Shi'a view of Umar - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

Historical context

Umar ibn al-Khattab was one of the earliest figures in the history of Islam. However, the Shia have traditionally asserted that the Sunni perspective of Umar, including ideas inadvertently borrowed by certain Western orientalists, is at best inaccurate, and at worst largely fabricated.

While Sunnis regard Umar ibn al-Khattab in high esteem and respect his place as one of the "Four Righteously Guided Caliphs," Shia hold an opposing perspective of him. They do not view him as a legitimate leader of the Ummah

Ummah

Ummah is an Arabic word meaning "community" or "nation." It is commonly used to mean either the collective nation of states, or the whole Arab world...

and believe it to be factually provable that Umar

Umar

`Umar ibn al-Khattāb c. 2 November , was a leading companion and adviser to the Islamic prophet Muhammad who later became the second Muslim Caliph after Muhammad's death....

and Abu Bakr

Abu Bakr

Abu Bakr was a senior companion and the father-in-law of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. He ruled over the Rashidun Caliphate from 632-634 CE when he became the first Muslim Caliph following Muhammad's death...

conspired to usurp power from Ali

Ali

' |Ramaḍān]], 40 AH; approximately October 23, 598 or 600 or March 17, 599 – January 27, 661).His father's name was Abu Talib. Ali was also the cousin and son-in-law of the Islamic prophet Muhammad, and ruled over the Islamic Caliphate from 656 to 661, and was the first male convert to Islam...

. Shia believe that the Sunni view of Umar is an inaccurate one, created by the later Umayyad

Umayyad

The Umayyad Caliphate was the second of the four major Arab caliphates established after the death of Muhammad. It was ruled by the Umayyad dynasty, whose name derives from Umayya ibn Abd Shams, the great-grandfather of the first Umayyad caliph. Although the Umayyad family originally came from the...

dynasty to honour the man that gave power to the first Umayyad

Umayyad

ruler and third Sunni Caliph

Caliph

The Caliph is the head of state in a Caliphate, and the title for the ruler of the Islamic Ummah, an Islamic community ruled by the Shari'ah. It is a transcribed version of the Arabic word which means "successor" or "representative"...

, Uthman

Uthman

Uthman ibn Affan was one of the companions of Islamic prophet, Muhammad. He played a major role in early Islamic history as the third Sunni Rashidun or Rightly Guided Caliph....

. In this way, it gives legitimacy to Umar's consultation that started their own dynasty, a corrupt one in both Shi'a and Sunni view.

Shia believe that the Umayyad view was propagated with lethal force and heavy duress and as time went on, that view became predominant and eventually taken as truth, cemented by the works of Bukhari

Muhammad al-Bukhari

Muhammad Ibn Ismail Ibn Ibrahim Ibn al-Mughirah Ibn Bardizbah al-Bukhari , popularly known as Bukhari or Imam Bukhari, , was a Sunni Islamic scholar of Persia...

. However, Shi'a believe that despite the perceived white washing of Umar, bits of his true qualities can be found in all sources, including Sunni ones. They also believe that invented positive traits attributed to him do not hold a closer scrutiny.

Sources

Citations from the Qur'an are used in the following format: (Qur'an 2:124).

However, Shi'as also have their own sources and in most cases the critique towards Umar is much greater in those sources. Most of the narrations critical of the Caliphs were purged during the Ummayyad dynasty. Some survived, but the most outspoken of them were eradicated. However a small minority group strove to keep alive those narrations, mainly through the descendants of the male Shi'as that survived the Battle of Karbala

Battle of Karbala

The Battle of Karbala took place on Muharram 10, in the year 61 of the Islamic calendar in Karbala, in present day Iraq. On one side of the highly uneven battle were a small group of supporters and relatives of Muhammad's grandson Husain ibn Ali, and on the other was a large military detachment...

.

