Download PDF: [S] Hadrat ‘Umar’s Martydom (Islamic story)

It is mentioned that in the month of Zil-Hajj 23 A.H. Hadrat Sayyiduna ‘Umar – may Allah be pleased with him – appeared for the Fajr Salaah. It was his habit that as long as the lines were not straight, he did not allow the Takbeer to be read. As he was straightening the lines, the slave of Hadrat Sayyiduna Mughayrah bin Shubah – may Allah be pleased with him, namely Abu Lulu, arrived. In his hand, he had a dagger which was sharpened on both sides. He then walked through the Musallies and went up to Hadrat Sayyiduna ‘Umar – may Allah be pleased with him – and stabbed the great Muslim five of six times. The final attempt on the life of Hadrat Sayyiduna ‘Umar – may Allah be pleased with him – proved fatal which was just below his navel.

 

The person reading Salaah at that time was Hadrat Sayyiduna Kaleeb bin Abul Kabeer – may Allah be pleased with him. Abu Lulu also attacked him and he passed away from fatal wounds. At the same time, the dagger itself was coated with poison which made the attack even more fatal.

 

Hadrat Sayyiduna ‘Umar – may Allah be pleased with him , who was fatally wounded, then asked whether Hadrat Sayyiduna Abdur Rahman bin Auf – may Allah be pleased with him – was present and he was then sent to the front to complete the Fajr Salaah. After the Salaah, Hadrat Sayyiduna ‘Umar – may Allah be pleased with him – was then taken to his house. He then called Hadrat Sayyiduna Abdur Rahman bin Auf – may Allah be pleased with him – to his house and said to him, “I wish to hand over a great responsibility to you”.

 

Hadrat Sayyiduna Abdur Rahman bin Auf – may Allah be pleased with him – replied, “I make a plea to you in the Divine Name of Almighty Allah that you will you not present the position of Ameerul Mo’mineen to me.”

 

He replied that this was not his intent. Hadrat Sayyiduna ‘Umar – may Allah be pleased with him – then declared, “Please remain silent on this issue. Do speak to anyone until I nominate those people to this position with whom the Holy Prophet – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – was pleased until his final moments in this world. Please call Ali, ‘Uthman and Sa’ad bin Abi Waqqas and also wait for Talha. If he arrives then fine otherwise, choose any of these people for this position.”

 

Hadrat Sayyiduna ‘Umar – may Allah be pleased with him – then looked at Hadrat Sayyiduna Ali – may Allah be pleased with him – and said, “O Ali! I swear in the Divine Name of Almighty Allah that if I give you the task of control over the Muslims, you should not choose any of your clan members above the others.” He also gave the same advice to Hadrat Sayyiduna ‘Uthman and Hadrat Sayyiduna Sa’ad – may Allah be pleased with them. He told them to go and choose whosoever they wished among the people he had mentioned.

 

Hadrat Sayyiduna ‘Umar – may Allah be pleased with him – then instructed Hadrat Sayyiduna Suhaib Rumi – may Allah be pleased with him – to lead the Salaah. He then also instructed Hadrat Sayyiduna Abu Talha Ansari – may Allah be pleased with him – to stand at the door and not to allow anyone to enter while the issue of Khilafat was been discussed.

 

He then gave the following advice, “I give advice to the future leader of the Muslims to treat the people of Madina Shareef with great kindness. He should always be good to them and take care of their needs. He should also bear in mind that these blessed people had made many sacrifices for the Divine Pleasure of Allah Almighty and His beloved Prophet – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him. They were also people who had chosen the Hereafter in place of the world. My advice is that good behaviour should be displayed with those who are good among the Ansaar and as for those who are not that good, still too, one should pardon them and overlook their inefficiency. I also advice the new leader that he should also pay special attention to the Arabs because the Arabs are the actual root of Islam. One should take the Sadqah and charity from those who are wealthy among them and this should be distributed among the poor and destitute. I also advice the new leader that he should pay attention to the pact and treaties which still existed between various Christian and Jewish tribes. This is the teaching of the Holy Prophet Prophet – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him. O Allah Almighty! Please be aware that I have conveyed Your message.”

 

After giving this advice, Hadrat Sayyiduna ‘Umar – may Allah be pleased with him – then called his son, Hadrat Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn ‘Umar – may Allah be pleased with him – and said to him, “O Abdullah! Go and see who the person that has stabbed me is.”

 

His son replied, “O Ameerul Mo’mineen! Your attacker is the Christian slave of Hadrat Sayyiduna Mughayrah bin Shubah.”

 

When Hadrat Sayyiduna ‘Umar – may Allah be pleased with him – heard this answer, he sighed deeply and remarked, “All Praise is due to Allah Almighty that my death will not be through the hands of that person who had made one single Sajdah to the Almighty Allah.”

 

Hadrat Sayyiduna ‘Umar – may Allah be pleased with him – then said to his son, “Go and ask the Mother of the Faithful whether she will allow me to be buried next to the Holy Prophet – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him –and Hadrat Sayyiduna Abu Bakr May Allah.”

 

When Hadrat Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn ‘Umar – may Allah be pleased with him – presented this requested to her, she began to weep and then said, “It was my wish to be buried next to the Holy Prophet – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – and my father, however, I give preference to the request of the Ameerul Mo’mineen.” It was only after this, that the great leader was buried next to them. (Al Kaamil fi Taarikh. Taarikh ibn Khaldun)