors of Muhammad;
Omar, in stark contrast, is regarded by Shi'a
Muslims as unjust in his usurping Ali's right to
the Khilaafah, indeed as the principal political
architect of opposition to Ali.
The Influential Figure
Omar is regarded as one of the most influential figures in Islamic
history.
He was in a true sense the architect of the Islamic Empire.
As a leader, Omar was known for his simple and austere
lifestyle.
Rather than adopt the pomp and display affected by the rulers
of the time,
he continued to live much as he had when Muslims were
impoverished and persecuted.
Omar was vigorous, robust and a very tall man,
in markets he would tower above the people.
The front part of his head was bald, eyes were black,
His teeth were white.
He would always color his long beard using Henna.
The Politicaly Savvy
Omar is considered as a political genius, as an architect of
Islamic Empire; he is regarded as 52nd most influential figure in
history.
Omar remained politically stagnant during Mohammad's era,
however after his death,
It was Omar's brilliance that Abu Bakr was elected as Khalifa,
despite of massive initial confrontations at Saqifa.
Omar successfully broke the alliance of the tribes of Medina
who claim Khilaafah to be their right
In addition he cleverly sidelined Ali, paving the way for the
succession of Abu Bakr.
During Abu Bakr's era, he actively participated as his secretory
and main adviser.
After succeeding Abu Bakr as Khalifa, Omar won over the
hearts of Baudouin tribes by emancipating all their prisoners
and slaves takenduring Ridda wars,
The Good Manager
Omar proved himself as an excellent manager during the
year of the great Famine
when his dynamic abilities saved people from
starvation.
He is best known to build up an efficient administrative
structure of the empire, that held together his vast realm.
He organized an effective network of intelligence,
partly a reason for his strong grip on his bureaucracy.
His judicial reforms were fairly modern and advanced in
nature when compared to contemporary systems of his
era.
The Compactness of his Political Rule
One of the reasons of the compactness of his political rule in
the conquered lands:
1. Is attributed to his policy of tolerance to their religious
beliefs
2. and imposition of lower taxes on them as compared to their
previous taxes by Sassani Persian Empire and Byzantine
Empire.
3. Their local administration was kept un-touched and several
of the former Byzantine and Persian officials were retained
on their services under Omar's governors.
Omar was very painstaking in every matter.
His meticulous attitude was evident in his appointment of
governors and judges that never let him lose his grip on the
government.
He never appointed governors for more than two years, for
they might get influence in their regional atmosphere.
Omar’s Demeanor
Omar would walk the streets of Medina with a club ‫ دره‬in his
hand,
and it is said that Omar's club ‫ دره‬was more fearful than the
sword of another man.
Omar was known for covert night tour of Medina, to find out
about the secret life of his domain,
Omar used to closely monitor the public policy and the needs
of the public were central in his rule.
As second Khalifa of Islam, he refused to chop off the hands of
the thieves, even though the Quran had specified it.
This was because he felt he had fallen short of his
responsibility in providing meaningful employment to his
subjects
Omar and the Views about him
Sunni View of Omar
VIEWS
Western Writers View of Omar
Shi’a View of Omar
Omar: Sunni Point of View
1.
2.
3.
4.
Sunnis Remember Omar
Seeking no Advancement
Most Sunnis Consider him a Strong…
Some Sunni Take a more Nuanced
View
1. Sunnis Remember Omar
Sunnis remember Omar as a rigid Muslim
of a sound and just disposition in matters of the religion
of Allah,
a man they title Farooq, meaning "leader, jurist and
statesman",
and the second of the rightly-guided Khalifas.
He patched his clothes with skin,
took sacks on his shoulders,
always riding his donkey without the saddle,
Rarely laughing, he was stern, serious, and never
joking with anyone.
2. Seeking no Advancement
On Omar’s ring is written the words "Enough is
Death as a reminder to you O, Omar".
He did not seek advancement for his own family,
but rather sought to advance the interests of the whole
Muslim community, the Ummah.
