Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah Bin Mas’ood رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُ, a companion of Rasool, has beautifully expressed his views about a great companion. His embracing Islam was a victory [over unbelievers]; his migration was a help [for Muslims]; his caliphate was mercy [for Ummah]. By Allah Almighty! We did not have the strength to offer Salah beside Ka’batullah until he رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُ embraced Islam. (Tabqat Ibn Sa’d, vol. 3, pp. 204)
O devotees of Rasool! This honourable, respected and beneficent personage was the second caliph Ameer-ul-Mu`mineen Sayyiduna ‘Umar Farooq-e-A’zam رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُ. He possessed excellent attributes and great manners. He رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُ had a great passion for accepting reform that despite being Ameer-ul-Mu’mineen if any subordinate says something admonitory to him, he would not mind, but rather would accept it happily, (Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah, vol. 8, pp. 148, Hadees 10)
Allah Almighty also blessed him with natural awe-inspiring personality. Sayyiduna ‘Allamah ‘Abdur Rauf Manaawi رَحْمَةُ اللّٰەِ عَلَيْه has said: The greatness of Allah Almighty would remain dominant on his heart due to which Satan would run away from him, unbelievers would shiver with fear and people would remain awe-struck. (Tayseer lil-Manaawi, vol. 1, pp. 289; Nihaya-tul-Arab, vol. 6, pp. 91)
Sayyiduna Umar’s fear in the hearts of unbelievers
Sayyiduna ‘Ali-ul-Murtada کَرَّمَ اللّٰەُ وَجْھَهُ الْکَرِیْم has said: No one except Sayyiduna ‘Umar Farooq-e-A’zam رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُ openly migrated. When he رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُ intended to migrate, he took a sword, hung bow on his shoulder, took a quiver of arrows in his hand and set out for Haram. A group of Quraysh was present in the courtyard of blessed Ka’batullah. With great ease he رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُ completed Tawaf after going around seven times and offered Salah comfortably. He رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُ then went to the groups of unbelievers one by one, stood there and said: Your faces have been disgraced. The one who wants his mother to mourn, wife to become a widow and children to become orphans can fight me after getting out of Haram. (Usud-ul-Ghaabah, vol. 4, pp. 163)
Fear in the hearts of kings
The kings of Rome and Persia used to be frightened of the fear of Sayyiduna Umar رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُ. (Samt-un-Nujoom, vol. 1, pp. 448)
Fear in the hearts of chiefs
Once 12 prisoners were brought to Sayyiduna Farooq-e-A’zam رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُ along with a very leading chief named Hurmazaan (who later on embraced Islam). At that time, Sayyiduna ‘Umar Farooq رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُ was taking a rest in a Masjid. Due to the awe and fear that Sayyiduna ‘Umar رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُ might wake up, everyone including Hurmazaan reduced their voice while talking. (Tabqat Ibn Sa’d, vol. 5, pp. 65; Mahz-is-Sawab, pp. 447)
Nervousness and humiliation of Satan
The Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللّٰەُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم has said: After (Sayyiduna) ‘Umar had embraced Islam whenever Satan met (Sayyiduna) ‘Umar, it fell flat on its face. (Al-Mu’jam-ul-Kabeer, vol. 24, pp. 305, Hadees 774)
At one place our Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللّٰەُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم has said: O son of Khattab! Satan uses another path leaving the path on which you walk. (Sahih Bukhari, vol. 2, pp. 403, Hadees 3294)
At another place the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللّٰەُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم has said: There is no such angel in the sky who does not respect ‘Umar and there is no such Satan on the earth who does not feel frightened of ‘Umar. (Kanz-ul-‘Ummal, Juz: 11, vol. 6, pp. 263, Hadees 32720)
Satan would also feel fear
Sayyiduna ‘Ali کَرَّمَ اللّٰەُ وَجْھَهُ الْکَرِیْم has stated: We all companions رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُم would think that the Satan who is with Sayyiduna ‘Umar Farooq-e-A’zam رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُ feels fear of the thing that he puts any evil thought in the heart of Sayyiduna ‘Umar Farooq-e-A’zam رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُ. (Kanz-ul-‘Ummal, Juz: 13, vol. 7, pp. 12, Hadees 36141)
