The Demise of Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) and Election of Hazrat Umar (ra)

When the time of the demise of Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) drew near, he called for Hazrat Abdur (ra) Rahman bin Auf and said, “Tell me about Umar (ra).” Hazrat Abdur (ra) Rahman bin Auf replied, “O Khalifa of the Messenger (sa) of Allah! By God, Hazrat Umar (ra) is even better than the opinion you hold about him, except for the fact that he is strict in his disposition.”

Upon this, Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) replied, “He is strict because he sees that I am compassionate in nature. However, if he was entrusted with the leadership, he will give up many of his habits because I have observed that when I treat someone in a strict manner, he tries to convince me to be happy with them and when he sees that I am overly lenient with someone, he tells me to be strict with them.”

Thereafter, Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) called for Hazrat Uthman (ra) and asked about Hazrat Umar (ra). Hazrat Uthman (ra) said, “His hidden qualities are even better than those qualities which are apparent. There is no one like him amongst us.”

Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) then said to both these companions, “Whatever I have said to you should not be disclosed to anyone else. And if I do not choose Umar (ra), then I will look no further than Uthman (ra).”

(In other words, according to Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra), both of these individuals were worthy of doing justice to the station of Khilafat.)

“And they both will have the authority to govern your affairs in the most proper manner. It is my desire now to move away from governing your affairs and join those who have passed away from among you.”

During the days of Hazrat Abu Bakr’s (ra) illness, Hazrat Talha (ra) bin Ubaidillah approached him and said, “You have made Hazrat Umar (ra) the Khalifa of the people, even though you can see how he treats people in your presence. What will be the situation when he is alone and you will meet your Lord and He will question you about your subjects?”

Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) told him to sit up. Hence, they sat him up with some support and he said, “Are you making me fearful of Allah? When I will meet my Lord and He will question me, I will say, ‘I appointed the best among Your servants as their Khalifa.’”

Following this, Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) called Hazrat Uthman (ra) to see him in private in order to write a will in relation to Hazrat Umar (ra). Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) then said, “Write: ‘In the name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful. This is the will of Abu Bakr bin Abi Quhafah for the Muslims.’”

Having said this much, he became unconscious and Hazrat Uthman (ra) wrote [further] on his own accord, “I have chosen Umar bin Khattab as your Khalifa and I have not left any shortcomings in providing good for you.”

Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) then regained consciousness and said, “Read to me what you have written.” Hazrat Uthman (ra) read it to him upon which he said, “Allahu Akbar [Allah is the Greatest]!” He went on to say, “I believe that you became anxious about not causing divisions among the people if I had passed away in this [state of] unconsciousness.”

Hazrat Uthman (ra) replied in the affirmative and said that this was indeed the case. Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) said, “May Allah reward you on behalf of Islam and the Muslims.”

(Al-Kamil Fi Al-Tarikh, Ibn Saad, Vol. 2, pp. 272-272, Dar-ul-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut [2003])

In other words, the sentence Hazrat Uthman (ra) wrote of his own accord regarding Hazrat Umar (ra) becoming the Khalifa was not objected to by Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra).

In Tarikh al-Tabari it is written that Muhammad bin Ibrahim bin Harith relates, “Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) called Hazrat Uthman (ra) alone and said to write, ‘In the name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful. This is the will of Abu Bakr bin Abi Quhafah for the Muslims. Following this […]’” – the narrator says after saying this much, Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) became unconscious.

Following this, the same took place as has been mentioned earlier. Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) regained consciousness, had the same conversation and asked Hazrat Uthman (ra) to read it out. After hearing what was written, as has been mentioned, Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) said “Allahu Akbar.” Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) further said, “May Allah reward you in the best manner on behalf of Islam and the Muslims for having written this sentence.” Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) kept the written statement intact and did not make any changes.

(Tarikh Al-Tabari, Vol. 2, p. 353, Dar-ul-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut [1987])

In one narration it is mentioned that Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) called for Hazrat Uthman (ra) and said, “Suggest to me a person to be chosen as the Khalifa. By Allah! In my eyes, you are worthy of giving me advice.” Upon this, he said, “Hazrat Umar (ra)!” Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) then told him to write this down and he began to write. As he reached the name, Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) fell unconscious. When Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) regained consciousness, he said to write, “Umar.”

