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Dr Kaukab Siddique | Editor-in-Chief

Muharram 5 ,1435/November 9, 2013 # 46

This is Caliph Umar's, r.a., anniversary. Scroll to end for great article,
Also scroll down to understand why Kerbala happened.

Breaking News: Iranian forces helping Assad hit hard.
Syria: October 8. Assad's air force is bombing Damascus suburba and parts of Aleppo, trying to drive out the mujahideen.

On November 5, Iran's Mehr News Agency reported the funeral of Iran's military commander in Syria. Brig. General Jamali Paqalah who was fighting the "rebels" in Syria. Earlier an Iranian force near Aleppo fell into a mujahideen ambush leading to the death of Iran's colonel Ismail Ali Hyderi and his entire platoon. [The mujahideen seized a video of the Iranian colonel leading his troops, using heavy artillery, roadside bombs and mines to hurt the mujahideen. The video is with BBC now.] [Till now Iran had been claiming that it has no troops in Syria.

Meanwhile, Dr. al-Zawahiri in a video tape has ordered Al-Qaida in Iraq to restrict its activities to Iraq and to let Al-Nusra control the fighting in Syria led by Shaykh Golani [whom Assad had declared had been killed.].

Breaking News #2
Situation in Iraq is serious for US installed al-Maliki regime.

The government in Baghdad is coming under daily attacks. On October 7, for instance, a martyrdom operator killed 19 soldiers and wounded 41 at Tarmiyah, 30 miles north of Baghdad. The Shia and Sunni populations are also attacking each other.

Last month, al-Maliki, the Shi'ite installed by the US in Baghdad, visited President Obama to ask for help. He was promised various kinds of military equipment by Obama but the US is unwilling to send its troops back in. Large areas of Iraq are now under al-Qaida control.

Breaking news #3: Somalia

November 8: A martyrdom operator hit western installed officials in the most secure area of Mogadishu killing four policemen and several civilian officials including a representative of the installed government. Although al-Shabab withdrew from the capital, most of Somalia is still under control of al-Shabab.

Our America
Dr. Abdulalim Shabazz Spoke to Standing Room only Audience at Lincoln University
Globally famous Anti-Zionist Scholar Speaks against Racism of all kinds.

On November 7, world famous mathematician and scholar, Dr. Abdulalim Shabazz returned to his alma mater and gave the keynote address to the honors students of Lincoln University, Pennsylvania. The International Cultural Center was packed with Lincoln's students, their parents and faculty who repeatedly cheered as Dr. Shabazz spoke.

It was not a mere speech but an invitation to think as Dr. Shabazz analyzed the concepts of American racism and debunked them.

With top of the line information, Dr. Shabazz showed that African American children are in fact often superior in intelligence and ability to White children as scientific tests have shown. Racism and the concepts of White superiority are artificial constructs, he said, and cannot stand up to scientific inquiry.

[It was quite a turn around for Lincoln University because the previous administration led by a Republican "Black" man had mistreated Dr. Shabazz [ DrAAS.info ] and he had left to take over the Endowed Chair at Grambling University.in Louisiana.]

Outreach in Philadelphia
Imam Jamil's Message, Hijabi women vs Malala, Islamic victories in Syria, Shoora resolutions

On Friday, November 8, Jamaat al-Muslimeen's literature was given to 130 people after Juma salat at Masjid Jamia in Phildelphia. An Arab brother gave a good khutba in Arabic which was traslated into English. He said that hijra was not flight but a movement for change from that which was good in Makkah to what was better in Madinah.
The literature of Jamaat al-Muslimeen was in six pages as follows:

Fighting in Syria and Assad forced to release Muslim women hostages.
Resolutions of Jamaat al-Muslimeen calling for release of political prisoners in USA.
Imam Jamil al-Amin's message.
Hijabi women answer propaganda by Malala against Pakistan and Islam.
The Compiler of the Qur'an, Usman, r.a., ibn Affan.
Suffering of Muslims in India and Bangladesh.