In contrast to Sunnis, Shi'a do not hold as authentic any narrations that depict Umar in a positive view, for example him being promised paradise. In neutral cases, Shi'a and Sunni have different views on the narrations. Many times Shi'as feel that Sunnis blatantly disregard narrations that even their own most respected scholars have authenticated. For example, a narration in Sahih Bukhari

Sahih Bukhari

Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī , as it is commonly referred to, is one of the six canonical hadith collections of Islam. These prophetic traditions, or hadith, were collected by the Persian Muslim scholar Muhammad ibn Ismail al-Bukhari, after being transmitted orally for generations. Muslims view this as one of...

states explicitly that Ali and Zubair opposed Umar during the succession to Muhammad

Succession to Muhammad

The Succession to Muhammad concerns the various aspects of successorship of Muhammad after his death, comprising who might be considered as his successor to lead the Muslims, how that person should be elected, the conditions of legitimacy, and the role of successor...

, or another narration that states that Umar was not invited to Fatima Zahra's secret funeral. According to Shia scholars, Umar is also known to have said "I would much rather be a tree or a bird than be human as I would not have to face judgement, and would be free"

The Shi'a view of Umar differs from the Sunni view in mainly two areas. First, regarding his everyday character. The Sunni's claim he was wise and just while the Shi'as describe him as an ignorant usurper. Secondly, his attitudes and actions regarding the succession to Muhammad. The Sunnis argue that he acted in good faith to save the community whilst the Shi'as claim he seized the power in bad faith.

His early life

Shi'as point out that Umar was an idol worshiper and that this disqualifies him from being a leader for all Muslims. Shi'as believe that no Muslim leader has ever worshipped anything else than God. To qualify as a Muslim leader, he would either have been a Muslim before Islam or known that there was only one God worthy of worship before knowing about Islam. In other words, a man designated to protect and guide all Muslims at least must have a pure enough character to have refrained from the grossest sin in Islam. This is also complemented by the Shi'a belief that none can be an Imam (leader), whether prophet (Abraham

Abraham

Abraham , whose birth name was Abram, is the eponym of the Abrahamic religions, among which are Judaism, Christianity and Islam...

) or non-prophet (Ali), except from the appointment of God (Qur'an 2:124). It is purity of character that Shi'a address on this issue and not sin, not to be confused with the removal of sin due to accepting Islam.

The Shi'as hold against him the fact that he buried alive his own daughter, a typical pagan practice of the time.

Before embracing Islam

Umar's father, al-Khattab, was a staunch follower of polytheism

Polytheism

Polytheism is the belief of multiple deities also usually assembled into a pantheon of gods and goddesses, along with their own mythologies and rituals....

. When Muhammad first declared his message of Islam

Islam

Islam . The most common are and . : Arabic pronunciation varies regionally. The first vowel ranges from ~~. The second vowel ranges from ~~~...

, Umar resolved to defend the traditional religion of the Quraish, polytheism

Polytheism

Polytheism is the belief of multiple deities also usually assembled into a pantheon of gods and goddesses, along with their own mythologies and rituals....

or idolatry

Idolatry

Idolatry is a pejorative term for the worship of an idol, a physical object such as a cult image, as a god, or practices believed to verge on worship, such as giving undue honour and regard to created forms other than God. In all the Abrahamic religions idolatry is strongly forbidden, although...

according to Islamic nomenclature. Umar was adamant in opposing Muhammad and very prominent in persecuting the Muslims. Umar's hatred for Islam extended even beyond the death of Muhammad. Umar spread the religion of Islam further and wider than any other single individual in Islamic history, he did it however, for fame and fortune.

Other questionable acts are reported as follows: Lubaynah

Lubaynah

Lubaynah was a sahābia of Muhammad and among the slaves freed by Abu Bakr.Lubaynah was a slave girl of Umar ibn al-Khattab. Before Umar's conversion to Islam his harsh treatment of his convert slaves was well known. Zinnira was her companion in slavery....

was a slave girl of Umar. She accepted Islam and Umar would beat her mercilessly until he was tired. He would then say, "I have only stopped beating you because I am tired." She would say, "may God treat you in the same way." He asked her to renounce Islam, but she stuck to her faith. Zinnira was another slave of Umar. One day when Abu Jahl was visiting Umar and he took it upon himself to beat her. Zinnira was beaten so harshly that she lost her eyesight.

