Umar Ibn Al Khattab 2 Dr Ali Sallabi

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Islamic History -
The Rightly Guided Caliphs (2)
'Umar ibn al-Khat.t.g b
His Life and Times
VOLUME TWO
Dr. 'Ali Muhammad as-Sallabi
Translated by
Nasiruddin al-Khattab
List of Contents
Symbols Directory. ..................................................................... 22
Transliteration Chart. .................................................................. 23
CHAPTER FIVE
The Fiqh of 'Umar ibn al-Kha@b in
Dealing with Governors. ........................................................... 25
1. The regions of the state. ....................................................... 25
1.1. Makkah al-Mukarramah. ............................................... 25
1.2. Al-Madeenah al.Mnnawwarah ...................................... 26
1.3. At-ra'if .......................................................................... 27
1.4. Yemen ............................................................................ 28
1.5. B h i n.. ........................................................................ 30
1.6. Egypt. ............................................................................ 32
1.7. The provinces of Syria. ................................................ 34
1.8. Iraq and Persia .............................................................. 37
1.8.1. Bqrah. ................................................................... 38
1.8.2. Koofah ................................................................... 41
1.8.3. Al-M&in ............................................................ 43
..
1.8.4. Azerbaijan. ............................................................ 4
2 . Appointment of governors at the time of 'Umar ................ 45
2.1. The most important bases on which 'Umar appointed
governors and the conditions he stipulated for them ...... 46
2.1 .1 . Capability and trustworthiness. ............................ 46
2.1.2. The role of knowledge in
appointment of governors. ........................................... 47
2.1.3. Knowing how to do things .................................. 47
6 List of Contents
2.1.4. Desert-dwellers and town-dwellers ...................... 48
2.1.5. Compassion and mercy towards those
of whom he is in charge. ............................................. 48
2.1.6. He did not appoint any of his relatives .............. 49
2.1.7. He did not appoint anyone
who wanted to be appointed. ...................................... 50
2.1.8. Forbidding govemors and
agents to engage in trade ............................................ 50
2.1.9. Recording the net worth of his agents
at the time of their appointment. ................................ 51
2.1.10. Conditions stipulated by 'Umar for his agents 51
2.1.11. Consultation when selecting governors. ............ 52
2.1.12. Testing agents before appointing them ............... 53
2.1.13. Making the governor one of the people. ........... 53
2.1.14. Letter of appointment. ........................................ 54
2.1.15. Not seeking the help of a Christian
with the affairs of the Muslims. ................................. 55
2.2. The most important characteristics
of 'Umar's governors. ....................................................... 55
2.2.1. Asceticism (Zuhd). ................................................ 56
. .
2.2.2. Hurmlity. ................................................................ 56
2.2.3. Piety. ...................................................................... 57
2.2.4. Respect for previous governors. .......................... 58
2.3. Rights of governors. ..................................................... 59
2.3.1. Obedience so long as that did not involve sin ... 59
2.3.2. Giving advice to governors. ................................. 60
2.3.3. Conveying news to govemors. ............................ 60
2.3.4. Supporting the governor in his decisions. .......... 60
2.3.5. The governor's right to engage in ijtihad ........... 61
'Umar ibn al-Khattib 7
2.3.6. Respecting them after their dismissal .................. 61
2.3.7. Their material rights ............................................. 62
2.3.8. Treating agents and governors if they fell sick 65
2.4. Duties of governors. ..................................................... 66
2.4.1. Establishing religious affairs. ............................... 66
Spreading Islam .......................................................... 66
Establishing regular prayer ......................................... 67
Protecting Islam and its fundamentals. ..................... 67
. .
Buildmg mosques ....................................................... 68
. . ..
