Hazrat Umar Farooq — Page 33
young and ought to be fed on mother’s milk. The woman, not knowing that she was addressing the Khalifah, said that the Khalifah had ordered that mothers would become eligible for child allowance only after their children were weaned. She was therefore trying to wean the baby so that she could get the child allowance. Hadhrat Umar was greatly moved. He said to himself; “God knows how many children suffered because of my orders. ” Next morning he issued orders that the mothers would get allowances as soon as the babies were born. CONSTRUCTION OF STATE BUILDINGS, ROADS AND BRIDGES Apart from treasury buildings the following were built during Hadhrat Umar’s Khilafat: a) Mosques- New mosques were built in many parts of the Muslim Empire. Because of the rapid spread of Islam some mosques were extended so as to accommodate the worshippers. The Prophet’s mosque at Madinah was one of them. It was not big enough for the worshippers, so in the year 17 A. H Hadhrat Umar ordered that it should be extended. b) Schools- Schools were opened throughout the Empire and paid teachers were appointed. In these schools the Holy Quran and Hadith were taught along with other subjects. c) Military Buildings like forts, cantonments and barracks were constructed throughout the empire. d) Official buildings called Darul Amaaraat were built. These were the offices as well as residential quarters for the provincial and district officials. e) Diwan- Buildings were built, where official records were kept. f) Prison Houses were established in the Empire. g) Guest Houses were built in most of the cities in order to accommodate the visitors who came from outside to stay for a few days in the city. Food was provided free in these guesthouses. In addition to these, many new roads were built and Inns were constructed at different stages along the route for the travellers to rest and stay for the night. Arrangements were also made to provide light on the main roads. A large number of bridges were constructed to facilitate the journey. DEVELOPMENT OF AGRICULTURE Agriculture was also developed during Hadhrat Umar’s Khilafat. He encouraged people to make use of the barren land. An order was passed that anyone who prepared new lands and made it fit for cultivation would be given rights in those lands. If however, a person took possession of barren land but failed to cultivate it within three years, the land would be confiscated. As a result of this order many new lands were cultivated. In order to facilitate agriculture Hadhrat Umar also ordered that canals should be dug to irrigate the lands. It is said that at one time in Egypt alone, one hundred and twenty thousand labourers worked daily throughout the year to dig canals and were paid out of the State treasury. He also created facilities for the poor farmers to graze their cattle in the government owned grazing fields. The main purpose of such grazing fields was to rear horses and camels belonging to Bait-ul- Maal or treasury. NEW CITIES FOUNDED 33