Embracing Islam

One day, the Quraish called for somebody to volunteer himself for the assassination Muhammad. Umar volunteered himself for this job, at which everybody exclaimed: "Surely, you can do it, Umar!" On his way he met Sad ibn Abi Waqqas, who asked where he was going. Umar said: "I am after finishing Muhammad." Sa'ad replied, "but do you not see that Banu Hashim

Banu Hashim

Banū Hāshim was a clan in the Quraysh tribe. Muhammad, was a member of this clan; his great-grandfather was Hashim, for whom the clan is named. Members of this clan are referred to by the Anglicised version of their name as Hashemites, or Huseini or Hasani...

, Banu Zuhrah

Banu Zuhrah

Banu Zuhrah is a clan of the Quraish tribe.Akhnas ibn Shariq al-Thaqifi and the Banu Zuhrah where with the Meccan as part of the escort that preceded the battle of Badr, but since he believed the caravan to be safe, he did not join Quraish on their way to a festival in badr...

and Banu Abd al-Manaf are likely to kill you in retaliation?" Umar, upset at the warning, said, "it seems that you also have renounced the religion of your forefathers. Let me settle with you first." On saying this, Umar drew out his sword. Sa'ad announcing his Islam, also took out his sword. They were about to start a duel when Sa'ad said, "you had better first set your own house in order. Your sister

Fatimah bint al-Khattab

Fatimah bint al-Khattab was the sister of the second Sunni Caliph: Umar. She was married to Sa'id ibn Zayd.- See also :*Fatima *Sahaba...

and brother-in-law

Sa'id ibn Zayd

Sa'eed bin Zayd, , was one of the Ṣaḥābah , the companions of Muhammad. He is also nicknamed "Abu-al-Aawar". He was born in 593-4 AD and was an early convert to Islam "Said was not yet twenty when he embraced Islâm." that was before 613...

both have accepted Islam." Umar went to his sister and found her reciting verses of the Qur'an

Qur'an

The Quran , also transliterated Qur'an, Koran, Alcoran, Qur’ān, Coran, Kuran, and al-Qur’ān, is the central religious text of Islam, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God . It is regarded widely as the finest piece of literature in the Arabic language...

. He became infuriated and gave her a slap which caused her to bleed. However, his sister did not denounce her religion. He went to meet Muhammad.

Umar then made his way to the house of al-Arqam., Muhammad had received information of this and he stood up and took hold of Umar's collar saying, "Umar, why do you not desist from this action? Will you not refrain lest Allah reveals that information about you that He has already revealed about Waleed ibn Mugheera?" Umar then converted to Islam that day.

A Sh'ia scholar states:

Hafsa

Hafsa bint Umar

Ḥafsah bint ‘Umar and wife of the Islamic prophet Muhammad, and therefore a Mother of the Believers.-Biography:She was married to Khunais ibn Hudhaifa, but became a widow when she was eighteen and according to Islamic tradition her father offered her to Abu Bakr and Uthman Ibn Affan...

, the daughter of Umar, was originally married to Khunais ibn Hudhaifa

Khunais ibn Hudhaifa

Khunais ibn Hudhaifa was a sahaba of Muhammad, from the Banu Sahm of Quraish.-Biography:He was married to Hafsa bint Umar. According to Sunni sources:-External links:...

. When he died, Umar sought to find a husband for her. He approached his friend Uthman

Uthman

Uthman ibn Affan was one of the companions of Islamic prophet, Muhammad. He played a major role in early Islamic history as the third Sunni Rashidun or Rightly Guided Caliph....

who said "I am of the opinion that I shall not marry at present," after thinking about the proposal for a few days. Umar became angry with Uthman and asked Abu Bakr the same thing. Abu Bakr did not give him a reply, causing Umar to become even more angry with him than he was with Uthman. Umar then preceded to Muhammad to discuss the previous two incidents. Muhammad reassured Umar by saying that "Hafsa will marry one better than Uthman will marry one better than Abu Bakr." Umar was obviously alluding to the fact that Hafsa was to marry Muhammad and that Uthman was to marry a daughter of Muhammad. Shi'as reject this hadith as forgery because they argue that it makes no sense to keep the intention to marry a secret from Umar but not from Uthman and Abu Bakr. Furthermore, Muhammad was pressured in to marrying the daughter of Umar the same way Umar pressured Ali to marry his daughter to him.

