CALIPHATE OF HAZRAT UMAR

HIS EXPANSIONS 634-644 A.D

 WARS WITH THE PERSIAN
REASONS
• The kings of Iran had given their best in destroying Islam
• Khusroe Pervez had ordered to arrest prophet(s)
• They had also instigated the false prophet ‘Sajjah’ to rise up against
Islam
• The Persians had also fought with Arab tribes who had joined the
Muslims
• That is why Abu Bakr had also fought with them, conquering battles
• But the threat continued
• Thus Hazrat Umar decided to get the Persian threat off of Islam
 BATTLE OF NAMARAQ

• It took place in 13AH or 634 AD

• It was the first battle with the Persians under Hazrat Umar’s caliphate
• The commander : Abu Obaidah Thaqafi (rz)
• Persian commander : Jaban
• Background:
During the khilafat of Hazrat Abu Bakr, Khalid bin walid and Musana conquered the kingdom of
Hira, in the Persian Empire.
The Persians become very much angry at their loss and decided to take revenge
The king sent Jaban, with a huge army
At that time Khalid Bin Walid had already left with Musana left alone
• Thus Hazrat Umar sent an army under Hazrat Abu Obaidah Thaqafi to help Musana
• Conclusion: Muslims won the battle at the place of Namaraq
 BATTLE OF JASR/ BRIGDE
• It took place in 13 A.H
• As a result of Battle of Namaraq, Rustam (chief commander of the Persian army) gathered an army
under the chairmanship of Bahaman (a famous Persian warrior).
• Bahaman asked Abu Obaidah (RA) (Muslim commander) if the Persians should cross the river.
• Abu Obaidah was overconfident and chose to cross the river.
• Battle started- a fellow Muslim cut the bridge so that Muslims had no choice but to fight
• Persians were riding on elephants and this scared the Muslims
• Some were crushed and many drowned in the river
• Muthanna (RA) (second Muslim commander) rebuilt the bridge and brought the remaining Muslims
back
• Around 4000 Muslims were martyred including Abu Obaidah (RA)
 BATTLE OF BUWAID 1/2
 Background
• Battle of the Bridge was a decisive Sasanian victory which gave them a huge boost to expel
invading Arabs from Mesopotamia.
• Thus, they advanced with a huge army to fight the remnants of the Muslim army near Kufa
• Caliph Umar sent reinforcements to the region which were mainly the people who were fighting Muslims during the Ridda
wars
 Events
• Umar[r.a] was shocked at the defeat of the Muslim army .He sent special messengers to various tribes to prepare for the
holy war against persians.
• A new reinforcement was sent to Muthannas army .in this army a no of Christian Arabs were included
• Persians gathered a large army with commander Mehran hamdani who was appointed by Rustum .
• Muslim commander was Muthanna
• Muslim army met the Persian army at a place called Buwaib [present day kufa]
• Muslims invited the Persians to cross the river and they accepted it.
• No. of muslim army was a little more than 20000
• No. of persians were estimated to be 200000
 BATTLE OF BUWAIB 2/2
• A fierce battle took place and persians were defeated
• The persians couldn’t find a way to cross river euphrates because it was destroyed by the muslims.
• This resulted in disorder in the persians.
 Conclusion
• Muslims were victorious
• Mehran was slain
• 100000 men lost their lives
• Whole western part of persian empire [present day iraq] came under the muslims
 Important points
• Muslim commander [muthanna and the christians along with almost 20000 army
• Persian commander[mehran][rustom was the leader]along with almost 200000 army.
• Result persians were defeated. Pooran[queen] was replaced Yazgard as the persians took her government as
an accursed [bad luck]
 BATTLE OF QADSIYYAH

• The battle was fought in 14 A.H.637 A.D. in the month of Muharram

• In the battle of Buwaib the Persians had faced a major defeat and wanted revenge.
• the Persian emperor Yazdgrid assembled an army of 120,000 men under the command of
Rustum.
• Umar learnt about the preparations and set his own army of 28,000 men under the
command of Saad bin Abu Waqas. This measure was taken as an act of jihad.
• The Muslims gave there enemy three options, to accept Islam, pay jizya, or fight. The
Persians chose to fight.
• Despite the fact that the Muslims commander, Saad was ill and was only able to give orders
from his tent the Muslims emerged victorious.
• This battle shattered the strength of the Persian empire and many people accepted Islam.
 BATTLE OF MADAIN 1/2
• It took place in 4 A.H
• Bahrah Sher was an important fort at the outskirts of Madain (Persian Capital).
• After the victory at Qudsiya, Muslims laid siege to Bahrah Sher for two months
and finally captured the fort
• Now the next step was to conquer the capital, Madian itself.
• City of Madian: situated on the east bank of River Tigiris.
• Muslim Commander: Saad bin Abi Waqqas (R.A)
• The Persians destroyed the bridge on the River when Muslims marched towards it.
• Saad (R.A) said, "Allah made a way in the Red Sea for Musa and followers; He will
surely help us who are following His Last Prohet, Muhammad(S.A.W.W).
• The whole Muslim army crossed the river on horses.
 BATTLE OF MADAIN 2/2

