True Muslim Leader

The hero I am going to talk about in this project is the 2nd man in Islam, after the
messenger of Allah (p.b.u.h) and after Abu Bakr Assidiq. Perhaps you may all not
believe me if I say that to write about this man for me was a lifetime dream. Well
this man is a pioneering figure in the whole Islamic world, He was an expert Islamic
jurist and he is best known for his piety and just nature and this was the reason
Muhammad (p.b.u.h) gave him the nickname of Alfaruq (the one who distinguishes
between right and wrong). He was a great leader, a self-respecting, broad-minded, a
sincere, and God conscious Muslim who showed respect for all individuals. He is
the man whose name is paired with justice and truth, strength and courage. This man
is Umar Ibn Al Khattab.
Umar Ibn Al Khattab was born 11 years after the year of Elephant in Makah, to the
Banu Adi clan of the Quraish tribe. Umar belonged to a family of average class. And
as youth he used to be a shepherd for his aunts and his father Al Khattab who was a
very rude and tough man and who had a very tough upbringing and who often treated
Umar so badly. And as a man he started learning martial arts, horseback riding and
wrestling and at the same time he started a business in which he was very successful
which made him to be one of the wealthiest men of Quraish. Umar is described as
being very tall, whenever he would be with any group of people, he would be the
tallest one. He was physically strong and very well built. And it's for this reason
many people feared him.

At that time literacy was uncommon but still Umar was one of the few people who
learned to read and write. Not only that but he was a very skillful and gifted public
speaker as well. He used to the help his family to arbitrate conflicts between different
tribes. And just because of him his father succeeded as an arbitrator.
The story of Umar's conversion is well known to all Muslims of course. When 1st
Islam emerged Umar was strongly opposed to it, he even threatened to kill the
Messenger of Allah (p.b.u.h). One day Umar went angrily swinging his sword to
find Muhammad (p.b.u.h) who was with his companions, on the way he met his
friend Nuaim Ibn Abdullah who had secretly became a Muslim, and told him that he
was going to kill Muhammad because he divided the Quraish, mocked their
traditions, criticized their religion and abused their Gods. Nuaim felt that his beloved
prophet was in danger, so he tried to cool Umar down and to divert him from his
goal, by telling him that his own sister and her husband had become Muslims. Umar
then returned to them and found them reading a part of the Quran. Umar hit his sister
causing her to bleed because she tried to protect her husband from him. He then
regretted what he had done and felt guilty and asked them to see what they were
reading. After reading only few lines from Surah Ta Ha, He became speechless,
mesmerized and fascinated by its beauty. Umar then immediately went to the
Messenger Muhammad (p.b.u.h) and declared the Shahada at the age of 27.

Umar's path to the truth began with a vehement hatred of Muhammad and the
religion of Islam, but that hatred changed completely. It turned into a fierce love
right after his entrance into Islam. Moreover, that entrance granted power to the
Muslims and the Islamic faith in Makah. Many Muslims could later practice their
faith openly and could pray at the Kaba '' Al Masjid Al Haram '' for the 1st time as
well.
When Umar became a Caliph, Islam spread widely later, because of its simplicity,
beauty, openness, transparency and of course the leadership provided by him. During
his time, non-Muslims enjoyed freedom and religion; they had the right to reform
their religious ceremonies. Besides, Umar followed the principle of equality very
strictly and would not tolerate any kind of distinction. Furthermore he always fought
to favor individual freedom and self-respect, he made it very clear that every human
being was born free and no one should have to abuse himself in front of others. In
addition Umar had actually cared a lot for poor and privileged people, He to be close
to them lived in a simple mud hut without doors and walked the streets every
evening, after consulting with the poor. Moreover his food was very simple which
consisted of bread and olive oil, rarely would he eat anything else. In the other hand
Umar's achievements and contributions were all remarkable and numerous, they
affected especially taxation, the empire's entire financial and administrative fabric,
and Social welfare as well, Umar established the 1st welfare state and it was for the
Muslim and non-Muslim poor, needy ,elderly, orphans and the disabled.
I think all that I have mentioned about Umar Ibn Al Khattab explains why I chose
him to be my hero. He is such a powerful and influential Muslim.

Page created on 2/19/2014 12:00:00 AM