Sayyidna Umar, Radi-Allahu anhu, was
the second Khalifah of Islam. He was from the Khulafa-e-Rashidun (the Rightly
Guided Caliphs). Sayyidna Umar, Radi-Allahu anhu, was a great administrator
whose examples are unparalleled not only in Islamic history but also in the
history of modern civilization.
Sayyidna Umar, Radi-Allahu anhu, was
born in the year 582 C.E. In his youth, he was a famous wrestler and orator and
was an expert in horse riding. He was well educated and also among the first
people in Makkah who knew how to read and write. He gained a vast amount of
experience by being a judge, a diplomat, and a very good public speaker. As a
young man, he earned his livelihood by trade. His keen sense of justice and
towering personality gave him an outstanding place in history. Devotion to
duty, and fairness were his guiding principles.
As a Khalifah, his empire extended
over Arabia, Iran, Iraq, Syria, Palestine, Egypt and other places. However, he
was not at all arrogant in his behavior towards others.
All citizens were equal before law. On
a number of occasions, the Khalifah appeared personally to defend himself in
the public court of justice just like any other defendant. In a dispute with an
ordinary citizen, Sayyidna Ubayy-Ibn Ka'ab, Sayyidna Umar, Radi-Allahu anhu,
appeared as a defendant in the court of Sayyidna Zaid-Ibn-Thabit at Madinah.
Sayyidna Zaid, Radi-Allahu anhu, wanted to pay respect to him but Sayyidna
Umar, Rad-Allahu anhu, told him that this amounted to partiality. Thus under
Sayyidna Umar, Radi-Allahu anhu, the principles of justice and equality were
fully observed. In the same case, Sayyidna Ubayy, Radi-Allahu anhu, wanted
Sayyidna Umar, Radi-Allahu anhu, to take oath, but the judge wanted to spare
him because of the dignity of his office. Seeing this, the Khalifah admonished
him, “You cannot be a just judge until a common man is equal to the Khalifah
before you.” During that era, no one was above law. Even the Khalifah was
questioned by the common man.
Among many other great progress and
advancements, Sayyidna Umar, Radi-Allahu anhu,
·
Organized and systemized the Public Treasury
·
Established military offices
·
Kept a record of the population
·
Built many canals in different provinces
·
Developed many cities including Basra, Kufa, Cairo, etc
·
Provided housing for thousands of people
·
Set up official governments in all conquered territory
·
Established a police force
·
Carried out nightly patrols himself to check on the safety and
needs of the public
·
Built rest houses and wells alongside various routes for the
convenience of travelers
·
Provided assistance to needy Muslims and non-Muslims, etc.
Public Treasury
The revenue of the state was deposited
into the Baitul-Mal (Public Treasury). Abdullah-bin-Arqam was appointed the
Chief Officer of this department. He was directed to increase the production,
and the welfare of the peasantry and people at large.
The main sources of revenue were:
1. Zakat – 2.5% of wealth for the poor. This was only applicable on Muslims.
2. Jizya - defence tax paid by non-Muslims living on Muslim lands (dhimmis).
However, the poor, the sick and crippled, women, children, aged, priests, and
monks were exempted from this.
3. Ushr – a special land tax on especially large holdings. (one tenth of
produce)
4. Khiraj – a land tax
5. Ghanimah - one-fifth of the war booty
6. A tax on non-Muslim merchants and traders (because they didn’t pay Zakat,
while Muslim traders did)
From the Bait-al-Mal, spending was made for the welfare of the people as well
as for the poor and needy. The weak and disabled, both Muslims and non-Muslims,
were granted allowances. A person who became an invalid or too old to earn his
living received maintenance allowance from the Bait-al-Mal.
Children without guardians were
brought up at state expense. When there was famine, the Khalifah, himself,
worked day and night to provide food to the starving people. He used to go out
in the night and visit various places to make sure that everybody was content.
The canals for irrigation purposes
were also built from the public revenue. During Sayyidna Umar's, Rad-Allahu
anhu, reign a canal was made which joined the Nile to the Red Sea. This canal
facilitated transport of grains from Egypt to the Arabian Peninsula.
Sayyidna Umar, Radi-Allahu anhu, also
gave freedom of religion to the Jews and Christians living in the Muslim
Empire. He allowed them to stay there if they so wished and nobody could
interfere in their religious affairs. To those who desired to migrate he
ensured a safe journey up to the borders. Sayyidna Umar, Radi-Allahu anhu, also
gave compensation for their properties and other facilities.
Police Force
Another of Sayyidna Umar’s,
Radi-Allahu anhu, achievements was the establishing of the Police Department.
The police force at that time was known as “Ahdath” and the police officers
were known as the “Sahibul Ahdath.” Sayyidna Umar, Radi-Allahu anhu, gave the
following instructions to the police officers:
“Keep peace in the area. Let not the
people contravene the law. They should not measure or weigh incorrectly. Nobody
should build any house on roads so as to hinder the passage way. No one should
overload an animal. Nobody is allowed to sell or buy liquor.”
As well as establishing the police
force, Sayyidna Umar, Radi-Allahu anhu, also built jails, forming the first
jails in Arabia. He bought five houses in Makkah and used them as prisons. He
also set up jails in some districts of various provinces.
The punishment of killing another human being unjustly was death and this law
was fully enforced at all times, without regard of the religion of the murderer
and the victim.
Sayyidna Umar, Radi-Allahu anhu, fully
organized the army, which was composed of infantry, cavalry and archers. The
army was broadly divided into standing and reserve. The standing army was a regular
one, ready for defense of the state and borders; the reserves were called
during the time of war. Intelligence and communications were also developed.
Provincial Adminstration
For smooth running of the state the
Empire was divided into various provinces:
1. Hijaz with Makkah as the capital
2. Syria with Damascus as the capital
3. Iran with Basrah as the capital
4. Iraq with Kufa as the capital
5. Egypt with Fustat as the capital
6. Palestine with Jerusalem as the capital
7. Jazirah (Mesopotamia) with Hims (Homs) as the capital
8. The central province of Arabia with Madinah as the capital
The title of a Provincial Governor was “Wali”. As well as being the chief
administrator of his province, the Wali was also the religious leader being
well-versed in religion. In each province there were usually the following
officers besides the governor: The treasury officer (Sahib Baitul Maal), the
revenue collector (Sahib Kharaj), the chief police officer (Sahib Ahadath), and
the judge (Qazi).The provinces were divided into districts. Each district was
administrated by an officer called ‘Amil. All the governors and the high
officers of the provinces were called to Makkah every year on the occasion of
Hajj when Muslims from the entire area gathered there. Complaints against the
governors were recorded by the Khalifah and incompetent governors were removed
from office.
Sayyidna Umar, Radi-Allahu anhu, also
laid great stress on knowledge and learning. He made Islamic education
compulsory for everyone, both male and female. Thus, he was the first person to
introduce compulsory education. Education was also free for everyone and a
number of schools were built in cities and towns for public instructions.
It was due to his unconquerable will
and keen sense of responsibility that Sayyidna Umar, Radi-Allahu anhu, was able
to make tremendous contribution towards the consolidation of progress,
prosperity, development and welfare of the state.
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