Why is Muharram, the first month of the Islamic calendar, holy?
Here is a short history of the Golden Era of Islam. Kerbala came after the Caliphate was over.
by Kaukab Siddique, PhD

The Qur'an counts Muharram as one of the holy months. Within Islamic texts, it's owing to the destruction of the Pharoah's army which was pursuing Musa [Moses] in Muharram. The Pharoah's drowning is a sign to the Muslims that if they are true believers, Allah will give them victory however powerful the enemy. [Moses was a Muslim like all all other messengers of God.]
Within the context of history, Muharram has two most significant events:

The martyrdom of Umar, r.a., on Mohurram 1 after he ruled for 10 years and made Islam the greatest power on the planet earth.
The martyrdom of Husain, r.a., the grandson of the prophet, pbuh, on Mohurram 10 who sacrificed himself and his family to safeguard the core values of Islam.

Most Muslims do not know the timeline between these two events and hence do not understand how a tyrant could get away with killing the beloved grandson of the Prophet, pbuh. Here is an outline of the history of Islam after the Prophet, pbuh, passed away which helps us to understand why this tragedy happened.

632-634 c.e.Abu Bakr, r.a., was the first rightly guided Caliph of Islam. He ruled for two and a half years. He not only defeated the tribal attempts to destroy nascent Islam but also inflicted crushing defeats on the Roman empire [one superpower of the day] at the battles of Ajnadin and Yarmuk. The Islamic commander was Khalid ibn al-Waleed, r.a.,whom the Prophet, pbuh, had hailed as Saifullah, the Sword of Allah.
634-644 c.e. Umar, r.a., was the second rightly guided Caliph of Islam. He ruled for 10 years and destroyed the oppressive Persian empire [the second superpower of that time] The battle of Qadisia sealed the fate of the vast Persian domains. He was martyred by a Persian prisoner
644-656 c.e. Usman, r.a., the third rightly guided Caliph of Islam. During his 12 years, Europe was put on the defensive and the combined Christian fleet was.destroyed by his commander Muawiyya, r.a.
Usman, r.a., is most famous for the compilation of the Qur'an into one book, with written Qur'an cross checked with memorization by thousands of people. He was martyred by shismatics who claimed that he was not as good as the first two Caliphs.

This was the golden era of Islam. Vast populations embraced Islam because Islam opposed slavery and taught the rights of women and taught faith in ONE GOD.. The two empires could not face the Muslims because, as Khalid, r.a., said to the oppressors, "we love death and paradise as much as you love life and wealth."

However, as Islam spread, fewer and fewer sahaba, r.a., [Companions of the Prophet, pbuh] were available to teach Islam and they were thinly spread out from Makka and Madina to Egypt, Syria and Iraq and on into Persia. Great wealth flowed into Muslim lands and with it came jealousy and mutual rivalry.
656-661 c.e. Ali, r.a., was raised to the caliphate by the murderers of Usman, r.a. His rule saw Muslims fightning each other because he could not [or would not] arrest and punish the murderers of Usman. He ruled for 5 years and moved the capital from Madinah to Kufa. He went into battle with Ayesha, r.a., the Mother of the Believers, and Muawiyya, r.a., both of whom sought to punish the murderers of Usman, r.a. Finally, his forces were internally broken up by conflict over the issue of cease fire with Muawiyyah, r.a. Ali's elder son, Hasan, r.a., had always been opposed to war. He not only made peace with Muawiyyah, r.a., after Ali, r.a, but accepted him as the rightful ruler.
661-680 c.e. Muawiyyah, r.a. ruled for 20 years. Once again Muslims were united and Islam blossomed as a culture and a civilization and a force for jihad. However, the internal purity of the Islamic way epitomozed in the caliphate of Umar, r.a.,could not be brought back. Muawiyyah, r.a., sowed the seeds of kingship. Ayesha, r.a., admonished him but most of the sahaba were too thinly spread out and were growing too old to vigorously oppose him. He "persuaded"-coerced-bought most people to accept his son Yazeed as the next Caliph.
680-683 c.e. Yazeed had been a strong warrior but as ruler, he was a failure. Husain, r.a., the grandson of the prophet, pbuh, sought to replace him and went out towards Kufa at the petition of hundreds of people who sought him as Caliph. While he was in the desert at Kerbala [now in Iraq] he was betrayed by those who had petitioned him. His small force was surrounded by a tribal army of 4,000 sent by Yazeed's governor Ibn Ziyad. Husain, r.a and his male family members went down fighting and were ruthlessly slain. His female family members were humiliated though Yazeed expressed great sorrow when the news of Kerbala reached him.
683-692 c.e. Abdullah, r.a., the son of Asma, r.a., and Zubayr, r.a., fought Yazeed's armies and defeated them. The Islamic world, except Syria, accepted Abdullah, r.a., as Caliph. His seven years were the closest in their Islamic content to the era of Umar, r.a. However, he too was betrayed and finally isolated in Makka where he was martyred in the Kaaba itself by the forces of Yazeed's successor. He would not surrender owing to to the exhortations of his mother Asma, r.a.

