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Dr Omar Hasan Kasule, Sr. MB ChB, MPH, DrPH (Harvard) Professor of Medicine & Director, Training Center, International Islamic University. Paper at 7th Regional Leadership Training Program Durban, South Africa 1-31 July 1996
Omar was known for being tough. He however had a soft spot in him. This was demonstrated on many occasions. Before accepting Islam, he confronted his Muslim sister in Makka and beat her. When he saw blood he was very sorry and was profoundly affected. Her bravery and steadfastness softened him.
Omar was a practical man of action. Omar was brave and very daring. When he became a Muslim he declared his conversion in public in Makka. He and Hamza led the first public demonstration in Islam when they led Muslims from their hiding places to pray in from of the Kaaba. Omar unlike all other companions migrated in public from Makka and dared any who wanted to challenge him.
Omar was physically and mentally very strong. This enabled him to exercise a very dynamic leadership. He was able to work hard. He could personally attend to many details and follow up projects. He exercised more control over state affairs that did Abu Bakr.
Omar slept very little. He was always working. Omar was able to follow-up affairs of far- away provinces by use of the postal system, hajj, spies, and tours of inspection.
Omar gave trouble to those who came after him because he set very high unattainable standards for those after him.
Abu Bakr’s short reign was a period of transition. It was during Omar’s reign that the state stabilized. It was also during the 10 years of Omar’s reign that the Islamic empire expanded from Persia to Africa
According to Abu al-Sa’ib [Salm b. Juadah]-Ibn Fudayl-Dirar-Husayn al-Murri ‘Umar said, “The Arabs are like a tractable camel that follows its leader. So its leaders should watch were he is leading it. By the Lord of the Ka’bah, I shall certainly carry them along the [straight road].
According to Ya’qub b. Ibrahim-Isma’ilb. Ibrahim-Yunus-al-Hassan [al-Basri]: ‘Umar said, “When I find my self in a position when I feel comfortable, but that means my people have no access [to me], then this [can not] [continue] to be my position; I [must once again] be on the same level as my people.
According to Khallad b. Aslam-al-Nadr b. Shumayl-Qatan-Abu Yazid al-Madini-a client of ‘Uthman b. ‘Affan: I was riding behind ‘Uthman b. ‘Affan one hot day when there was an extremely hot wind blowing and he came to the alms-animal pen. There was a man wearing a waist wrapper and an upper garment with another wrapped around his head. He was driving camels into the pen; the is, the alms-camel pen. ‘Uthman said, “Who do you think this is?” We finally reached him and he was ‘Umar b. al-Khattab. (‘Uthman) said, “He is indeed ‘the strong, the trustworthy one!”.
According to Ya’qub b. Ibrahim-Isma’il-Yunus-al-Hassan : ‘Umar said, If I live, I shall certainly travel for a whole year among my subjects, God willing. I know that people have needs that do not reach me. Their governors will not refer them to me, nor will they themselves come to me. I shall travel to Syria and stay there two months. Then I shall travel to the Jazirah and stay there two months. Then I shall travel to Egypt and stay there two months. Then I shall travel to Bahrain and stay there two months. Then I shall travel to al-Kufah and stay there for two months. The I shall travel to al-Basrah and stay there for two months. Indeed, what a fine year this will be!
According to Muhammad b. ‘Awf-Abu al-Mughirah ‘Abd al-Quddus b. al-Hajjaj-Safwan b. ‘Amr-Abu al-Mukhariq Zuhayr b. Salim-Ka’b al-Ahbar. I stayed with a man called Malik who was under the protection of Umar b. al-Khattab. I asked him how one could get access to the Commander of the Faithful. He replied that there was no door barring the (way to Umar) or any obstacle, that he would say his prayers, would then sit down, and anyone who wished could talk to him.
According to ‘Umar b. Ismail b. Muhalid al-Hamdani-Abu Mu’awiyah-Abu Hayyan-Abu al-Zinba’-Abu al-Dihqanah ‘Umar b. al-Khattab was told that there was someone from al-Anbar who had some knowledge of the state register [and was asked] if he would take him on as a secretary. ‘Umar replied, “In this case, I would be taking on as a [confidant] someone from outside the [community of the Believers!”.
According to Yunus b. ‘Abd al-’A’la-Ibn Wahb-’Abd al-Rahman b. Zayd-his father-his grandfather; Umar b. al-Khattab addressed the people and said, “By Him who sent Muhammad with the Truth, if one camel were to perish untended on the bank of the Euphrates, I would fear that God would hold the Khattab family responsible for it”. Abu Zayd added that the Khattab family meant himself, no one else.