Hafsa was married to Muhammad in 625. Muhammad's household was not always peaceful as his wives were in two groups. Umar's and Abu Bakr's daughter along with two other wives constituted the group that Shi'as believed troubled Muhammad. Umar said on one occasion:

"Hafsa, the news has reached me that you cause Allah's Messenger trouble. You know that Allah's Messenger does not love you, and had I not been (your father) he would have divorced you." (On hearing this) she wept bitterly.

Shi'as believe that Umar's behavior towards his daughter is another example of his brute character. They see his fatherly advice to Hafsa in her time of despair as unworthy of any father, and especially of a future supposed protector and guide of the Muslim nation.

Pen and paper

Muhammad became ill in the year 632 and his health took a serious turn on a Thursday.
He summoned his companions and announced that he wanted to write a will. It is reported that Muhammad asked for writing materials to write a statement that would prevent the Muslim nation from going astray for ever. The first person to reply was Umar, answering that there is no need for a will, arguing that Muhammad was crazy and that Umar had the Qur'an which was sufficient for him. In another report it is stated that the first person replying, Umar by implication, said that Muhammad was delirious and talking non-sense. This reply caused a great commotion resulting in Muhammad rebuking Umar for calling him ill and sending him and his partisians out of the house.

This event is the source of much controversy between the Shi'as and Sunnis; the former claim that Umar wrongly prevented Muhammad from confirming Ali as his chosen successor.

The Sunni view is that Umar was acting out of compassion and love for Muhammad. He sensed that Muhammad was talking from the depths of his death-sickness, and did not want to burden him and argue with him. Muhammad was not known to have written anything in his entire life, and it is the majority view of the Muslims that Muhammad was an ummi, an illiterate man, who knew not how to read or write. This is the primary defense of Muslims against claims that Muhammad wrote the Qur'an, is that he was not literate. So upon hearing a request from Muhammad to write something, Umar knew that this could not be Muhammad talking rationally, or so goes the Sunni argument.

writes:

Usama's detachment

Two days later, a Saturday, Umar, Abu Bakr, Uthman and others, were sent away with a military detachment heading to Syria

Syria

Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....

, under the command of an 18 year old man named Usama ibn Zaid. Ali and many others from the Banu Hashim where ordered to stay in Medina. Umar protested to this decision, causing Muhammad to forbid them to abandon Zaid's detachment. They left, but camped outside Medina and returned the next day.

After Muhammad

Two days after that, on Monday, Muhammad died. Abu Bakr was not present in Medina, Shia claiming he left it due to embarrassment since Abu Bakr's prayer incident. When Umar heard the news of Muhammad's death, he rushed to Muhammad's home, raised his sword and said he would "chop off the head" of anybody who claimed that Muhammad had died. Ibn Abbas approached him and reminded him that the Qur'an says Muhammad is mortal ("Muhammad is but a messenger; messengers (the like of whom) have died before him. If, then, he dies or is killed, will you turn back on your heel?"). However Umar did not heed this warning though Abu Bakr came and told the same thing as Ibn Abbas. Abu Bakr then says to him "If anyone worshipped Muhammad, then know that Muhammad is dead, but if anyone worshipped Allah, then Allah is living and does not die", whereupon Umar calmed down.

Shia claim that the despair felt by Umar at the time of Muhammad's death was not genuine, they insist that there was no despair, only threats aimed to delay matters so that his friend and confederate Abu Bakr could return before Ali was confirmed as the successor. As for Ali's allegiance to Abu Bakr's rule, this too was made up to support Abu Bakr's claim to power.

Coup d'état

Shia assert that Umar and Khalid ibn Walid were at the forefront of a Coup d'état

Coup d'état

A coup d'état state, literally: strike/blow of state)—also known as a coup, putsch, and overthrow—is the sudden, extrajudicial deposition of a government, usually by a small group of the existing state establishment—typically the military—to replace the deposed government with another body; either...