Thus the era of the Caliphate ended and was replaced by Kingship. After that Arabia became secondary and Islam grew in Africa, Persia, India, Central Asia, Turkey and Europe.

Today we see a resurgence of Islam owing to the teachings of Shah Waliullah, Syed Ahmed Shaheed, Iqbal, Hasan al-Banna, Shaykh Nursi of Turkey, Syed Qutb, Maulana Maudoodi, Dr. Omar Abdel Rahman, Shaykh Osama, Dr. al-Zawahiri and Mullah Umar.

Africa is gradually becoming the leader of the Islamic revolution. The historic influences are those of Bilal, r.a., [the prophet's great companion], Tariq ibn Ziyad, Mansa Musa, Yusuf ibn Tashfeen and the Sokoto jihad movement. Then came the Mahdi of Sudan. In Algeria FIS has been crushed but it has been replaced by al-Qaida in the Islamic Maghreb, various groups in Libya, al-Shabab in Somalia and Boko Haram in Nigeria. The Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt surprised everyone by the sacrifices it has offered.

In America, the seminal leadership is also African, including Malcolm X and Imam Jamil al-Amin

Our America
Announcement for children & adults.
??Still haven't found anything positive to do on December 25th, 2013?

Join us in Durham, North Carolina. and bring your children also
Our children will sing Islamic songs, recite Quran and hadith and then all the children will participate in a workshop making Islamic art pieces.with two artists.

Our topic:
"Maintaining an Islamic Family in Challenging Times"
Guest speaker:
Dr. Kaukab Siddique chief editor of New Trend Magazine
and other local speakers.
Adult donation $25.00 Children $5.00. Vendors $35.00. Lunch is included
Proceeds will go toward developing an ongoing Islamic learning Center for New Muslims and those who want to know about Islam on an ongoing basis.
Sponsored by Darul Arqam Muslim Converts Association of Durham NC.
Contact Sister Amatullah V. Abdul-Karim proj. mgr. before Dec 10th 2013. 919-697-7147-or amatul0777@yahoo.com

Muslims should be the first to help victims of Super Typhoon in Philippines
November 9: First reports indicate 1200 people are dead. Numbers will rise.

Jareer Ibn Abdullah reported: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said, "Allah will not be merciful to those who are not merciful to the people."
(Source: Sahih Bukhari 6941)
hhrd.org/donate

Record Breaking Typhoon Hit Philippines
Asalaamu Alaykum WaRahmatullahi WaBarakatahu,
Helping Hand for Relief and Development Emergency Response Team in South East Asia are on standby making the necessary arrangements to assist in emergency relief preparations needed for the record breaking typhoon that hit Philippines.

With winds reaching up to 200 miles per hour, typhoon "Haiyan" is noted by meteorologist to be the most powerful storm in history to make landfall and poses a risk to up to 12 million people across the region. Recovering from last month's earthquake authorities is taking necessary precautions as millions seek shelter.