According to Ibn al-Muthanna-Ibn Abi Adi-Shu’bah-Abu ‘Imran al-Jawni: Umar wrote to Abu Musa, “There are still prominent men who refer the needs of the people [to me] on their behalf. So honor those prominent men who are in your jurisdiction. It is justice enough for an uninfluential Muslim that he be treated fairly in juridical decisions and in the division [of spoils after being referred to me]’.
According to Abu Kurayb-Ibn Idris-Mutarrif-al-Sha’bi : A Bedouin came to Umar and said, “My stallion camel has both mange and saddle sores; give me a mount”. ‘Umar replied to him, ‘Your camel does not have mange and saddle sores!” (The bedouin) turned away, reciting the following: Abu Hafs Umar has sworn by God’s name That no mange or saddle sores have afflicted [my mount]. Forgive him, God, that he has given a false oath! (‘Umar exclaimed, “O God, forgive me!” He called the Bedouin back and gave him a [fresh] mount.
According to Ya’qub b. Ibrahim-Isma’il-Ayyub-Muhammad: I was informed that a man who was related to ‘Umar asked him [for money]. But he chided him and sent him away. People spoke to(‘Umar) about him, and he was asked why he chided him and sent him away when he begged from him. He replied “He asked me for some of God’s money. What will be my excuse if I meet Him when I am a treacherous ruler? Why did he not ask for some of my money?” (The source) added that (Umar) sent him 10,000 [dirhams].
According to Muhammad b. al-Muthanna-Abd. al-Rahman b. Mahdi-Shu’bah-Yahya b. Hudayn-Tariq b. Shihab: Whenever Umar sent governors in charge of provinces, he would say about them, “O God, I have not sent them to take the property (of the people) nor to abuse them physically. Anyone oppressed by his commander has no commander except me”.
According to Ibn Bashshar-Ibn Abi Adi-Shu’bah-Qatadah-Salim b. Abi al-Ja’ad-Ma’dan b. Abi Talhah: ‘Umar b. al-Khattab gave an address to this people and said, ‘O God, I call You to bear witness to the commanders of the garrison towns that I have sent them only to teach the people their religion and the practice of their Prophet, to distribute among them their spoils and to act with justice. If they have any doubt about any matter, they will refer it to me”.
According to Abu Kurayb-Abu Bakr b. Ayyash-Abu Hasin: Whenever Umar appointed his governors, he would go out with them to bid them farewell, saying, “I have not appointed you governor over Muhammad’s community with limitless authority. I have made you governor over them only to lead them in prayer, to make decisions among them based on what is right, and to distribute [the spoils] among them justly. I have not given you limitless authority over them. Do not flog Arab [troops] and humiliate them; do not keep them long from their families and bring temptation upon them; do not neglect them and cause them deprivation. Confine yourselves to the factual text of The Qur’an, and do not frequently cite prophetic traditions. I am your partner”. He would also allow vengeance to be taken on his governors. If there was a complaint against a governor, he would bring together the governor and the complainant. If there was a genuine case against (the governor) for which punishment was obligatory, he would punish him.
According to Yaqub b. Ibrahim-Ismail b. Ibrahim-Said al-Jurayri-Abu Nadrah-Abu Firas: ‘Umar b. al-Khattab made the Friday address and said, “O people, I do not send governors to you to flog you or to take your possessions. I send them to you to teach you your religion and the way you should follow. If anything other than these is done to anyone, he should refer I the matter) to me. By Him in whose hand is my soul, I shall certainly permit the law of retaliation to be used against (any governor). “Up jumped Amr b. al-’As and said, “Do you rally think you will allow the law of retaliation to be used against any commander appointed over your subjects who disciplines one of them?” (Umar) replied, “Yes indeed, I shall certainly allow that. Why not, as I have seen the Messenger of God allow the law of retaliation against himself? Do not beat Muslims and humiliate them; do not keep them log from their families and bring temptation upon them; do not deny them their rights and turn them into infidels; do not settle them among thickets so that you lose them”.
TEXT: OMAR’S SAYINGS
LEADER MUST EXERCISE LEADERSHIP: FROM OMAR’S FIRST SPEECH
“...The likeness of the Arabs is only to a camel led by the nose following its leader’ therefore, let its leader look where he leads. As for me, by the Lord of the Kaaba, I will indeed bring them along on the road”. Tabari 11 : 158 - 159
LEADER MUST HAVE INITIATIVE :
“The most sagacious man is he who displays his own initiative, when he has no directives from his superior to fall back on, or who, without holding back, gives expression to his own views”. Tabari 13 : 72 - 75
OMAR WORRIES ABOUT A CAMEL IN FAR-AWAY IRAQ:
“According to Yunus : Umar b. al-Khattab addressed the people and said, By Him who sent Muhammad with the Truth, if one camel were to perish untended on the bank of the Euphrates, I would fear that God would hold the Khattab family responsible for it”.