Organmg the Hajj .................................................... 68
Canying out &add punishments ................................ 68
2.4.2. Ensuring the people's security in their own lands 69
2.4.3. Jihad for the sake of Allah .................................. 69
2.4.4. Striving hard to ensure that
people receive their stipends. ...................................... 72
2.4.5. Appointment of agents and employees. .............. 74
2.4.6. Taking care of ahl adh-dhimmah. ........................ 75
2.4.7. Consulting people of wisdom in the
province and honouring prominent people .................. 75
2.4.8. Looking at the developmental
needs of the province ................................................... 76
2.4.9. Paying attention to the social affairs
of the inhabitants of the provinces ............................. 76
2.4.10. Not discriminating between
Arabs and non-Arabs ................................................... 77
2.5. Translation in the provinces and the
working hours of the governors ....................................... 78
2.5.1. Translation in the provinces ............................ 78
2.5.2. Working hours of the governors. .................... 79
3 . 'Umar's checking on his governors. .................................... 80
8 Lht of Contents
3.1. Checking on govemors. ................................................ 80
3.1.1. Asking the governors to enter Madeenah by day 8 1
3.1.2. Asking the governors to send delegations .......... 81
3.1.3. Mail service. .......................................................... 82
3.1.4. The general inspector
(Muhammad ibn Maslamah). ....................................... 82
..
3.1.5. The Hau season. ................................................... 83
3.1.6. Regular inspections of the regions ...................... 84
3.1.7. The archive or records of the caliphate. ............. 85
3.2. Complaints &om the people about the govern0r s .......8 6
3.2.1. The complaint of the people of Koofah
against Sa'd ibn Abi Waqq@ ...................................... 86
3.2.2. Complaints against 'Amr ihn al-'As,
the governor of Egypt. ................................................. 90
3.2.3. Complaints against Abu Moosa al-Ash'ari,
the governor of Basra .................................................. 92
3.2.4. The complaints of the people of Homs
"
against Sa'eed ibn 'Amir. ............................................ 94
3.2.5. Dismissal of an agent who made
fun of one of the people. ............................................ 95
3.3. Punishments that were carried out on
govemors at the time of 'Umar. ....................................... 96
3.3.1. Settling scores with governors when they erred. .. 96
3.3.2. Dismissing a govemor as a result of his error. ..9 7
3.3.3. Destroying part of the governors' dwellings ....... 97
3.3.4. Disciplining by hitting .......................................... 99
3.3.5. Demoting a governor to a shepherd. ................. 100
3.3.6. Taking away some of the governors' wealth. ... 100
3.3.7. Verbal and written rebukes. ................................ 101
3.4. The dismissal of Kh%d ibn al-Waleed ..................... 104
'Umar ibn al-Khat@b 9
3.4.1. The first dismissal. ............................................. 104
3.4.2. The second dismissal. ......................................... 110
3.4.3. Summary of the reasons for the
dismissal and some of its benefits ............................ 111
Protection of Tawheed. ............................................. 112
Differences concerning how money is to be spent 112
Difference between the methods of 'Urnar
and Khilid in administrative issues. ..................... 113
The attitude of the Muslim society
towards this dismissal. .......................................... 114
The death of Khsd ibn al-Waleed and what he
said about 'Umar when he was on his deathbed ...1 15
CHAPTER SIX
The Conquests of Iraq and the
East at the Time of 'Umar ..................................................... 119
1. The second stage of the conquest of Iraq and the east .... 119
1.1. The appointment of Abu 'Ubayd ath-Thaqafi
as leader of the war in Iraq ........................................... 119
1.2. The battle of an-Namiriq, the battle of as-
Sqiiyah in Kaskar, and the battle of Baroosma. ........ 122
1.2.1. The battle of an-Nam&iq 13 A.H ..................... 122
1.2.2. The battle of as-Saqitiyah in Kaskar. ............... 124
1.2.3. The battle of Baroosma 13 A.H ........................ 125
1.3. Abu 'Ubayd's battle of the bridge 13 A.H ............... 126
The most important lessons of Abu 'Ubayd's
battle of the bridge .................................................... 129
1.3.1. True dreams. ........................................................ 129
1.3.2. Two mistakes which led to defeat ..................... 129
1.3.3. The value of strong leadership in the field ....... 130
10 List of Contents
1.3.4. Al-Muthanna raised the morale of his troops .... I31
1.3.5. Every time the Muslims are faced
with a dilemma, Allah will create the
means to get them out of that .................................. 131
1.4. The battle of al-Buwayb 13 A.H ............................... 132
1.4.1. The council of war after the battle .................... 135
1.4.2. Al-Muthanna's regret at cutting the
Persians' line of retreat .............................................. 136
1.4.3. Al-Muthanna's knowledge of
militruy psychology. ................................................... I37
1.4.4. The attitude of the womenfolk
of the Muj.aAh ideen ...................................................... 139
1.4.5. Pursuit of the fleeing remnants of the army. .... 140
1.4.6. The Persian reaction ........................................... I40
1.4.7. 'Umar's instmctions to al-Muthanna ................. 142
2 . The battle of al-Qidisiyah. ................................................. 144