According to BBC reports coming out of the Philippines initial numbers of causalities currently stand at 7 but have potential of increasing drastically. So far the storm has affected the central islands of Leyte and Samar, and the northern tip of Cebu with waves as high as 45 feet being reported from the coasts.

HHRD has launched an Emergency Relief Fund for the Philippines program and is collecting donations in order to provide citizens with food, shelter, water and medical assistance. HHRD representatives are currently in Thailand preparing to reach Philippines.

We ask our donors to frequent our website for further information on HHRD's efforts in the region and how you can help. Please donate towards the Philippines Typhoon Relief Fund by visiting www.hhrd.org.

Wasalaam Walaykum WaRahmatullahi WaBarakatahu,
HHRD Emergency Response Team

Helping Hand for Relief & Development | 12541 McDougal Street | Detroit | MI | 48212

South Korea
Islam was introduced by Turks:
35,000 Koreans have embraced Islam in addition to 100,000 Muslim Immigrants
[Korea Today TV just before last Ramadan.[[Thanks to Chacha Kamal.]

http://YouTube.com/watch?v=gvDX2XPdRZY

IRemember | REMEMBRANCE DAY 2013 | JOIN THE CAMPAIGN

Campaign Islam urges all Muslims around the world to support this new campaign highlighting the atrocities that have and are taking place in Muslim land. Pls follow us on twitter/campaignIslam

http://YouTube.com/watch?v=yUGV7XPe2t8

Faith Versus Arrogant Imperialism-Zionism & Tyranny
Dr. Omar Abdel Rahman: Speaks in an Unusual video
USA Could not Break him though he is Blind & Diabetic and knows no English.

Egyptian leader and man of God Dr. Omar, also known as the Blind Shaykh, continues to live in a US prison, cut off from all outside contact.

This video will make you weep with pride for this great Muslim. This is indeed the faith of a helpless Islamic scholar who refuses to sell out.

The video has some interesting historic pictures including that of Ahmad Abdel Sattar, the Shaykh's translator.

American Zionist Jewish judge Michael Mukasey conducted the bogus trial of Shaykh Omar to please the dictator of Egypt Hosni Mubarak [now defunct]. America's Jewish groups hailed the life sentence imposed on this opponent of tyranny who never harmed America.

Watch this unusual video sent by Br. Ali from Virginia, produced by Ibn Taymiya center. [Arabic with English sub-titles.]

http://YouTube.com/watch?v=HoIi4pF-F6w

Pakistan #1
Munawar Hasan refers to Hakeemullah Mehsud as "martyr" and urges shooting down of drones.
by Anwar Niazi

LAHORE, Nov. 5: Applauding a demonstration of downing of drone during military exercises, Ameer, Jamaat e Islami, Pakistan, Syed Munawar Hasan, has called upon the government to show courage and down the real drone as soon as it sneaked into Pakistan.

Talking to different delegations at Mansoora on Tuesday, he said it was sheer cowardice and slavishness to place the country's air space at the mercy of the enemy in spite of having the skill to down the drone.

Syed Munawar Hasan said the nation had hoped that the PML(N) leadership would show courage and a sense of national honour in respect of the US war on terror but they had been disappointed. If the government did not change its policy, the masses would be constrained to hold the view that the present government too was blindly following Pervez Musharraf's policy and was a party to the killing of innocent citizens at the hand of the US.

He said it would be better if the government itself announced stopping the NATO supplies in order to save the country from chaos.

The JI Ameer said it was the duty of the entire nation to rise against US brutalities and oppression, and those who were laying down their lives for this cause were the heroes of the nation.

He said that prior to his martyrdom, Hakimullah Mehsud was in consultation with different Taliban groups for paving the way for dialogue and the Federal Interior Minister had also admitted that the talks between the government and the Taliban were about to begin when the US drone scuttled the entire process. The late TTP chief was martyred when he was striving to achieve a national objective, he added.

The JI Ameer said, the only way to control terrorism and disorder was to begin the talks and added that the US would not spare any effort to sabotage the talks. Now it was for the rulers to adopt appropriate course for making the talks secure and fruitful.