In another narration it is mentioned that Hazrat Aisha (ra) relates:

“Hazrat Uthman (ra) was writing the will of Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra). Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) became unconscious and Hazrat Uthman (ra) wrote the name of Hazrat Umar (ra). When Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) regained consciousness, he enquired what he had written. He replied, ‘I have written Umar.’ Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) said, ‘You have written what I had intended to say to you. Even if you had written your own name, you would have been entitled to it.’”

(Sirat Umar bin Al-Khattab (ra), Ibn Juzi, pp. 44-45, Al-Azhar, Egypt)

In another narration it is mentioned that when Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) fell ill, he sent a message to Hazrat Ali (ra), Hazrat Uthman (ra) and to some individuals from among the Muhajireen and the Ansar, saying, “You can see that the time has come and there is no one in position to give you orders. If you wish, you may choose an individual from among yourselves and if you so desire, I will do so on your behalf.”

They replied, “You may do so for us.” Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) told Hazrat Uthman (ra) to write, “This is the will of Abu Bakr bin Abi Quhafah, which he made as his final will prior to departing from this world and as his first will entering the Hereafter, where a sinner will repent, a disbeliever will believe and a liar will testify to the truth. The will is as follows: ‘I bear witness that there is none worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad (sa) is His servant and Messenger, and I appoint as the Khalifa […]’” Having said this, he fell unconscious and Hazrat Uthman (ra) wrote Umar bin Khattab of his own accord. When Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) regained consciousness, he asked, “Have you written anything?” In reply, he said, “Yes, I wrote Umar bin Khattab.” Upon this, Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) said, “May Allah have mercy on you. Even if you had written your own name, you were entitled to it. Nevertheless, write that I have chosen Umar bin Khattab as your Khalifa after me and I am content with him for all the Muslims.”

(Sahih Tarikh Al-Tabari, Vol. 3, p. 126, Dar Ibn Kathir, Damascus [2007])

Once the will had been written, Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) said, “It should be read out to the people.” As such, Hazrat Uthman (ra) gathered the people and sent his freed slave with a letter. At that time, Hazrat Umar (ra) was with him as well. Hazrat Umar (ra) would tell the people to remain silent and listen to the words of the Khalifa of the Holy Prophet (sa), as he had not left any shortcomings in providing good for them. Subsequently, the people sat down quietly and the will was read out to them. They listened to it and obeyed.

At that time, Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) turned towards the people and said, “Are you satisfied with whom I have appointed as Khalifa, as I have not chosen a relative? I have most certainly appointed Umar as your Khalifa! Hence, you should listen to him and obey him. By Allah, I have not been negligent in reflecting and pondering over this.” Upon this, the people replied, “We have heard and obeyed.”

Following this, Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) called Hazrat Umar (ra) and said to him, “I have appointed you as the Khalifa of the Companions of the Holy Prophet (sa) and have advised you”, i.e. Hazrat Umar (ra), “to be fearful of Allah.”

He further said, “O Umar (ra)! There are most certainly some rights due to Allah, which are fulfilled during the night and which He does not accept during the day, and there are some rights to be discharged during the day, which He does not accept during the night. Moreover, He most certainly does not accept voluntary deeds unless and until the obligations are fulfilled.

“O Umar (ra)! Do you not see that the scales of those very individuals are heavier [in the balance of good], whose scales will also be heavier on the Day of Judgement as a result of following the truth?” That is, those who follow the truth, their scales will be heavier on the Day of Judgement. He further said, “And in the times to come, something heavier will be placed upon these scales.

“O Umar (ra)! Do you not see that the scale of those very individuals will be lighter, whose scales will also be lighter on the Day of Judgement as a result of following falsehood?” In other words, they were not following the truth and performing virtuous deeds. As such, those who do not follow their scales will be lighter on the Day of Judgement.

“Moreover, it is certain that whenever falsehood is placed in the scale, it will be lighter. O Umar (ra)! Do you not see that the verses pertaining to glad-tidings were revealed alongside the verses relating to punishment, and likewise, the verses relating to punishment were revealed alongside the verses granting glad-tidings? And this was so that the believers remain in a state of hope as well as fear”. On the one hand, they aspire to perform virtuous deeds, and on the other, they instil the fear of Allah the Almighty within them, “and so they do not harbour any desire which has no connection with God and nor to fear from anything which Allah has established Himself.

