The Commander of the Faithful, the second of the Rightly-Guided Caliphs and one of the greatest of those blessed to have received the glad tidings of Paradise during their own lifetime. Said bin Jubayr said, 'And the righteous of the faithful,' was specifically revealed about 'Umar.'

He was born thirteen years after the Elephant and in the fifth year after Prophecy. He became the fortieth man to embrace Isläm, in addition to the eleven women that were already Muslim. His conversion was a great victory for Islam, as was his migration and his caliphate. 'Abdu'Llah bin Mas'ud said, 'We were still basking in the might bestowed since 'Umar bin al-Khattab entered into the fold of Islăm" He was extremely tall and very dark in complexion, with a large moustache which curled at the ends. He had slight side-burns and was bald; and although ambidextrous, he was left-hand dominant. He was an extremely sagacious and judicious man of exemplary leadership, who was both courageous and just. The Messenger of God i said, 'If there were a prophet after me, it would have

He was violently stabbed whilst leading the Fair prayer in the mosque of the Messenger of God * by Abu Lu'lu' al-Majüsi, a young slave who belonged to al-Mughirah bin Shu'bah. Despite being in critical condition, his thoughts lay with the governance and well-being of the Muslims and he decided to choose a council of the elect from amongst the Companions to decide the affair of leadership after him. Umar said, I have placed the responsibility to elect the caliph in the hands of Uthmãn, Ali, Talhah, az-Zubay, Abdur-Rahmãn bin Awf and Sad who must

appointed for the six, a term of three days to deliberate. 40 consult one another? He commanded that Suhayb lead the people in prayer and

He died several days later, on the twenty-sixth of the Dhul-Hijjah, twen-ty-three years after the Migration. On the authority of Slim; on the authority of his father who said, 'The Prophet i saw 'Umar wearing a garment and asked, Is your garment new or has it been washed?' ('Umar) replied, 'Indeed it has been washed. (The Prophet #) then said, Wear that which is new; live in a praiseworthy manner and die as a martyr. 42