Pakistan #2
Maulvi Fazlullah, mujahid of Swat, elected new leader of Pak Taliban on November 7.

Pakistani Taliban [TTP] have chosen Fazlullah as their new leader. He is a veteran of the battles against elite Pakistani army units. When the people of Swat, Dir and surrounding areas decided in favor of Sharia rule, USA saw it as a threat. A large Pakistani force supported by tanks, heavy artillery, jet fighters and helicopter gunships moved into Swat. The mujahideen led by Fazlullah fought them every foot of the way.

General Kayani removed the entire population of Swat to create a free fire zone . [This kind of displacement is genocide according to international law but the western media didn't say a word.]

The Pakistani generals shelled and bombed civilians who would not move. More than 30,000 civilians were killed by the army. Mosques, medressas and libraries run by the Sharia movement were obliterated. Fazlullah fought baxck tenaciously, killing 3000 of Pakistan's best troops for a loss of 1000 mujahideen.

Finally the Pakis outflanked the mujahideen by dropping paratroopers behind the Islamic lines. Fazlullah was seriously wounded but retreated safely into an area of Afghanistan ruled by the Afghan Taliban.

Pakistani secularists are alarmed at the election of Fazlullah as leader to the entire Pak Taliban movement including the Mehsuds. It is feared that he will attack Paki troops to take revenge for Hakeemullah [who was probably targeted for the US by the Paki intelligence] and might himself be killed by US drones which would plunge Pakistan into open ended war.

As Munawar Hasan and Imran Khan have said, the way out is peace talks with the Pak Taliban.

Umar, r.a., The Second Caliph of Islam, has no equal in history for Justice and humility.
Hazrat 'Umar ibn al-Khattab RadhiAllaahu Anhu
by Br. Usman

Hazrat 'Umar ibn al- Khattab (R A) (583 - 644 CE), was the second of the Rightly Guided Khalifas in Islamic history. He was a Companion of the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) and was one of the 'Ashratun-Mubashshirah, i.e. those ten Companions who had been given the glad tidings of belonging to Paradise.

It is narrated from Hazrat Jabir that the Prophet (SAW) said:

"Allaah chose my Companions over everything else in existence except for the Prophets and the Messengers. He subhaanahu wa ta'ala chose four of them for me: Abu Bakr (R A) , 'Umar (R A) , 'Uthman(R A) , 'Ali (R A). He made them my best Companions, and all of my Companions are good."

[Al-Bazzar and Ad-Daylami]

The Prophet (SAW) also said:

"Whoever loves 'Umar has loved me. Whoever hates 'Umar hates me."

[At-Tabarani]

Hazrat Ibn Abbas narrates that the Prophet (SAW) said:

"There is no angel in the heaven that does not respect 'Umar and no shaytan on the earth but that he is afraid of 'Umar ."

Hazrat Daata Ganj Baksh , an 11th century scholar and Sufi saint writes in his famous Kashful- Mahjoob that:

Hazrat 'Umar ibn al- Khattab (R A) was the Commander of the Faithful (Ahl-eimna), leader of those having the status of ihsan, the imam (leader) of those who have realized the Truth (Ahl-e-tahqiq) and the guide of lovers gone deep into the ocean of Divine love. He is famous for his karamat (spiritual eminence) and farasat (spiritual insight), and had a large number of mystical truths to his credit.

The Prophet (SAW) said:

"Al Haqqu yantiqu 'alaa lisaanil 'Umar"

"God speaks through the tongue of 'Umar."

Before the advent of Islam there was no tradition in Arabia of reading or writing. There were only seventeen people among the Quraish who could read or write at the time when the Prophet (SAW) started to receive Divine revelations. Hazrat 'Umar was one of those seventeen people. However, he was an arch-enemy of the Prophet (SAW) Muhammad and Islam in its early days, until the Prophet (SAW) prayed:

"O Allah, strengthen Islam with either 'Umar ibn al- Khattab (R A) or 'Amr ibn

Hisham (Abu Jahal) whomsoever Thou pleaseth."