2.1. Appointment of Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqi?
as commander in Iraq ..................................................... 145
2.1.1. 'Umar's advice to Sa'd ...................................... 146
2.1.2. Other advice. ....................................................... I47
2.1.3. A Khufbah (sermon) by 'Umar .......................... 149
2.1.4. Sa'd's arrival in Iraq and the
death of al-Muthanna. ................................................ 150
2.1.5. Sa'd's march to Iraq and 'Umar's advice. ........ I52
2.1.6. Seeking the help of former
apostates who had repented ....................................... 157
2.1.7. A letter from the caliph to Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqis 158
2.1.8. Spiritual means of victory according to 'Um ar. .. 160
2.1.9. Sa'd's description of the location of
al-Qdsiyah to 'Umar and 'Umar's response. ......... 161
'Umar ibn al-KhaMb 11
2.2. 'Umar asked Sa'd to send a delegation
to debate with the Persian king ...................................... 163
2.3. Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqk sent delegations
to call Rustam to Islam .................................................. 167
2.4. Preparation for battle .................................................. 171
Rustam became nervous when he heard the adhctn 175
Raising morale among the Muslim ranks ................ 176
2.4.1. The day of M t h... .......................................... 177
Rustam orders some of his troops to attack. .......... 179
Sa'd commands Asad to go to the aid of Bajeelah 179
Sa'd tells Banu Tameem to tackle the elephants. .. 180
The heroic attitude of Tulaylph ibn Khuwaylid. ... 181
The field hospital ..................................................... 182
Al-Khansa' bint 'Amr urged her sons
to fight on the night before the battle ................. 182
Awoman of an-Nakh' encouraged her sons to fight 183
2.4.2. The day of Agbwitb ........................................... 183
The heroic exploits of al-Qa'qi' ibn 'Amr ............. 184
'Alba' ibn JaIph al-'Ujali: disemboweled
during the battle .................................................... 186
Al-A'raf ibn al-A'larn al-'Uqayli ............................. 186
The sacrifices made by the four sons of al-Khansa' 187
A trick by al-Qa'qi' that had a far-reaching
effect on the Persians. ........................................... 187
Abu Mihjan ath-Thaqafi in the heart of the battle 188
Al-Qa'qi's plan in the latter part
:
of the night of as-Sawid. .............. ...................... 190
2.4.3. The day of 'M. ............................................... 191
The heroism of 'Amr ibn Ma'di Karib .................. 192
Tulayhab ibn Khuwaylid al-Asadi ........................... 193
12 List of Contents
Qays ibn al-Makshooh ............................................. 194
The night of al-Hareer. ............................................ 194
2.4.4. The day of al-Qidisiyah. .................................... 196
The slaying of the Persian commander Rustam. .... 198
The end of the battle ............................................... 198
Pursuing the remnants of the defeated army. .......... 199
Good news of the victory reaches 'Umar ............... 200
2.5. Lessons and benefits ................................................... 202
2.5.1. The date of the battle and its effect
on the progress of the conquests. ............................. 202
2.5.2. 'Umar's speech after the victory of al-Qzsiyah 203
2.5.3. Fulfilment of agreements among the Muslims,
and justice with no compromise. ............................... 203
2.5.4. 'Umar gave the khums of al-Qiklisiyah
to the fighters, and rewarded those who had
distinguished themselves in battle ............................. 206
2.5.5. How 'Umar restored the dignity
of Zuhrah ibn al-Hawiyah. ......................................... 207
2.5.6. The martyrdom of the mu'adh-dhin and the
Muslims' competing to give the adhen. .................. 208
2.5.7. Islarmc military tactics in battle ......................... 209
2.6. The conquest of al-MacE'in (Ctesiphon). .................. 212
2.6.1. Allah is with His close friends by
His support and help .................................................. 214
2.6.2. The verses which Sa'd recited
when he reached Magam Sabi?. ............................. 215
2.6.3. Consultation between Sa'd and
his troops about crossing the river. .......................... 216
2.6.4. Crossing the river and the
conquest of al-Madi'in .............................................. 217