, seizing power for Abu Bakr and mortally wounding Fatimah which resulted in her being killed and the miscarriage of Al Muhsin.

writes:
Shi'a denounce Umar's decision to ban the collection of hadith.

Aftermath

Later, after Abu Bakr came into power, Abu Bakr ordered Usama's dispatchment to be sent as ordered to Syria. Umar demanded that Usama was to be replaced, but Abu Bakr refused to do so.

Abu Bakr's era

Abu Bakr took power after Muhammad. Shia point to several Sunni sources that claim Abu Bakr was on his way to give in to Fatimah's cries for justice, harshly stopped by Umar.

Shi'a view Umar as the "khalifa-maker" of Abu Bakr and that during Abu Bakr's khilafat, Umar was his principal adviser. Abu Bakr imposed Umar as his successor prior to his death in 634.

One report quotes one Muslim talking to Abu Bakr, asking him what he is going to say to God after leaving Umar in charge of matters. Ali was again passed over.

Shias refuse the Sunni notion of Ali serving Abu Bakr and Umar and claim that Ali simply disdained himself from public matter, judging that claiming his own right would endanger Islam.

Ali is quoted saying:

"I watched the plundering of my inheritance till the first one [Abu Bakr] went his way but handed over the Caliphate to Ibn al-Khattab after himself."

(Then he quoted al-A'sha's verse):

"My days are now passed on the camel's back (in difficulty) while there were days [of ease] when I enjoyed the company of Jabir's brother Hayyan."

(Implying the contrast between the present and the time of Muhammad)

"It is strange that during his [Abu Bakr] lifetime he wished to be released from the caliphate but he confirmed it for the other one [Umar] after his death. No doubt these two shared its udders strictly among themselves".

Umar's Caliphate

states:
Regarding Umar's marriage to Umm Kulthum

Umar's marriage to Umm Kulthum

Umar's marriage to Umm Kulthum bint Ali occurred in , when Umar was 55 years old. The event is notable in that Shi'a and Sunni differ as to the identity of the person named Umm Kulthum.-Overview:...

:
Ali is further quoted in the same sermon:

"This one [Umar] put the Caliphate in a tough enclosure where the utterance was haughty and the touch was rough. Mistakes were in plenty and so also the excuses therefore. One in contact with it was like the rider of an unruly camel. If he pulled up its rein the very nostril would be slit, but if he let it loose he would be thrown. Consequently, by Allah people got involved in recklessness, wickedness, unsteadiness and deviation".

Shi'a claim that Umar was not given the title of "Al Faruq" as this was a title given to Ali, but rather Umar later was given that title.

Shi'as claim that Umar's marriage to Ali's daughter is a Umayyad fabrication, with the only goal being to put forth that Ali and Umar were friends, not missing the chance of depicting Ali as weak and inferior to Umar: Umar publicly threatening Ali to submission until he got his daughter for marriage.

Jurisprudence

It is reported that Umar declared in public:

"Anyone who pays more for their dowry than what the Prophet used to pay, will put the excess amount in the Public Treasury."

A woman from the Quraish came to him and said:

"O commander of the Believers, which have more right to be followed, the Book of Allah [the Qur'an] or your statement?""

He answered:

"The Book of Allah."

So she told him,

"You have just prohibited the people from giving the excess amount from the dowry, but Allah Taalah has revealed in His Book, 'And if you have given them a great amount of gold as dower, take not the least bit of it back'(Qur'an 4:20)."

Therefore Umar said a few times:

"The Woman is correct and Umar is mistaken."

He addresses people again, and said:

"Verily a man may do whatever he sees fit with his wealth".

Note: Generally, narrations with broken chains are not considered true according to Sunni Islamic scholars and any legal rulings contained therein are nonbinding.

Shi'as point out that Umar was very ill versed in Islamic law

Sharia

Sharia law, is the moral code and religious law of Islam. Sharia is derived from two primary sources of Islamic law: the precepts set forth in the Quran, and the example set by the Islamic prophet Muhammad in the Sunnah. Fiqh jurisprudence interprets and extends the application of sharia to...

in contrast to Ibn Abbas and Ali, which is shown by these examples:

* Forbidding of Tayammum, even though its in the Qur'an and despite being reminded of the Sunnah

Sunnah

The word literally means a clear, well trodden, busy and plain surfaced road. In the discussion of the sources of religion, Sunnah denotes the practice of Prophet Muhammad that he taught and practically instituted as a teacher of the sharī‘ah and the best exemplar...

by Ammar ibn Yasir

Ammar ibn Yasir

ʻAmmār ibn Yāsir al-Ansi was one of the companions of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. He was one of the Muhajirun, and referred to as by Shia Muslims as one of the Four Companions....