The next day Hazrat 'Umar was guided to accept Islam. It happened as follows: It was the sixth year of Prophet's mission when Quraish leaders called a meeting and asked a volunteer for the assassination of the Prophet (SAW) . Hazrat 'Umar offered himself for this task and everybody in the meeting exclaimed that he was the right person for it. While he was on his way with a sword in his hand he met Sa'd bin Abi Waqqas who enquired of him about his destination. Hazrat 'Umar told him that he was going to murder the Prophet (SAW) .

After some discussion Sa'd said, "You had better take care of your own family first. Your sister and brother-in-law both have accepted Islam." Hearing this Hazrat 'Umar changed his direction and went straight to his sister's house. When Hazrat 'Umar knocked at the door, they were studying the Qur'an from Hazrat Khabbab . His sister Fatimah was frightened on hearing Hazrat 'Umar's voice and tried to hide the portion of the Qur'an she was reciting. When Hazrat 'Umar entered the house he enquired about their Islam and on finding that they had accepted Islam, he first fell upon his brother-in-law and beat him severely. When his sister intervened he smote her so violently on her face that it bled profusely.

On this, his sister burst out: "Do whatever you like, we are determined to die as Muslims." When Hazrat 'Umar saw his sister bleeding, he calmed down and felt ashamed. He loved Fatimah very much but could not tolerate her conversion to Islam. However, deeply moved, Hazrat 'Umar asked her to show the pages on which the Qur'an was written. But she was, after all, Hazrat 'Umar's sister and told him, "You can not touch it unless you take a bath and make yourself clean." He washed his body and then read the leaves. That was the beginning of Surah Ta-Ha (Chapter 20 of the Qur'an). When he came to the verse:

"Indeed it is Me, Allaah - there is no God except I - therefore worship Me and keep the prayer established for My remembrance."

[Al Ta-Ha, 20:14]

Hazrat 'Umar exclaimed, "Surely this is the Word of Allah. Take me to Muhammad ". This is why it is said that the rest of the Companions were mureed (one who seeks) of the Prophet , whereas Hazrat 'Umar was His muraad (one who is sought). Hazrat 'Umar's conversion to Islam was a terrible blow to the morale of the disbelievers. Hazrat 'Abdullah bin Mas'ud(R A) , a great Companion, says, "Hazrat 'Umar's conversion to Islam was a great triumph, his emigration to Medina a tremendous reinforcement and his accession to Caliphate a great blessing for the Muslims." And Hazrat Daata Ganj Baksh said that Hazrat Umar is one of the select admitted to the Divine Presence, so much so that angel Jibril , came and said to the Prophet (SAW) , "O Muhammad , all the angels send you greetings on the conversion of 'Umar to Islam." [Kashf-ul-Mahjoob]

Conversion of Hazrat 'Umar strengthened Islam. Hitherto, Muslims had lived in constant fear of disbelievers, and most of them were concealing their faith. The Muslims were now able to offer their Salat (ritual prayers) publicly. When Hazrat 'Umar became a Muslim he declared his faith openly before the Quraish chiefs. No one dared harm him. Then he requested the Prophet (SAW) to offer Salat in the Ka'bah. On getting the consent of the Prophet (SAW) , Hazrat 'Umar led a party of the Muslims to it. Hazrat Hamzah , who had accepted Islam a few days before Hazrat 'Umar carried another party of the Muslims to the Ka'bah. When all the Muslims gathered in the Ka'bah they offered their Salat in congregation. The Prophet (SAW) led this first public Salat in the history of Islam. For this courageous and bold action of Hazrat 'Umar the Prophet (SAW) gave him the title of "al-Faruq" i.e., the one who makes a distinction between Haqq (Right) and Batil (Wrong).