The general Sunni sentiment for Omar is
summarized by one of Muhammad's
companions, ibn Mas'ood who said:
Omar's submission to Islam was a conquest,
his migration was a victory,
his period of rule was a blessing, …
3. Most Sunnis Consider him a Strong…
Most Sunnis consider Omar as:
a strong,
wise,
humble man, and a
competent ruler, the second rightly-guided Khalifa.
They consider him a sincere Muslim and a brave one if
not a fierce warrior.
Omar did not seek advancement for his own family, but
only to serve the Muslim community at large, the Ummah.
Omar made the pilgrimage to Mecca nine times.
Muhammad (pbuh) thought of him highly.
4. Some Sunni Take a more Nuanced View
Some Sunni take a more nuanced view of Omar.
They note that even amongst the early Muslims, he had a reputation
for:
Strict militancy
and rigid conformity
and was even accused by contemporaries of being harsh in
religious matters.
On several occasions he even opposed Muhammad when the
Prophet wished to be merciful toward religious and political
enemies
Though Omar spent eighteen years in the company of Muhammad
Mustafa, the Messenger of God, the latter never appointed him to
any position of authority – civil or military.
Omar: Shi’a Point of View
Viewed Negatively in Shi'a Literature
Shi'a hold an opposing perspective
Differing Mainly in Two Points
The Umayya View
Omar’s Fatwas that Contradict
Shi'a, Fatima, and her Pleas
In Sermon 3, page 49
Ali: Sermon of Shiqshiqiyah, Part 2
The other put it (Khilaafah) in an
abrasive enclosure, where utterance
was hard and the touch was rough.
Mistakes were in plenty and their
excuses were abundant.
He is therefore, like a rider of an
unruly camel, if he pulls its rein its
nostril would be slit, but if he let it loose
he would be thrown off its back. As a
result, (by Allah), people became
involved in recklessness, waywardness,
variations and objections.
Nevertheless, I remained steadfast
despite the lengthy period and the
harshness of the trial, …
،‫صي ََّر َها في َحوزَ ة خَشنَا َء‬
َ َ ‫•ف‬
ُ ُ‫يَغل‬
ُ ‫ َويَخ‬،‫ظ َكل ُم َها‬
،‫س َها‬
ُّ ‫ش ُن َم‬
‫ار‬
ُ َ‫ار [فِي َها] َواالعت َذ‬
ُ َ ‫َويَكث ُ ُر ال ِعث‬
،‫ِمن َها‬
‫ ِإن‬،‫صعبَ ِة‬
ِ ‫ص‬
َّ ‫ب ال‬
ِ ‫احبُ َها َك َرا ِك‬
َ َ ‫•ف‬
‫س لَ َها‬
َ َ‫ َو ِإن أَسل‬،‫أَشنَقَ لَ َها خ ََر َم‬
ِ ‫اس ـ لَعَم ُر‬
‫للا ـ‬
ُ َّ‫ي الن‬
َ ِ‫ فَ ُمن‬،‫تَقَ َّح َم‬
‫ َوت َلَ ُّون‬،‫ِبخَبط َو ِش َماس‬
.‫َواع ِت َراض‬
ُ ‫علَى‬
ُ ‫صبَر‬
ِ‫ َو ِشدَّة‬،ِ‫طو ِل ال ُمدَّة‬
َ ‫ت‬
َ َ‫•ف‬
.….،‫ال ِِمحنَ ِة‬
Viewed Negatively in Shi'a Literature
Omar is viewed negatively in Shi'a literature and:
is regarded as an unfair man of political ambitions,
a usurper of Ali's rights to Khilaafah as specified by
Muhammad at Ghadeer Khum,
and an abuser of Ali’s wife, Fatima.
According to Shi'a Muslims, Fatima, wife of Ali
and daughter of Muhammad, was ill-treated by
him in the event that followed Abu Bakr’s
Khilaafah.
These sources report that the event caused her to
miscarry her child and eventually led to her death soon
after.
Shi'a Hold an Opposing Perspective
While Sunnis regard Omar in high esteem and respect his
place as one of the "Four Righteously Guided Khalifas,"
The Shi'a hold an opposing perspective of him.