Tabari 14 : 105 - 106
OMAR, A GENTLE RULER :
“According to Abdul Hamid b. Baya : Umar b. al-Khattab said, “O subjects, you have an obligation to us to give advice on what is unknown and cooperate in doing good. There is no forbearance (him) dearer to God and more generally advantageous then that of a gentle leader. O subjects there is no ignorance more hateful to God and more generally evil than that of a harsh leader. O subject, he who enjoins well-being for someone in his midst, God will bring him well-being from above”. Tabari 14 : 139
EVERYBODY COUNTS :
The weak are also Muslims” Tabari 13 : 183
OMAR’S DESIRE TO BE ON THE PEOPLE’S LEVEL :
“When I find myself in a position when I fell comfortable, but that means my people have no access (to me) then this (can) not (continue) to be my position; I (must once again) be on the same level as my people”.
OMAR’S DESIRE TO VISIT PROVINCES :
“If I live, I shall certainly travel for a whole year among my subjects, God willing. I know that people have needs that do not reach me. Their governors will not refer them to me, nor will they themselves came to me. I shall travel to Syria and stay there two months. I shall travel to the Jazirah and stay there two months. Then I shall travel to Bahrain and stay there two month. Then I shall travel to al-Kufah and stay there for two months. Then I shall travel to al-Basrah and stay there for two month. Indeed, what a fine year this will be”. Tabari 14 : 104
LEADER RECOGNIZES STRONGER PERSONS :
“Had I come to know that some stronger person is there, I would have better put myself to be beheaded by him than to be his chief”. Hayat 2: 136
SOFTNESS AND HARDNESS :
“My heart turned as soft and mild as foams of water and my heart turned harder than stone in matters of Allah” Hayat 2: 43
WISDOM OF LEADER:
“Allah the sublime likes no tolerance more than the tolerance and politeness of an Imam, and not ignorance is more displeasing to Allah than the ignorance and haughtiness of an Imam. And one who has the practice of forgiving anything undersirable remains peaceful. One who takes to fairness in his relations with others, will achieve success in his mission. The humiliation of obedience brings a man closer to good end as against the dignity being earned through disobedience” Hayat 2 : 82
LEADING IS BY INFLUENCE:
“I need such a person while functioning as Amir look as one of them, but when he is not acting as an Amir, people consider him as their Amir”. Hayat 2 : 61
LEADER SHOULD NOT ADOPT A POSITION OF SUPERIORITY OVER PEOPLE :
OMAR’S LETTER TO AMRE BIN AL-AS :
“I have come to Know that you have built up a rostrum for rising above your audience. Is it not enough for you to deliver speeches in standing posture. Now the Muslims will feel as if they are much lower than you. Hence, I ask you upon an oath to demolish it at once” Hayat 2 : 91
LEADER SHOULD LIVE AND EAT LIKE THE FOLLOWERS : OMAR’S LETTER TO ATTIBA BIN FARQAD
“This wealth has neither been earned by your hard labor, nor by your father’s and mother’s hard labor. Hence you should provide same food to the Muslim in their homes as you relish in your homes; and save yourself from luxurious living and copying the styles (of life) and etiquettes of the polytheists and refrain from wearing silk”. Hayat 2 : 92
LEADER ADMITS MISTAKES :
“Hazrat Abdullah bin Musaab stated that Hazrat Umar bin Khattab said : Don’t increase the mihrs (dower-money) of your women to more that forty oqiyags (one oqiyah is equal to 40 dirhems), though she may be the doughter of a high family, i.e. may be Yazid bin al-Hasini Harithi’s daughter. Whoever settles a higher mihr than this, the amount in excess of it will put in the public treasury. Hearing this a woman from the women’s rows stood up. She was tall in stature and had a flat nose. She said: Your shouldn’t have said this. hazrat Umar inquired: And why? That woman said: Because Allah Most Honoured and Glorious has said: And you have given unto one of them a sum of money (whoever great), take nothing from it”.Qur’an 4 : 20. So Hazrat Umar remarked : The woman said the correct thing and the man committed a mistake”. Hayat 3 : 241
LEADER ENCOURAGES FOLLOWERS TO TELL THE TRUTH IN FRONT OF HIM :
“The amir is always a loser before whom one cannot speak the truth and he himself does not speak the truth”. Hayat 2 : 85
LEADERS ACCEPTS CORRECTION BY FOLLOWERS”
“All praise be to Allah who has appointed me (Caliph) on such a people who have the capacity to get me straightened if I go wrong”. Hayat 2 : 86
PRINCIPLED LEADERSHIP”
“If a governor becomes unprincipled, his subjects adopt the same course, and the person is very unfortunate who bring about misfortune to his subjects”. Hayat 2:141