Human and satanic jinns
On one occasion, a Habashi girl was hopping and skipping and people gathered around her. Suddenly Sayyiduna ‘Umar Farooq رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُ came. People immediately ran away from there due to his fear and fright. On this occasion, the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللّٰەُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم said: I am observing that Satans of humans and jinns are running away after seeing ‘Umar. (Tirmizi, vol. 5, pp. 387, Hadees 3711)
Women fell silent
One day Sayyiduna ‘Umar Farooq-e-A’zam رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُ came in the blessed court of the Holy Prophet صَلَّى اللّٰەُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم at the time when some Qurayshi women were asking questions from the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللّٰەُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم and their voice was also very high. As he رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُ asked permission to enter, listening to his voice the women due to having fright and fear of him went behind purdah. (Sahih Bukhari, vol. 2, pp. 526, Hadees 3683; Mirqat-ul-Mafatih, vol. 10, pp. 388)
Year passed
Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah Bin ‘Abbas رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُمَا has said: I stayed with Sayyiduna ‘Umar Farooq رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُ for a year so that I could ask about a blessed verse from him, but due to being in awe of him I did not dare to ask the question. (Sahih Bukhari, vol. 3, pp. 359, Hadees 4913)
Could not dare to see constantly
Sayyiduna ‘Abdur Rahman Bin ‘Awf رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُ has said: You people should know! Amongst us, the most awe-inspiring person was Sayyiduna ‘Umar Bin Khattab رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُ. By Allah Almighty! We did not have the strength to look at him constantly. (Tareekh Tabari, vol. 3, pp. 298)
Allah increased his awe
Once a person came to Sayyiduna ‘Umar Farooq رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُ and started saying: Please be gentle to us; our hearts have been filled with your awe. He رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُ asked: Is it due to cruelty? That person replied in the negative. He رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُ said: That’s why Allah Almighty has increased my awe in your hearts. (Nihaya-tul-Arab, vol. 6, pp. 91)
Awe in the hearts of Tabi’een
Sayyiduna ‘Amr Bin Maymoon رَحْمَةُ اللّٰەِ عَلَيْه, a Taabi’i pious predecessor, has said: The awe of Sayyiduna ‘Umar Farooq رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُ was so much upon me that I used to be in the back row. Once I was in the second row, he رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُ came wearing a yellow chador and said thrice: O bondmen of Allah! [Offer] Salah. (Tareekh Ibn ‘Asakir, vol. 44, pp. 419)
Dear Islamic brothers! Ameer-ul-Mu`mineen Sayyiduna ‘Umar Farooq-e-A’zam رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُ would remain soft and gentle regarding the truth and have very strict nature in implementing Islam. But remember, despite having this awe and eminence blessed companions would always come to Sayyiduna ‘Umar Farooq رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُ, would be present with him in the Majlis and gathering and would hold mutual Mashwarah (consultation). Even Sayyiduna ‘Umar Farooq رَضِىَ اللّٰەُ عَنْهُ would himself say: There will not be any goodness for you until you say something by yourselves and there is no goodness for me until I do not listen to you what you say. (Kashf-ul-Asraar, vol. 3, pp. 346)
May Allah Almighty have mercy on him and forgive us for his sake!
اٰمِيۡن بِجَاهِ النَّبِيِّ الۡاَمِيۡن صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيۡهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم
Woh ‘aalam dabdabay ka, kaanptay hayn Qayser-o-Kisra
Hay jis say Deen ki shan Hazrat-e-Farooq-e-A’zam hayn
Gali say in ki shaytan dum daba ker bhag jata hay
Hay aysa ru’b aysa dabdabah Farooq-e-A’zam ka
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