They do not view him as a legitimate leader of the
Ummah
and believe it to be factually provable that Omar and Abu
Bakr conspired to usurp power from Ali.
Shi'a believe that the Sunni view of Omar is an inaccurate
one, the view was created by the Umayya dynasty
to honor the man that gave power to the first Umayya
ruler and third Sunni Khalifa, Uthman.
In this way, it gives legitimacy to Benu Umayya, a corrupt
one in both Shi'a and Sunni view.
Differing Mainly in Two Points
The Shi'a view of Omar differs from the Sunni
view in mainly two areas.
First, regarding his everyday character. The Sunni's
claim he was wise and just while the Shi'a describe him
as an opportunist and usurper.
Secondly, his attitudes and actions regarding the
succession to Muhammad. The Sunnis argue that he
acted in good faith to save the community, whilst the
Shi'as claim he seized the power in bad faith.
The Umayya View
Shi'a believe that the Umayya view was propagated with
lethal force and heavy duress and as time went on,
that view became predominant
and eventually taken as truth, and it was cemented by
the works of Bukhari.
However, Shi'a believe that despite the perceived white
washing of Omar,
bits of his true qualities can be found in all sources,
including Sunni ones.
They also believe that the invented positive traits
attributed to Omar do not hold on a closer scrutiny.
Omar’s Fatwas that Contradict
Even though Omar did make numerous fatwas in direct violation to the
Quran,
admitted by the Sunnis in the case of Tayammum,
and even though he believed he could shape the Sunnah in the case
of triple talaq (divorce) and the Athan, also admitted by the Sunnis,
Shi'a believe that there are cases where even the evidence clearly
proves it, the Sunnis refuse to acknowledge that Omar made those
changes, for example in the case of Nikah Mut’ah ‫ نكاح المتعة‬.
Shi'a argue that there are only single narrations on the occasions
where Muhammad supposedly forbade it, on seven contradictory
times,
and even though the vast majority of the Hadith related to the topic
unanimously claim that Omar forbade Nikah Mut’ah,
even himself saying so, still the Sunnis choose to hold the few
claiming Muhammad as the one forbidding it as authentic.
Omar’s Fatwas that Contradict
In Shi'a view, this shows how deep the impact of Omar’s legacy
is, making Sunnis accept traditions that override the Quran (4:24)
The Quran says:
ِ َّ ‫اب‬
‫علَي ُكم ۚ َوأ ُ ِح َّل لَ ُكم َما َو َرا َء ذَ ِل ُكم أَن‬
ِ ‫س‬
َ ‫اَّلل‬
َ َ‫اء ِإ َّال َما َملَ َكت أَي َمانُ ُكم ۖ ِكت‬
َ ِ‫صنَاتُ ِمنَ الن‬
َ ‫َوال ُمح‬
‫ور ُه َّن‬
ِ ‫تَبتَغُوا بِأَم َوا ِل ُكم ُمح‬
َ ‫صنِينَ غَي َر ُم‬
َ ‫سافِ ِحينَ ۚ فَ َما استَمتَعتُم بِ ِه ِمن ُه َّن فَآتُو ُه َّن أ ُ ُج‬
‫ع ِلي ًما َح ِكي ًما‬
َ َ‫اَّلل َكان‬
َ ‫ضيتُم ِب ِه ِمن بَع ِد الفَ ِري‬
َ ‫علَي ُكم فِي َما تَ َرا‬
َ ‫ضةً ۚ َو َال ُجنَا َح‬
َ ‫فَ ِري‬
َ َّ ‫ض ِة ۚ ِإ َّن‬
Also (prohibited are) women already married, except those whom
your right hands possess:
Thus hath Allah ordained (Prohibitions) against you:
Except for these, all others are lawful, provided ye seek (them in
marriage) with gifts from your property,- desiring chastity, not lust,
seeing that ye derive benefit from them, give them their dowers
(at least) as prescribed; but if, after a dower is prescribed, agree
Mutually (to vary it), there is no blame on you, and Allah is Allknowing, All-wise.