• The Persians ran away saying, "Dev Aamdan, Dev Aamdan" ( The giants have come, the giants have come )
• The whole of the territory between Euphrates and the Tigris came under the possession of Muslims.
• The prophecy of Holy Prophet(S) came true: "A group of Muslims will capture the White Palace of The Persian
Emperor."
• A great number of War booty was collected.
• Hazrat Umar(R.A) remarked, "I am weeping because riches are often the cause of enmity and mutual
bitterness. Those people, who have such evils, ultimately lose respect.“
 After math:
• After the conquest of Madain, the Battles of Julula, Halwan, Khozistan and Nehwand were fought and the
enemy was defeated.
• Towards the end of the series of Conquests, Hamdam, Azerbaijan, Armenia, and Kharasan were also
conquered.
QUESTIONS
WARS WITH THE BYZANTINE EMPIRE

• The Eastern Roman Empire consisting of Syria, Jerusalem and Egypt was called the Byzantine Empire.
• Although relations between the two parties had been cordial when Muhammad (PBUH) sent his envoy to
Heraclius, things had begun to cool down.
• The Christian prince of Syria had murdered Muhammad (PBUH)’s envoy at Mu’tah. This led to an increase in
the hostility.
CAUSES

Rebellion of the Bedouin tribes on the

Syrian border against Muslim rule on
instigation of the Byzantine Empire.

• Bedouin tribes in the Byzantine

Empire on the Syrian border rendered
help to their kinsmen in Arabia to raid
Muslim territory.

• Natural expansive need of Arabia as

it was not very rich in resources as
compared to its neighbours.
BATTLE OF YARMOUK 636A.D
KHALID BIN WALEED LATER ABU UBAIDAH VS THEODOROUS

• Reasons:During the time of Hazrat Abu Bakr, Muslims had defeated the Romans on the Syrian front.
• During the reign of Hazrat Umar, Hazrat Khalid bin Walid had now added Damascus, Jordan and Emmessa to
the Muslim State.
• After the loss of these important cities, the Roman Emperor became revengeful .
• • In retaliation, the Byzantine Emperor sent 260,000 men, who camped in the valley of Yarmouk.
• Hazrat Abu Ubaydah rallied 40,000 men under the banner of Islam.
• The Byzantines offered to pay the Muslims a large sum of money if they left Syria.
• Hazrat Abu Ubaydah offered them the usual:    I) Accept Islam.  II) Pay Jizya.  III) Prepare for battle.
• The battle lasted for 6 days.
• By the afternoon of the 6th day, only 1/3 of the Byzantine army remained.
• Meanwhile, a storm broke out and the fleeing Byzantines were cut down in large numbers.
• With this battle, the Byzantines lost Syria and Muslim rule was ushered in.
FALL OF JERUSALEM ½ NOVEMBER 636- APRIL 637 A.D

• After the Battle of Yarmouk, Muslim forces spread out in all directions in Jordan and captured key areas to pave the
way to Jerusalem.
• The city of Jerusalem, held sacred by Jews and Christians, was strongly fortified and was protected on all sides by
deep valleys.
• Muslims laid siege to Jerusalem in the severe winter.
• Hazrat Amr bin Aas, the Muslim commander, wrote to Hazrat Abu Ubaydah for reinforcements.
• When the reinforcements arrived, the citizens of the city lost heart and offered surrender if the Caliph himself
would come and receive the keys of the city.
• Leaving Hazrat Ali as his deputy, Hazrat Umar left for Jerusalem with a slave, taking turns to ride the camel.
FALL OF JERUSALEM 2/2
• • When he arrived, a treaty with the citizens was drawn up, guaranteeing security of life, safety of churches
and other religious buildings etc. The citizens were required to pay Jizya. Those who wouldn’t do so were asked
to leave the city.
• When Hazrat Umar asked the Patriarch of the city where he could offer the prayer of thanksgiving, he was
led to a church.
• Hazrat Umar declined to pray in the church because he feared that he would set an example for Muslims to
convert churches to mosques.
• He was then led to a place where Prophet David used to pray.
• Staying in Jerusalem for a few days, he reorganized the administration and built the Mosque of Hazrat Umar
b. How does ‘Umar’s conduct at the surrender of Jerusalem set an example for Muslims?   [4]