“O Umar (ra)! Do you not see that Allah the Almighty has mentioned the inmates of the Hellfire owing to their ill deeds? Thus, when you mention them, then you should say, ‘I hope that I am not from among them.’ And Allah has mentioned the dwellers of Paradise owing to their virtuous deeds and Allah overlooked their ills. Thus, when you mention them, you should say, ‘Are my deeds the same as their deeds?’”

(Al-Kamil Fi Al-Tarikh, Ibn Saad, Vol. 2, pp. 273-274, Dar-ul-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut [2003])

In other words, one ought to seek the answer from their heart.

When the time of Hazrat Abu Bakr’s (ra) demise drew close, he stated, “Whatever wealth of the Muslims was entrusted to me should be returned to them for I do not wish to take anything from that. And my land in such and such place is to be used to return the wealth of the Muslims which I took from the treasury [bait-ul-mal] to be used for my personal expenses.”

Hazrat Abu Bakr’s (ra) land, camel, assistant and a cloak which was worth five dirhams were all given to Hazrat Umar (ra). When Hazrat Umar (ra) saw all of this, he stated, “He”, i.e. Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra), “has placed the one who will come after him in great difficulty.”

(Al-Tabaqaat-ul-Kubra, Ibn Saad, Vol. 3, p. 143, Dar-ul-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut [1990])

Hazrat Khalifatul Masih I (ra) states, “Someone once stated that Hazrat Umar (ra) no longer possessed a stern disposition as he did in the era of Jahiliyyah [era of ignorance prior to the advent of Islam]. Upon this, Hazrat Umar (ra) replied, “I still have that sternness in my disposition, but it is now used against the disbelievers.”

(Haqaiq-ul-Furqan, Vol. 1, p. 206)

Hazrat Musleh Maud (ra) states:

“People said to Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra), ‘You have appointed Umar (ra) as your successor and this would cause a lot of unrest for he has a very sharp temper.’ Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) replied, ‘His temper will only be fiery whilst I am present, and once I depart [from this world], his temperament will soften.’”

(Anwar-e-Khilafat, Anwar-ul-Ulum, Vol. 3, p. 151)

The Promised Messiah (as) states:

“It is reported with relation to Hazrat Umar, Allah be pleased with him, that someone asked him about his anger and remarked that he was a man of fiery disposition prior to his acceptance of Islam. Hazrat Umar responded by saying that the anger was just as before, albeit, in the past it would manifest itself inappropriately, but now it is exercised at the appropriate occasion.”

(The Advent of the Promised Messiah (as), p. 45, Islam International Publications Ltd, UK [2016])

Jami‘ bin Shidad relates from one of his close relatives that he heard Hazrat Umar (ra) bin Khattab state:

“O Allah! I am weak, grant me strength and I am stern in my disposition, thus soften my temperament, and I am miserly, grant me the ability to spend with an open heart.”

There are varying narrations regarding the first address delivered by Hazrat Umar (ra) after becoming Khalifa. According to one narration, Humaid bin Bilal who was present at the time of Hazrat Abu Bakr Siddiq’s (ra) demise narrates, “When Hazrat Umar (ra) returned from the burial of Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra), he cleaned the soil of the grave from his hands and then stood at his place and said, ‘Surely, Allah Almighty has tried you through me, and has tried me through you, and after my two friends, he has now placed this trust upon me. I swear by Allah, whenever your matters are brought to me, no one other than me will tend to them. If it is a matter which is distant from me, then I will appoint able and trustworthy people; they will be appointed to oversee your matters. If people treat me well, I will treat them well and if they misbehave, then I will punish them.”

Hasan (ra) says, “In our view of the first address delivered by Hazrat Umar (ra), he glorified Allah the Almighty and then said, ‘After this, I have been tried through you people and you have been tried through me. After the departure of my two friends, He has now placed this trust upon me. And so, any matter that is brought to me, I will tend to it myself, and any matter that is distant from me, I will appoint able and trustworthy people. Whoever does good, I will increase them in good and whoever does evil, I will punish them. May Allah forgive me and you.’”