Explaining ‫ِۚ فَ َما استَمتَعتُم ِب ِه ِمن ُه َّن‬
Famastamta-tum bihi ‫ ِۚ فَ َما استَمتَعتُم ِب ِه ِمن ُه َّن‬provides for a
temporary marriage, known as Mut’ah ‫ نكاح المتعة‬. It has been
specifically made lawful by the Quran and the Holy Prophet,
therefore, this provision subsists as un-rescinded.
One day Omar from the pulpit announced:
"Two Mut’as (one is the temporary marriage and the 2nd is
Mut’a of Haj) were in force during the time of the Holy
Prophet, but now I decree both of them as unlawful; and I
will punish those who practice them."
(Tafsir Kabir, Durr al-Manthur, Kashshaf, Mustadrak and
others).
According to Tirmidhi even his son, Ibn Omar, refused to
agree with his father's action because Mut’ah was made
lawful by Allah and His Prophet, whose pronouncements
could never be revoked by any one after him.
Shi'a, Fatima, and her Pleas
Shi'a believe Omar to be the main force behind Abu Bakr's
rise to power,
since they quote him several times stopping Abu Bakr
from giving in to Fatima's cries for justice.
Omar is responsible for the election that followed after him
an election where Ali is quoted to view it in effect as
rigged to the extent that he could not win it,
in practice giving away the Muslim nation to Islam's former
arch-enemies, the Benu Umayya, starting with Uthman
and continuing with Abu Sufyan's son:
Mu'awiya, followed by Yazid, resulting in the slaughter of
Benu Hashim in the battle of Karbala and ultimately the
pillage and rape of Medina and the catapult assault on the
Ka'ba.
Omar: Western Writers Point of View
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Washington Irving
The Khilaafah: Its Rise, Decline, and
Fall Sir William Muir
The Decline and Fall of the Roman
Empire, Gibbon
History of the Arabs Professor Philip
Khuri Hitti
Encyclopedia Britannica
Washington Irving:
Mahomet and His Successors
The whole history of Omar shows him to have been a man of
great powers of mind, inflexible integrity, and rigid justice.
He was, more than anyone else, the founder of the Islamic
empire;
confirming and carrying out the inspirations of the Prophet;
aiding Abu Bakr with his counsels during his brief Khilaafah;
and establishing wise regulations for the strict administration of
the law throughout the rapidly-extending bounds of the Muslim
conquests.
The rigid hand which he kept upon his most popular generals in
the midst of their armies, and in the most distant scenes of their
triumphs,
gives signal evidence of his extra-ordinary capacity to rule.
In the simplicity of his habits, and his contempt for all pomp and
luxury, he emulated the example of the Prophet and Abu Bakr.
Sir William Muir: The Khilaafah: Its Rise, Decline, and Fall
Omar's life requires but few lines to sketch.
Simplicity and duty were his guiding principles;
impartiality and devotion the leading features of his
administration.
Responsibility so weighed upon him that he was heard to
exclaim:
'O that my mother had not borne me;
would that I had been this stalk of grass instead!'
In early life, Omar was of a fiery and impatient temper,
he was known, even in the later days of the Prophet, as the
stern advocate of vengeance.
Ever ready to unsheathe the sword, it was he who at Badr
advised that the prisoners should be put to death.
But age, as well as office, had mellowed this asperity.
Sir William Muir, Continued
Omar’s sense of justice was strong.
And except it be the treatment of Khalid,
whom according to some accounts,
he pursued with an ungenerous resentment,
no act of tyranny or injustice is recorded against him;
and even in this matter, his enmity took its rise in
Khalid's unscrupulous treatment of fallen foe.
The choice of his captains and governors was
free from favoritism and …..
Gibbon: The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire
"Yet the abstinence and humility of Omar were
not inferior to the virtues of Abu Bakr:
his food consisted of barley bread or dates;
his drink was water;
he preached in a gown that was torn or tattered in
twelve places;
Economy is the source of liberality, and the
increases of the revenue enabled Omar to
establish a just and perpetual reward for the past
and present services of the faithful.
Gibbon: Continued
Careless of his own emolument, Omar assigned to Abbas, the
uncle of the Prophet,
the first and most ample allowance of twenty-five thousand
dirhams of pieces of silver.