Here candidates could write about any one or more examples of Umar’s conduct at the time
of the surrender of Jerusalem and discuss how it sets an example for today’s Muslims. He
entered Jerusalem accompanied by just one servant and a camel between them which they
rode in turns. He signed a treaty according to which the inhabitants of Jerusalem were
granted complete security of their life and property. The people’s freedom to practice their
own religion and the protection given to their places of worship are some of the points that
could be mentioned and discussed. He also refused to pray inside the church for the fear that Muslims would
not convert the churches into mosques His conduct therefore sets an example of simplicity,
humility, a respect for all faiths and tolerance.
CONQUEST OF EGYPT
CAUSES
•
I) The Muslim navy was extremely weak and Alexandria was a strong naval base of the      Byzantines. From
there, they could launch a devastating attack.
•
II) Egypt was the ‘granary of the Empire’, and its capture would debilitate the food system of the   Byzantine
Empire.
• III) The conquest of Egypt would open the way to large parts of Africa.
•
IV) The Copts of Egypt lived in miserable conditions under their Byzantine masters; Hazrat Amr knew that
these people would welcome and support the Muslims.
• Egypt was a great danger to the security of Hejaz r. Romans wanted to attack Muslims through Egypt
CONQUEST OF EGYPT 641 A.D AMR BIN ALAS VS MAQOQAS

MAIN EVENT :
•  With  the  permission  of the  Caliph,  Hazrat  Amr  bin  Aas  set out for Egypt with 4,000 men, in 639 AD.
• After attacking small towns, he laid siege to the fort of Fustat, which lasted for 7 months. This fort was
captured.
• Alarmed by the Muslim advance, the Egyptian king sent a large army to hold Alexandria.
• When the Muslims reached Alexandria, they found it heavily fortified and manned by 50,000 soldiers.
• At this time, the Muslims strength was only 12,000.
• Whenever the Muslims tried to get close to the city, the enemy rained boulders on them.
• Also, Alexandria was a major port and help could come from sea any time.
• When the Byzantines tried to fight the Muslims in the open, they were beaten back.
• When Emperor Heraclius died, a wave of disappointment went over the besieged city as they knew that no
one would now come to their help anymore.
• Finally, the city capitulated and Muslims became the masters of Egypt.
PAST PAPER QUESTIONS
• HAZRAT UMAR (RA)

4 MARK QUESTIONS
B.EXPLAIN THE IMPORTANCE OF HZ UMAR (RA) AS A CALIPH?

▪ Hz Umar(RA) defeated the Byzantines and Persians who were a source of constant threat to Islamic
empire. Therefore by defeating them he ensured that Islam should stay safe.

▪ Secondly he conquered many areas including Syria, Iraq, Persia and Egypt. By doing so he spread Islam into
these areas. Thus the Muslim strength increased.

▪ Also Hz Umar(RA) had a treaty with the people of Jerusalem and gave them protection of life, property and
religion. Therefore, he practiced religious tolerance in accordance with the Quranic verse ‘Let there be no
compulsion in religion’ .
▪ …In later times Muslims looked back on these agreements to have good relations with the non Muslims
living under them.
▪ Also by introducing different administrative measures like Diwan and Majlis-e-Shura ,the growing Islamic
empire was efficiently administered and unity of Islam was preserved.
▪ Therefore , due to his competent governance and strong military strategy, his period witnessed a lasting
process of internal consolidation, peace , stability and prosperity
B.HOW IS THE CALIPHATE OF HZ UMAR (RA) AN
EXAMPLE FOR MODERN MUSLIM RULERS?
Hz Umar was just and did not
favour anyone, even his own
….Modern leaders
family members. This can be should learn from this
highlighted in the event of him example and be as fair
giving punishment to his own son
on the use of alcohol. to everyone as possible.

…..e.g. the leaders of ….This will establish a just

Pakistan should not only and peaceful society which
favour those who support will be free of corruption
 . HOW DOES THE EVENT OF THE DEATH OF HZ
UMAR(RA) TELL MUSLIMS ABOUT HIS CHARACTER?
Who Why How

was assassinated by Abu Lulu’a, a slave of who wanted to be exempted from a tax Threatened Umar
Mughira but Hz Umar(RA) refused attacked at Fajr prayers , stabbed him
Character :
impartial and never favored anyone Character :
simple and brave as never kept any guard
and
He didn’t punished on verbal threating
and made a law for it
Humble and God fearing
strict in following the pillars
• B. Umar (r.A) was assassinated to his unbending nature .
discuss [4]