Basics of Religious Education — Page 238
238 238 238 238 238 B ASICS OF R ELIGIOUS E DUCATION - F IFTH E DITION During the period of his Khilafat, the Muslims had to fight a number of battles against Iran, Iraq, Syria and Egypt. As a result of this, vast areas of these countries came under the Muslim rule. When the city of Jerusalem was conquered by the Muslims in 17 Hijrah, Hadrat `Umar himself visited the city on the request of the Romans, and signed a treaty between the Muslims and the people of Jerusalem. Apart from the conquest of vast areas, Hadrat `Umar ra paid full attention to the welfare of his people. He was able to establish a splendid system of administration for the Islamic state and his Khilafat marked a golden period in the history of Islam. Some of his main achievements in this field are: ♦ Establishment of Majlis Shoora, a Consultative Body of Advisors to the Khalifa. ♦ Division of the whole Islamic state into provinces to facilitate administration. ♦ Establishment of a finance department, and building of schools and mosques in different parts of the state. ♦ Introduction of the Islamic Calendar of Hijrah. Hadrat `Umar ra was a pious, kind and far-sighted man. He possessed the fine qualities of bravery, honesty and simplicity. He was so anxious about the welfare of his people that he used to go around in disguise, in the city of Medina at night, to see for himself if anyone was in need of help. Once, during his patrol at night, he observed a woman cooking something in a pot while her children were crying around her. He found out from the woman that her children were hungry for two days and the pot was put on fire just to console them. Hadrat `Umar ra immediately went to the treasury, and himself brought all the necessary food items to the woman. On his way, one of his servants wanted to carry the load but he stopped him by saying: “On the Day of Judgement you will not carry my load. ” In the year 644 A. D. , Hadrat `Umar ra was stabbed by a Persian slave, while offering prayer in the mosque. This proved fatal and he passed away at the age of sixty-three. He was a truly great Khalifa whose period of Khilafat was undoubtedly a golden period in the history of Islam. Conquest of Neigbouring Empires Administration of the Islamic State H H H H H O L O L O L O L O LY Y Y Y Y P P P P P R O P H E T R O P H E T R O P H E T R O P H E T R O P H E T SA SA SA SA SA A N D A N D A N D A N D A N D S S S S S U C C E S S O R S U C C E S S O R S U C C E S S O R S U C C E S S O R S U C C E S S O R S — H — H — H — H — H A D R A A D R A A D R A A D R A A D R AT T T T T `U `U `U `U `U M A R M A R M A R M A R M A R F F F F F A R O O Q A R O O Q A R O O Q A R O O Q A R O O Q RA RA RA RA RA 6. 4 6. 4 6. 4 6. 4 6. 4 His Character His Demise