Five thousand were allotted to each of the aged warriors?
The relics of the field of Badr and the last and the meanest
of the companions of Muhammad was distinguished by the
annual reward of three thousand pieces.
Under his reign and that of his predecessor, the conquerors of
the East were the trusty servants of God and the people;
the mass of public treasure was consecrated to the
expenses of peace and war
Philip Khuri Hitti: History of the Arabs
"Simple and frugal in manner, the energetic and talented Omar who
was:
of towering height,
strong physique and
bald headed,
continued at least for some time after becoming the Khalifa to
support himself by trade and lived throughout his life in a style as
unostentatious as that of a Bedouin Sheikh.
In fact, Omar, whose name according to Muslim tradition is the
greatest in early Islam after that of Muhammad, has been idolized by
Muslim writers for
his piety, justice and patriarchal simplicity
and treated as the personification of all the virtues a Khalifa ought to
possess.
Philip Khuri Hitti: Continued
Omar endeavored incessantly to impress the merit and policy of
the same in his letters to his generals.
Beware, he would say, of Persian luxury, both in food and
raiment.
Keep to the simple habits of your country, and Allah will
continue you victorious;
depart from them, and He will reverse your fortunes.
It was his strong conviction of the truth of this policy which made
him so severe in punishing all ostentatious style and luxurious
indulgence in his officers.
Some of his ordinances do credit to his heart as well as his
head.
He forbade that any female captive who had borne a child
should be sold as a slave.
Philip Khuri Hitti: Continued
In his weekly distributions of the surplus money of his treasury,
he proportioned them to the wants, not the merits of the
applicants.
His irreproachable character became an exemplar for all
conscientious successors to follow.
He owned, we are told, one shirt and one mantle only, both
conspicuous for their patchwork,
slept on a bed of palm leaves,
and had no concern other than the maintenance of the purity
of the faith, the upholding of justice and the ascendancy and
security of Islam and the Arabians.
Arabic literature is replete with anecdotes extolling Omar's
stern character.
He is said to have scourged his own son to death for
drunkenness..….
Encyclopedia Britannica
"To Omar's ten years' Khilaafah belong, for the most part,
the great conquests.
He himself did not take the field, but remained in Medina;
He never, however, suffered the reins to slip from his
grasp,
so powerful was the influence of his personality and the
Muslim community of feeling.
His political insight is shown by the fact that he
endeavored to limit the indefinite extension of Muslim
conquest,
to maintain and strengthen the national Arabian
character of the commonwealth of Islam;
also by making it his foremost task to promote law and
order in its internal affairs.
The Muslim Domain at Omar’s Time
Anatolia
Caucuses
Syria
Tripoli
Iraq
Persia
Egypt
In Conclusion
Legacy, Views of Sunni, Shi’a, and Western
writers
Discussed in this slide show are:
Sunni Point of View
Sunnis Remember Omar
Most Sunnis Consider him a Strong…
Some Sunni Take a more Nuanced View
Shi’a Point of View
Shi'a hold an opposing perspective of him
Differing Mainly in Two Points
The Umayya View
Western writers
Finally we quote the Quran:
•By the Token of Time
•Verily Man is in loss,
•Except those who believe and do
good works, and exhort one another
to Truth and exhort one another to
patience.
ِ ‫• ِبس ِم‬
‫الر ِح ِيم‬
َّ ‫الرحم ِن‬
َّ ‫للا‬
‫َوالعَص ِر‬
‫ان لَ ِفي ُخس ٍر‬
َ ‫س‬
َ ‫• ِإ َّن اِالن‬
‫ع ِملُوا‬
َ ‫• ِإال الَّ ِذ‬
َ ‫ين آ َمنُوا َو‬
‫ق‬
ِ ‫صا ِل َحا‬
َّ ‫ال‬
َ ‫ت َوت َ َوا‬
ِ ‫صوا ِبال َح‬
‫صب ِر‬
َّ ‫صوا ِبال‬
َ ‫َوت َ َوا‬
THANK YOU
Be in Allah’s Care
Dr. A.S. Hashim
43