* Gave an incorrect death sentence due to ignorance in basic jurisprudence.

There are also incidents where he knowingly changed Muhammad's Sunnah by innovating in religious matters even though he had no authority to do so. For example:

* Enforced the triple talaq

The above point is not disputed by Sunnis, but the following four are:

* Umar took the solitary prayer of the month of Ramadan. and changed it to congregational prayer

* Forbade temporary marriage according to the Hadith of Umar's speech of forbidding Mut'ah.

* He modified the adhan

Adhan

The adhān is the Islamic call to prayer, recited by the muezzin at prescribed times of the day. The root of the word is meaning "to permit"; another derivative of this word is , meaning "ear"....

* Changed the number of floggings for drinking alcohol from 40 to 80 lashes.

Death

He was killed by Abu-Lu'lu'ah. Again, Umar's lack of knowledge in Muhammad's Sunnah,according to Shia's claims, is shown when Umar forbade Hafsa and others to weep for him, believing that it would cause him to be punished in the grave. This was because he misunderstood Aisha's narration of the hadith.
Ali continues on:
writes:

Legacy

Even though he evidently was mistaken on several occasions, which is clearly seen by the evidence, he has still set precedence in Sunni jurisprudence. Due to this Shi'a stress the need to enlighten people of Umar's ignorance, so that they stop following a man that believed he could shape the Sunnah

Sunnah

of Muhamamd.

Even though Umar did make numerous fatwa

Fatwa

A fatwā in the Islamic faith is a juristic ruling concerning Islamic law issued by an Islamic scholar. In Sunni Islam any fatwā is non-binding, whereas in Shia Islam it could be considered by an individual as binding, depending on his or her relation to the scholar. The person who issues a fatwā...

s in direct violation to the Qur'an

Qur'an

, admitted by the Sunnis in the case of Tayammum

Tayammum

Tayammum is the Islamic act of dry ablution using sand or dust, which may be performed in place of ritual washing if no clean water is readily available.-Circumstances when tayammum is necessary:...

, and even though he believed he could shape the Sunnah in the case of triple talaq and Adhan

Adhan

The adhān is the Islamic call to prayer, recited by the muezzin at prescribed times of the day. The root of the word is meaning "to permit"; another derivative of this word is , meaning "ear"....

, also admitted by the Sunnis, Shi'a believe that there are cases where even the evidence clearly proves it, the Sunnis refuse to acknowledge that Umar made those changes, for example in the case of Nikah Mut'ah. Shia argue that there are only single narrations on the occasions where Muhammad supposedly forbade it, on seven contradictory times, and even though the vast majority of the hadith related to the topic unanimously claim that Umar forbade Nikah Mut'ah, even himself saying so, still the Sunnis choose to hold the few claiming Muhammad as the one forbidding it as authentic. In Shia view, this shows how deep the impact of Umars legacy is, making Sunnis accept traditions that override the Qur'an (4:24), uniquely for this matter, even though those traditions propose that Muhammad forbade it in 7 AH, when Sahih Muslim puts the date of the verse of Mut'ah Nikah in 9 AH.

Shi'a believe Umar to be the main force behind Abu Bakrs rise to power, since they quote him several times stopping Abu Bakr from giving in to Fatimah's cries for justice. Even after his death, Umar was responsible for the election that followed him, an election where Ali is quoted to view it as in effect rigged to the extent that he could not win it, in practice giving away the Muslim nation to Islam's former arch-enemies, the Banu Umayyad, starting with Uthman

Uthman

Uthman ibn Affan was one of the companions of Islamic prophet, Muhammad. He played a major role in early Islamic history as the third Sunni Rashidun or Rightly Guided Caliph....

and continuing with the adopted son of Abu Sufyan, Muawiya I, followed by Yazid I

Yazid I

Yazīd ibn Mu‘āwiya ibn Abī Sufyān , commonly known as Yazid I, was the second Caliph of the Umayyad Caliphate . He ruled for three years from 680 CE until his death in 683 CE. Many Muslims condemn Yazid's rule as contentious and unjust...