When the Muslims were ordered to migrate to Medina, most of them left Mecca quietly and secretly, but Hazrat 'Umar declared it openly. He put on his arms and first went to the Ka'bah. After performing the Salat he announced loudly: "I am migrating to Medina. If anyone wants to check me, let him come out. I am sure that his mother would cry for his life." There was no man in Mecca to accept the challenge of Hazrat 'Umar . Then he migrated to Medina
boldly.
For the first time in the history of Islam, the Islamic calendar was introduced in the present form by Hazrat 'Umar as advised by Hazrat Ali ((R A) ). The date of the start of this calendar was fixed as the date of the Hijrah (Migration) of the Prophet (SAW) .Thus the calendar is known as the Hijri Calendar.

Hazrat 'Umar had great love for Allaah and the Prophet (SAW) . The Prophet (SA) also had a deep love for him. Once He remarked:

"Were a Prophet (SAW) to come after me, he would have been 'Umar ".

(Tirmidhi)

In another Hadith mentioned in Bukhari, Hazrat Abu Hurairah narrated that the Prophet (SAW) said:

"In Bani Isra'il (Israelites) there were people who were not prophets but talked to Allaah . Were anyone in my Ummah (people) like those persons, he would be 'Umar ."

The passing away of the Prophet (SAW) into the Divine Realm was a great shock to him, and he could not believe it until Hazrat Abu Bakr (R A) reminded him of a clear verse of the Qur'an on the subject. He then went to the Council Hall along with Hazrat Abu Bakr (R A) where the people of Medina had assembled to select the First Caliph. Hazrat 'Umar was the first person to give Bai'ah (pledge allegiance) at the hand of Hazrat Abu Bakr (R A) , and then helped him throughout the duration of his rule.

There were hundreds of Huffaz (i.e., those who committed the whole Qur'an to memory) among the Companions during the life-time of the Prophet (SAW) but it had not been compiled in the form of a book. The memorization of the Quran continued even after the passing away of the Prophet (SAW) into the Divine Realm. In various battles, which took place against rebels and false prophets, a number of Huffaz Companions were martyred. In the battle against Musailimah al-Khad-dhab about seventy Huffaz had died. It then occurred to Hazrat 'Umar that necessary steps should be taken to preserve the Qur'an intact in its original form against every kind of danger and it was not wise to depend exclusively upon those who had learnt it by heart. Therefore, he urged Hazrat Abu Bakr (R A) to put it in the form of a book.

Other Companions also agreed with Hazrat 'Umar's opinion but Hazrat Abu Bakr (R A) hesitated in the beginning because it was not done by the Prophet (SAW) . However after some discussion he agreed to it and appointed Hazrat Zaid bin Thabit for this work who was hesitant at first but later, he too agreed and began the work. Hazrat Umar's initiation of the idea of compiling the Quran in the form of a "mus-haf" as we see it today is a great contribution to Islam and a great sign that not all new acts in Islam are blameworthy as some schools of thought allege.

The Salat-ut-Tarawih (special superogatory daily prayers performed in the month of Ramadan), which was conducted occasionally during the lifetime of the Prophet (SAW) , was eventually established as a regular congregational practice throughout the month of Ramadan during the days of Khalifa Umar ibn al- Khattab (R A) . This accounts for the fact that it is often attributed to Khalifa Umar , on the grounds that he was the first to organize its performance along these lines. Hazrat Ali ibn Abi Talib ((R A) ) is reported as having said:

"Umar ibn al- Khattab (R A) would never have taken such a serious interest in these Tarawih prayers, if it had not been for a certain saying of the Prophet (SAW) :

'Around the Heavenly Throne, Allaah (Exalted is He) maintains an area called the Enclosure of Sanctity, which consists of radiant light. So many are the angels within its confines, that none but Allaah (Almighty and Glorious is He) could ever add up their total number. These angels are utterly devoted to the worshipful service of Allaah (Exalted is He) and they never take a moment to relax. When the nights of the month of Ramadan come around, they ask their Lord for permission to descend by turns to the earth below, where they perform the ritual prayers together with the children of Adam. Whenever any member of the Community of Muhammad (prayers and peace of Allaah be upon Him) is touched by them, or touches them, that person will experience such blissful happiness and good fortune that he will never again feel miserable or suffer distress.'

