CSS Islamiat | Islam’s Greatest Political Legacy
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Among the golden eras of Islamic history, the Caliphate of Hazrat Umar ibn al-Khattab (RA) shines as the pinnacle of just, responsible, and accountable governance. His rule not only expanded the geographical borders of Islam but also deepened its ethical, social, and political foundations. At a time when most rulers centralized authority and insulated themselves from public scrutiny, Hazrat Umar stood out as a Caliph who lived like a common man, governed with transparency, and remained constantly conscious of his responsibility before Allah. His concept of accountability was not symbolic but practical, firm, and uncompromising. His era offers more than inspiration; it presents a complete blueprint for statesmanship rooted in justice and humility.
The Weight of the Caliphate: A Heavy Responsibility Before God
Hazrat Umar assumed leadership in 634 CE after the death of Hazrat Abu Bakr (RA). His first speech as Caliph captured the essence of his leadership philosophy. He declared, “O people, know that I have been made a ruler over you. If I do well, help me; if I do wrong, correct me. Truthfulness is honesty, and lying is dishonesty.” These words were not ceremonial. They were a public invitation to scrutiny.
Hazrat Umar understood leadership not as a privilege, but as accountability before Allah and people. He used to say, “I wish I were a straw so that I would not be accountable.” This fear of accountability shaped all aspects of his administration.
Personal Simplicity and Moral Integrity
Hazrat Umar’s personal life was a direct reflection of his sense of justice. Despite governing over vast lands, from Persia to Egypt, he lived in a mud house, wore patched clothes, and ate simple food. When foreign ambassadors came looking for him, they often found him asleep in the mosque or under a tree, without guards or luxury. Once, a companion asked why he did not dress more appropriately. He replied, “The people will follow what I do, not what I wear.”
He banned his governors and officials from indulging in luxuries. If any official were seen living extravagantly, Hazrat Umar would investigate. When Abu Hurairah (RA), as a governor, returned with wealth beyond his known means, Umar confiscated the surplus and returned it to the state treasury.
Vigilance in Public Welfare and Night Rounds
Moreover, Hazrat Umar’s sense of duty extended beyond formal hours. He would walk the streets of Madinah at night to check on the people. One night, he heard a woman soothing her hungry children with boiling water and empty pots. She had no food. Hazrat Umar wept, went to the Bait-ul-Mal, carried a sack of flour himself, and cooked food for the family with his own hands. He told his servant, “Will you carry my sins on the Day of Judgment if I don’t fulfill my duty?” Such incidents were not rare. His nightly patrols led him to many such encounters where he personally resolved the problems of the poor, the travellers, and the widows.
Judiciary and Equal Application of Law
Hazrat Umar ensured that the judiciary remained independent and unbiased. He appointed capable and pious judges like Qazi Shuraih, who were not influenced by power or status. In a famous incident, a legal case was filed against Hazrat Umar himself by a Jewish man. Qazi Shuraih summoned both and ruled in favor of the Jewish plaintiff. Umar did not object. Rather, he praised the Qazi for his uprightness.
Once, during a sermon, someone questioned the length of his robe, as it appeared longer than the fabric allocated to each citizen from the spoils of war. Hazrat Umar immediately called his son, Abdullah ibn Umar, to explain that he had gifted his piece to his father. The matter was settled publicly. This showed that the Caliph welcomed accountability not only in courtrooms but even in public gatherings.
Stringent Oversight of Officials
Furthermore, Hazrat Umar established a formal register of governors and required every appointee to declare his wealth before taking office. Upon appointment, each governor received a written document outlining their duties and warnings against corruption. He would personally inspect the conduct of his governors and ask the citizens about their satisfaction.
In the case of Sa’d ibn Abi Waqqas (RA), when people complained about his leadership, Hazrat Umar replaced him after an investigation, despite Sa’d being a hero of the Battle of Qadisiyyah. This shows that personal achievements did not exempt anyone from accountability.
He instructed his governors to live simply and forbade them from accepting gifts, building lavish homes, or hiring excessive servants. If an official was seen owning wealth beyond his salary, he would be summoned and asked to explain the source. Moreover, Umar’s general instructions to his officers were:
Remember, I have not appointed you as commanders and tyrants over the people. I have sent you as leaders instead, so that the people may follow your example. Give the Muslims their rights and do not beat them lest they become abused. Do not praise them unduly, lest they fall into the error of conceit. Do not keep your doors shut in their faces, lest the more powerful of them eat up the weaker ones. And do not behave as if you were superior to them, for that is tyranny over them.
Equal Distribution of Wealth and Resources
One of Hazrat Umar’s greatest achievements was the establishment of the Diwan system. This included financial record-keeping, stipends for citizens, and fair allocation of state revenues. Soldiers, widows, and even non-Muslims under Muslim rule received regular stipends from the treasury.
He also introduced the land revenue system in conquered territories, ensuring that native populations were not driven from their lands. Land remained with local farmers while the state collected taxes to support the central treasury. Hazrat Umar also instituted checks against tax collectors’ exploitation.
Public Infrastructure and Welfare Programs
Under Hazrat Umar’s rule, public accountability extended to services. He built canals, roads, mosques, guesthouses, and rest stations for travelers. During the great famine of 18 AH, he suspended all taxes, opened the treasury to the public, and distributed food and aid across the region. His health deteriorated during this time as he refused to eat anything unavailable to the common man.
He made it mandatory that drinking water sources be accessible to all, including animals. He appointed officials to oversee the markets, monitor the fairness of trade, and guard against hoarding or manipulation of prices.
A Caliph Who Feared Death More Than Authority
Hazrat Umar’s fear of Divine accountability never diminished, even in his final days. When he was fatally stabbed while leading the Fajr prayer, he did not inquire about his wounds. Instead, his first concern was whether the prayer had been completed. On his deathbed, he repeatedly asked his son to help him account before Allah, saying, “Woe to Umar if Allah does not forgive him.”
In his will, he instructed the new Caliph not to favour his children and asked for a modest burial beside the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and Hazrat Abu Bakr (RA), which was granted.
Critical Reflection: What Modern Rulers Can Learn
Hazrat Umar’s concept of accountability was not reactive. It was preventative, institutional, and spiritual. In today’s Muslim world, where leadership is often seen as an entitlement, his era reminds us that power is a test. Leaders are not above the law. Public wealth is not for personal use. Governance is not about titles but about service.
The crisis of modern Muslim states, be it corruption, unresponsive institutions, or administrative decay, can be traced back to the abandonment of these Islamic principles. Hazrat Umar did not merely rule a state. He nurtured a just society where trust in leadership was earned through action, not enforced through fear.
Conclusion: An Unparalleled Legacy
The accountability of Hazrat Umar (RA) was not a slogan. It was an ever-present reality in his personal and public life. His fearless implementation of justice, his transparent administration, and his personal sacrifices all remain unmatched in the history of governance. In an age where public trust in leadership is rapidly eroding, his life serves as a timeless reminder that true power lies in humility, justice, and an unwavering sense of responsibility before Allah.
His era is not just a memory of Islamic greatness. It is a living standard by which all rulers, administrators, and civil servants should measure themselves. And it is only by returning to such examples that the Muslim world can reclaim its moral, political, and administrative strength.
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