, resulting in the slaughter of Banu Hashim in the battle of Karbala

Battle of Karbala

and ultimately the pillage and rape of Medina

Medina

Medina , or ; also transliterated as Madinah, or madinat al-nabi "the city of the prophet") is a city in the Hejaz region of western Saudi Arabia, and serves as the capital of the Al Madinah Province. It is the second holiest city in Islam, and the burial place of the Islamic Prophet Muhammad, and...

and the catapult assault on the Kaaba

Kaaba

The Kaaba is a cuboid-shaped building in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, and is the most sacred site in Islam. The Qur'an states that the Kaaba was constructed by Abraham, or Ibraheem, in Arabic, and his son Ishmael, or Ismaeel, as said in Arabic, after he had settled in Arabia. The building has a mosque...

.

Shi'a believe that many hadith where Umar is merited by Muhammad, for example the Hadith of Umar and prophecy, are late Umayyad fabrications.

According to a sayying attributed to the Shi'a imam, Imam Baqir, Umar and his companion Abu Bakr had left Islam and deserve to be cursed:

"Abu Bakr and Omar did not repent before they parted the world. In fact, they did not even mention what they had done to Ali. So may Allah, His angels and all of mankind curse them".

In Haqq al-Yaqeen

Reality of Certainty (book)

Reality of Certainty is a Shi'a Twelver hadith collection authored by the major Shia hadith scholar Allamah Mohammad Baqir Majlisi in the 16th century....

it is written:

"Regarding the doctrine of Tabarra

Tabarra

Tabarra is a Shia Muslim doctrine that refers to the obligation of disassociation with those who oppose God and those who caused harm to and were the enemies of the Prophet Muhammad or his family.- Definition :...

, we believe that we should seek disassociation from four idols namely, Abu Bakr, Omar, Uthman and Mu'awiyah; from four women namely, Ayesha, Hafsa, Hind and Ummul Hakam, along with all their associates and followers. These are the worst creation of Allah. It is not possible to believe in Allah, His Messenger and the Imams without disassociating oneself from their enemies."

It is worthy of a note here in the context that Ayesha, despite the views of the statement, is, on the other hand, reported to have mentioned regret over having rebelled against 'Ali before her death and that 'Ali supplicated for her forgiveness.

Regardless, in accordance with the above stated, it is not strange then that Shi'a believe that disassociation from Umar is one of the Furu al-din (Branches of religion).

Furthermore, Shi'as supplicate curses upon Umar (as well as Abu Bakr), in the Dua Sanamain Quraish

Dua Sanamain Quraish

Dua Sanamain Quraish , is a Shia tradition, used in cursing the first two Sunni caliphs; Abu Bakr and Umar. It is found in the Shi'a religious work, Alsaheefa Al-Alawiya...

Non-Muslim view

Michael H. Hart

Michael H. Hart is an astrophysicist who has also written three books on history and controversial articles on a variety of subjects. Hart describes himself as a Jeffersonian liberal, while his critics call him a conservative and a racial separatist.-Science:Hart, a graduate of the Bronx High...

ranked Umar no.52 in his popular list The 100: A Ranking of the Most Influential Persons in History

The 100

The 100: A Ranking of the Most Influential Persons in History is a 1978 book by Michael H. Hart, reprinted in 1992 with revisions. It is a ranking of the 100 people who, according to Hart, most influenced human history....

. Umar is the only other Muslim to appear on the list, second only to Muhammed who was ranked first.

wrote:
And he also writes that Ali...
David Samuel Margoliouth offers this assessment of Umar:

External links

http://www.usc.edu/schools/college/crcc/engagement/resources/texts/muslim/hadith/muslim/025.smt.html#025.5331

The source of this article is wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. The text of this article is licensed under the GFDL.