As soon as Umar ibn al- Khattab (R A) heard me repeat these words, he exclaimed: 'Since we are specially entitled to receive this blessing, we must be better prepared!' He then proceeded to organize the congregational observance of the tarawih prayers, and it was he who established the practice of performing them (throughout the month of Ramadan) as a regular traditional custom." As we know from another traditional report, Hazrat Ali ibn Abi Talib ((R A) ) went out in the first part of a certain night in the month of Ramadan. Then when he heard the Quran being recited in the Masjids he exclaimed: "May Allaah fill the tomb of 'Umar with light, as Allah's Masjids are illuminated by the recitation of the Quran!"

(Al-Ghunya, pp. 126-128)

The period of Hazrat 'Umar's caliphate undoubtedly is the "Golden Age" of Islam in every respect. He was a man of extraordinary genius who not only molded the destiny of the nation but made history of his own. He followed the footsteps of the Prophet (SAW) to the fullest extent. He was an exemplary administrator who originated an efficient system of administration. He implemented Shari'ah (Divine Islamic Law) as the code of a newly formed International Islamic State; he safeguarded the internal safety by introducing the police force: he gave stipends to the poor; he founded new cities for the growth of Islamic culture and civilization; he improved agriculture & economics, and founded the educational system; in brief he was the founder of a great Islamic State.

He was a very pious Muslim. His success lay in two things: his fear of Allaah and his love for the Prophet (SAW) . He never used even oil from the Bait-ul-Maal (Public Treasury) to burn a lamp at night for his personal needs. Whenever he finished his official work he put off the lamp.

He used to patrol the city at night to find out the needs, requirements, and conditions of the people. He did not hesitate to take his wife to work as a midwife for a poor woman. The salary he got from the Bait-ul-Mal was so low that it was hardly enough for him and his family's needs.

When some of the eminent Muslims requested him to increase the amount, he said, "The Prophet (SAW) has left a standard by his personal example. I must follow him."

He was a great jurist and theologian of Islam. Because of the fear of making any mistake he did not quote many Ahaadeeth (Sayings of the Prophet (SAW) ) even though he was fully conversant with them. He was an expert in deriving laws from the Qur'an and the Hadeeth. Hazrat Ibn Umar narrated that the Messenger of Allaah , said:

"While I was asleep I drank - meaning milk - until I saw satiation flowing in my nails, and then I passed it to 'Umar. They said: How did you interpret it, Messenger of Allaah y? He y said, 'Knowledge.'"

Hazrat Ibn Masud said: "Even if the knowledge of 'Umar were to be put in one scale of a balance and the knowledge of every living being on the earth were put in the other scale, the knowledge of 'Umar would outweigh their knowledge."

When the Prophet (SAW) , sought the advice of the Companions with respect to the story of the slander of Hazrat Aisha (only as a way to teach his Ummah that consultation or shura is the way to deal with all matters in life, as He does not need the advice of anyone except Allah Almighty), Hazrat 'Umar said: "Who married you to her Messenger of Allaah?" He said:

"Allah." He said: "Do you think that your Lord would conceal a defect of hers from you?

Glory be to You, this is a huge slander!" Then the revelation from AllaahAlmighty came down just like that in the form of Surah Al-Noor, 24:16. (Tarikh al-Khulafa, pp. 113-121)

He was the father of Umm-ul-Mu'minin Hazrat Hafsah the chaste wife of the Prophet (SAW) .

The glorious rule of Hazrat 'Umar came to an end with his passing away into the Divine Realm when he was 61 years old. He was stabbed several times by a Persian prisoner of war in the Masjid at Fajr. The injuries he sustained were so serious that the Khalifa died the next morning. He requested Hazrat Aisha's permission for his burial by the side of the Prophet (SAW) . Though she had reserved that place for herself, upon Hazrat 'Umar's request she gave it to him (may Allah be pleased with them both).

2013-11-10 Sun 08:54:09 cst
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