Jami‘ bin Shidad relates on account of his father that when Hazrat Umar (ra) stood at the pulpit, the first thing he said was:

اَللّٰهُمَّ اِنِّيْ شَدِيْدٌ فَلَيِّنِيْ وَ اِنِّيْ ضَعِيْفٌ فَقَوِّنِيْ وَ اِنِّيْ بَخِيْلٌ فَسَخِّنِيْ

“O Allah, I am strict, so make me kind. I am weak, so make me strong. I am miserly, so make me generous.”

(Al-Tabaqaat-ul-Kubra, Ibn Saad, Vol. 3, p. 208, Dar-ul-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut [1990])

Jami‘ bin Shidad relates on account of his father that when Hazrat Umar (ra) was chosen [as the Khalifa], he stood at the pulpit and said, “I am going to say a few things to which you should say, ‘Amin’.” These were the first words that Hazrat Umar (ra) said after becoming the Khalifa.

Hussain Murri states that Hazrat Umar (ra) said, “Arabs are like a reined camel which walks behind its leader, and it is the leader’s job to be mindful of where he is leading the camel. As far as I am concerned, by the Lord of the Ka‘bah, I will surely guide them on the straight path.”

(Tarikh Al-Tabari, Vol. 2, p. 355, Dar-ul-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut [1987])

In the previous narration it was said that they should say “Amin” to what he said, but there are no further details mentioned. Or perhaps this narration about the reins is the explanation [of the earlier narration]. In any case, on the third day after becoming the Khalifa, Hazrat Umar (ra) delivered a detailed address, which was that when Hazrat Umar (ra) learned that people were afraid of him, he had an announcement made in a loud voice, saying, “The prayer is about to commence”. Upon this, people gathered and he sat at the pulpit, in the same place where Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) used to put his feet.

When everyone had gathered, he stood up and glorified Allah in a befitting manner and then sent salutations upon the Holy Prophet (sa). Then he said, “I have been informed that people are afraid of my stern temperament and they say, ‘Umar was strict with us even when the Holy Prophet (sa) was present among us, and continued to be strict with us when Abu Bakr (ra) ruled over us. What will happen, now that all the matters are in his hands.’ Whoever has said this is correct. No doubt I was with the Holy Prophet (sa) and was his slave and servant and he was such that no one could match his kindness and kind-heartedness. Allah the Almighty had bestowed these qualities upon him and had given him two titles from among His attributes; the compassionate and the merciful. I was a wielded sword; if the Holy Prophet (sa) chose, he could put me in a sheath or he could let me loose and I would go forth smiting. Then the Holy Prophet (sa) passed away in a state of being pleased with me and I am grateful to God that I was honoured in this way. Then Abu Bakr (ra) became the leader, and he was from among such people whose benevolence, grace and kindness cannot be denied, and I was his servant and helper.

“I would combine my strictness with his tenderness. I became the unsheathed sword at his disposal; if he so willed, he could place me back in the sheath and if he so willed, he could unleash me to go forth smiting. Hence, I remained with him in this manner until God Almighty brought about his demise whilst he was pleased with me. All praise belongs to Allah that I remained so blessed in this regard!

“Then, O people, I have now been appointed as a guardian over your affairs. Know well that my anger has subsided, but it shall be manifested to those who wrong and oppress the Muslims. It has subsided for you, but shall be evident against the enemies. As for the pious-natured, devout and virtuous people, I shall be more tender towards them than what they show to one another. If I ever find a person who acts unjustly and oppresses, I shall place his cheek on the ground and my foot on his other cheek, until he fully understands what the truth is”, that is to say, he will be very stern. “And O people, you have many rights over me which I mention. You may call me to account over them. One right you have over me is that I hide not whatever wealth is to be spent for your sake, nor of the spoils which God Almighty has sent for you, unless it is that which I hold for the works of God Almighty. Another right of yours over me is that the wealth be spent at its appropriate occasion. Your right over me is that I continue to grant you your allowances. A right of yours over me is also that I do not place you into ruin and when you leave your homes to join the army, I shall be like a father to your children until you return. I say this and seek Allah the Almighty’s forgiveness for you.”

(Izaalatul Khafa An Khilafat Al-Khulafa, translated by Shah Walliullah Muhaddith Dehlvi, Vol. 3, pp. 226-228, Qadeemi Kutub Kahana Karachi)