`Omar's Martyrdom 1

 

The enemies of Islam would not leave a man like `Omar to carry on his wonderful achievements in the service of Islam and the Muslims. And the venomous 2 Rancours 3 that were still existent in the hearts of the Persian and Byzantine slaves would never make them forget that it was `Omar who had caused them to lead that life of servility. 4

`Omar was one day walking in Madinah when a Persian youth, named "Fairouz" and surnamed "`Abu-Lu'lu'ah", met him. That youth was a slave under "Al-Mugheerah- ibn-Shu'bah", and had been taken captive after the conquest of Nahawand. To the Commander of the Faithful, he complained of his master saying that he had imposed upon him four dirhams to be paid every day. `Omar asked him about his job, and the answer was that he worked as a carpenter, a blacksmith and a house painter. Then `Omar remarked that the tax his master had imposed upon him was quite fair, but the youth was not happy with that remark, and went away full of indignation. This story is nothing more than a spurious 5 pretext which might have been plotted 6 to kill the Commander of the Faithful.

`Omar met that youth again while he was in the company of some friends of his. He called him and said: "I have been informed that you claim to be able to make a mill 7 that grinds 8 by the power of the wind." The youth asserted 9 that he was. So `Omar said to him: "Then make us one," to which the youth answered: "I will certainly make you a mill that will be the chit-chat 10 of all the people in the cities." When the youth went away, `Omar said to those with him: "The slave has threatened me already."

`Omar could not do anything against that abominable 11 Magian 12 because, according to the Islamic law, a man can never be convicted 13 on the basis of suspicion 14 or uncertainty. So one day, one of the blackest days in the history of mankind, at dawn in the mosque, when `Omar started to lead the Muslims in prayer saying: "Greater is Allah" (Allahu Akbar), that devil, "`Abu-Lu'lu'ah," came unnoticed out of his hiding place in a dark corner of the mosque, as a venomous serpent 15 coming out of its dark pit, 16 without being noticed. He went straight towards `Omar, and, with a dagger in his hand, aimed three deadly stabs at the pure body in the back, at which the Commander of the Faithful fell down on the ground with a heavy effusion 17 of blood. Above all things, what concerned him was the continuation of the prayer. He took the hand of `Abdur-Rahman-ibn-'Awf and sent him ahead to lead the prayer. Then he said: "Catch that dog; he has killed me," as though he knew it was that Magian dog who had committed the hideous 18 crime.

`Omar was afterwards carried to his home. He was out of his senses. One of the people around said: "Wake him up so that he may say his prayer." The call to prayer brought him back to his senses; he said: "Oh yes! the prayer! No fortune in Islam for him who abandons his prayer!'' Then he demanded to be helped to perform ablution, 19 after which he said his prayer. When he was assured that his murderer was "`Abu-Lu'lu'ah," he said: "Praise be to Allah Who has not ordained my murder to be committed by a man who can argue with me before Allah on the plea 20 that he has once prostrated 21 to Him."

When the last hour approached, and there was no single hope of recovery, `Omar commanded his son `Abdullah to go to `Aa'ishah, the Mother of the Faithful, and ask her permission to have him buried beside his favourite brothers: the Prophet, Allah's Peace and Blessings be upon him, and Abu-Bakr, Allah be pleased with him. She gave him that permission.

The martyrdom of `Omar-ibnul-Khattab, as we have said at the beginning of this chapter, came to answer for the venomous rancours that filled the hearts of the Persian and Byzantine slaves. It is always related that `Abu-Lu'lu'ah" used to stroke 22 with his hand the heads of any Persian captives whenever he met them, and say: "These Arabs have devoured 23 my liver. 24 This statement shows the bitter hatred that Magian dog bore against Islam and the Muslims. No wonder, then, that he frequented the dwelling-places of "Al-Hormozan" the ex-governor of "Al-Ahwaz" who was conquered by the Muslims, and "Jufainah Al-' Anbari", so that the three of them might take revenge from the Commander of the Faithful under the banner of whose religion, and within the scope of whose justice, they were living in safety.

  It has been related that the Prophet, Allah's Peace and Blessings be upon him, one day seeing `Omar with a shirt on, asked him: "Is your shirt a new one or has it been previously worn?" When `Omar said, "It has been previously worn, o Messenger of Allah," the Prophet said, "Wear the new, live benignly 25 and die a martyr. And may Allah offer you happiness in this world and in the Hereafter."

And `Omar died a martyr reciting these words from the Glorious Qur'an:

 

  "And the Command of Allah is a decree determined." [ Chapter "Al-Ahzab", verse 38.]