Hazrat Umar Farooq — Page 43
Hadhrat Umar was sixty-five years old when a Persian slave Feroz, generally known as Abu Lu’Lu stabbed him six times. Feroz was a slave of Hadhrat Mugheerah. It is said that one day he approached Hadhrat Umar and complained against his master Mugheerah. He said, “My master treats me cruelly. I have to do great amount of hard work for him but he pays me very little in return. ” He requested Hadhrat Umar to tell his master not to be so harsh to him and that his workload be reduced. Hadhrat Umar, after listening to the details of his work, said to him, “This work is not too much for you. I do not see that you are being treated badly by your master. Fear Allah and be fair to your master. ” Disappointed at his reply Feroz went away but he held a grudge against Hadhrat Umar and decided to kill him and made a dagger for that purpose. One day when Hadhrat Umar was leading the Fajr Prayer, Feroz who was present in the mosque, rushed forward and attacked Hadhrat Umar with the dagger repeatedly. Hadhrat Umar fell to the ground. He, therefore, motioned Hadhrat Abdur-Rahman bin Auf to go forward and lead the Prayer. Feroz was caught and knowing that he would not escape punishment committed suicide immediately. It seemed most probable that Feroz’s actions were part of a large conspiracy by the enemies of Islam against the Muslims. The great progress that the Muslims had made and the victories they gained during Hadhrat Umar’s Khilafat, caused jealousy among the enemies of Islam and they always tried their utmost to crush Islam in order to stop its spread. Hadhrat Umar was taken home for treatment. He had six deep stab wounds on his body. Many a time he became unconscious. Once when he gained consciousness he asked Hadhrat Ibn-e-Abbaas, who was attending him, to find out who attacked him. When told that Feroz, the slave of Hadhrat Mugheerah, had attacked him, Hadhrat Umar thanked God that the attacker was not a Muslim. Then he asked Ibn-e- Abbaas to find out whether any Muslim was involved in the conspiracy. Hadhrat Ibn-e-Abbaas reported that no Muslim was involved in the attack rather they were all very upset at this dreadful incident. Later Hadhrat Umar called his son Abdullah and told him to go to Hadhrat Aaishah, the wife of the Holy Prophet, and say to her that Umar requests her to allow him to be buried by the side of his beloved master, the Holy Prophet. He specifically mentioned to his son Abdullah not to say “Umar, the Ameer-ul-Momineen” but simply “Umar”. Hadhrat Abdullah went to Hadhrat Aaishah, who was crying with grief, and delivered the message of his father. Hadhrat Aaishah told him that she had reserved that place for herself but Hadhrat Umar had priority over her. When Hadhrat Umar came to know of the decision of Hadhrat Aaishah, he was much relieved and said, “There is no better resting place for Umar than that. ” The doctors were worried at the lack of his progress. Realising that they were soon be deprived of their great leader, some women began to wail and cry. Hadhrat Umar told them off by saying, “The Holy Prophet forbade Muslims to wail even at the death of their beloved ones. ” When his condition became very serious, someone tried to cheer him up by saying, “You spent a large part of your life with the Holy Prophet and when he died he was pleased with you. Then you worked closely with Hadhrat Abu Bakr, and was his best friend and companion. When he died, he, too, was pleased with you. Then you became Khalifah of the Muslims and served them to the best of your ability. The entire Muslim community is pleased with you and is praying for you. ” 43