Umar Ibn Abdulaziz

Umar Ibn Abdulaziz

While 'Umar Ibn Alkhatab was inclined on a wall he heard a discussion between a mother and her daughter. The daughter had collected milk for that day to be sold but the milk was less than expected so her mother told her to mix water with the milk to increase it. The daughter challenged and told her how the Khaleefah 'Umar Ibn Al-Khattaab had prohibited the mixing of milk with water to be traded in marketplaces. The mother countered by telling her that 'Umar was not present and that nobody would realize, but her daughter challenged and reminded her that although Umar was not present Allah was watching. She said: "I cannot obey Allah in public and disobey Him in private."
When 'Umar overheard this he told the grandpa of Zaid bin Aslam to find out about this person and when he found out that she was not married he decided to marry her to one of his sons. He approached them and mentioned her merits and his son 'Aasim who had not yet married stepped forward to marry her. 'Aasim and his new wife later had a daughter who married the son of Khaleefah Marwan who was called 'Abdul-Aziz and from them came 'Umar Ibn 'Abdul Aziz (Raheemuhullah).
'Umar Ibn 'Abdul Aziz was born in the year 63 Hijrah. His father 'Abdul-Aziz was the appointed Wali of Egypt and when 'Umar was young he sent him to Al-Madinah to be raised in an Islamic environment. So he went, memorised the Qur'aan at a young age and was educated by the foremost scholars from the Islamic Ummah and from the great generation that followed the Sahaabah (rah). When his father passed away the Ummayyad Khaleefah Abdul-Maalik called him to Damascus and he was married to the Khaleefah's daughter Fatimah (Note: Fatimah’s father, grandfather, husband, son, both of her brothers, and her husband were all Khaleefah’s).
During the 86th year after Hijrah Umar was appointed as the Wali of Madina by the oldest brother of his wife Fatimah, who was Khalifah at that time. Umar remained the Wali of Madinah until the 93rd year of Hijrah. Umar was known for his justice and Zaid bin Aslam said in regards to him: "I have not prayed behind an Imaam after the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم who resembles his صلى الله عليه وسلم salaah more than this young boy (al-Bayhaqi)."
During the 93rd year of Hijrah Umar was removed from his post as the Wali of Madinah and this decision was mainly because Umar was so good and fair that he exposed the other Wulaa like Al-Hajjaj Bin Yousuf who was ruthless and ruled with an iron fist.
After 6years of sitting at home Umar was called upon by the Khalifa Suleymaan who unlike any other khalifa decided to appoint someone who was not related to him by blood which was Umar Ibn Abdulaziz rather than his cousin. This act created much disorder but at the end Umar was given the reigns of the Islamic world. The first act Umar did was that he resigned and asked the people to choose the next Khalifa rather than be chosen by the previous Khalifa. This was one of the first acts Umar did to distinguish himself from other Khalifa’s. Umar was then reelected by the people as the rightful Khalifa.
Upon his appointment the Khaleefah's carriage was brought for him and he refused saying that his mule was sufficient for him. Al-Laith narrated: "When he became Khaleefah he started with himself and family and then the people of his household and he took from them their possessions and counted their wealth as Mazhaalim (acts of injustices that needed to be restored). He moved out of the palace and built a small house with two rooms. He freed his slaves and returned any wealth and property that he had attained due to privileges to the Bait Al-Maal. He approached his wife Faatimah who had jewellery that was given to her by her father which no one had seen the like of and he said to her: 'Either you return this to the Bait ul Maal or you permit me to separate from you because I cannot stand for you and me to be in the same house (whilst you have it).' He also explained to her that they would have no luxuries in their life and that they would live the simplest of lives and he gave her the choice to return back to the palace and continue living in luxury or remain with him with only Allah سبحانه وتعالى and His Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم. This daughter of a Khaleefah and sister to two former Khaleefahs responded to his call, returned the jewels and accepted Allah سبحانه وتعالى and His Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم, and she remained loyal to this throughout his Khilafah and after his death, may Allah's mercy be upon her."

Umar was named as the fifth of the Khulafaa Alrashidoon. This title has not been given to any previous Khalifa or any Khalifa to come. Umar was the special with the special characteristics that made him shine unlike any other khlaifa in history. Umar was considered by many the Khalifa who came to revive Islam.
Umar continued his rule for approximately 4 years where he showed the world why he was the special one, and who was like no other. Umars reforms were: * State officials were excluded from entering into any business. * Unpaid labor was made illegal. * Pasture lands and game reserves, which were reserved for the family of the dignitaries, were evenly distributed among the poor for the purpose of cultivation. * He urged to all of the officials to listen to complaints of the people and during any occasion, he used to announce that, if any subject had seen any officer mistreating others should report him to the leader and he will be given a reward ranging from 100 - 300 dirhams.
These reforms shocked the Islamic world. Many of the peasants and the people who were considered part of the lower class loved Umar for the justice he planted in the Islamic community, but of course not everyone was satisfied with what Umar was doing and changing. The nobility and rich people were extremely angry and were plotting slowly to strike back.
Eventually they bribed Umar’s servant to put poison into Umar’s food. Umar remained sick and alive for a couple of days, and he found out eventually that the servant had poisoned and forgives him. Umar than passes away on the 26th Safar, 63 Hijri.

Quotes: * A Ruler usually appoints people to watch over their subjects. I appoint you a watcher over me and my behavior. If you find me at fault in word or action guide me and stop me from doing it. * Belief includes obligations, doctrines, boundaries, and preferred ways. Whoever fulfills all of them has perfected his belief, and whoever does not fulfill them has not perfected his belief. If I live, I will make them clear to you so that you can act on them. If I die, however, I am not eager for your company. * Al-Taqwa (piety) does not mean spending the night in prayers and observing fast in the day, but it does mean: to perform Divine obligations and to avoid prohibitions; and if one acts upon additional good deeds, this will be light upon light.