The Martyrdom of Hazrat Umar ibn al-Khattab (RA)

In the year 23 AH, the second Caliph of Islam, Ameer al-Mu’mineen Hazrat Umar ibn al-Khattab (RA), was returning to Madinah after performing Hajj. Along the journey, he halted at a place, dismounted his camel, and sat on the ground, clearing away the pebbles with his hands to make a small space for himself to rest. Spreading his cloak, he lay down, gazed up at the sky, and immediately raised both hands towards it. In a moment of deep spiritual connection, he supplicated to his Lord:

> “O Allah! My age has advanced, my strength has weakened, and my people have spread far and wide—so take me back to You.”
(اللّھُمَّ كَبُرَتْ سِنِّي، وَضَعُفَتْ قُوَّتِي، وَانتَشَرَتْ رَعِیَّتِي، فَاقبِضنِي اِلَیکَ)



Upon reaching Madinah, during a sermon in Masjid al-Nabawi, he prayed to Allah for martyrdom and then immediately questioned:

> "How can I attain martyrdom while living in Madinah?"
(أَنَّیٰ لِي الشَّھَادَۃ؟)



He reasoned that all the battlefronts where Islamic armies were engaged in jihad were far from Madinah—hundreds, even thousands of miles away—so how could he hope for martyrdom while residing in the city? But then, with firm belief, he said:

> “The One who brought me from Makkah to Madinah is surely capable of bringing martyrdom to me even here in Madinah.”
(إِنَّ الَّذِي سَاقَنِي مِن مَكَّۃَ إِلَی المَدِينَۃِ قَادِرٌ عَلَیٰ أَن یَسُوقَ لِي الشَّهَادَۃَ إِلَی المَدِينَۃِ)



Just a few days after this, in the last days of Dhul-Hijjah, a Persian fire-worshipping slave named Abu Lu’lu’ah Firoz plotted his assassination. He prepared a large, double-edged dagger soaked in poison. One early morning before Fajr prayer, he hid in a corner of the mosque under the cover of darkness. As Hazrat Umar (RA) stepped forward to lead the prayer, and just as he said the opening Takbeer, the assassin attacked with multiple blows from the poisoned dagger.

In the ensuing chaos, many worshipers tried to stop the attacker, but being unarmed, they faced difficulty. The assassin wounded thirteen individuals, six of whom later succumbed to their injuries. When finally overpowered—thanks to Hazrat Abdur Rahman ibn Awf (RA) throwing a cloak over him—Abu Lu’lu’ah stabbed himself and died on the spot, taking the secrets behind the conspiracy with him.

Though severely wounded, Hazrat Umar (RA) indicated to Hazrat Abdur Rahman (RA) to continue leading the prayer, and was immediately carried home. Later, regaining consciousness, he asked Hazrat Abdullah ibn Abbas (RA):

> “My dear nephew, who was the attacker and what became of him?”



On hearing that the attacker was the fire-worshipping slave Abu Lu’lu’ah who had killed himself, Hazrat Umar (RA) said:

> “Praise be to Allah, who did not make my killer one who bows to Him in prayer.”



As his condition worsened, the senior companions advised him to appoint a successor to avoid division among the Muslims. Hazrat Umar (RA) named six individuals and instructed that they should mutually choose one among themselves within three days. These were:

1. Hazrat Uthman ibn Affan (RA)


2. Hazrat Ali ibn Abi Talib (RA)


3. Hazrat Abdur Rahman ibn Awf (RA)


4. Hazrat Sa’d ibn Abi Waqqas (RA)


5. Hazrat Talha ibn Ubaidullah (RA)


6. Hazrat Zubair ibn al-Awwam (RA)



He also instructed that until a new Caliph was chosen, Hazrat Suhaib ar-Rumi (RA) should lead the prayers in Masjid al-Nabawi.

Before his passing, Hazrat Umar (RA) gathered the six and advised them with heartfelt words:

> “Whoever among you is chosen as Caliph, I advise him to show kindness to the Ansar. They supported the Prophet ﷺ and welcomed the Muhajirun into their homes. Forgive their mistakes and honor their virtues.”



He further said:

> “Treat the Muhajirun with gentleness and good character.”



Finally, he sent his son, Hazrat Abdullah ibn Umar (RA), to seek permission from Umm al-Mu’mineen Hazrat Aisha Siddiqa (RA) to be buried beside the Prophet ﷺ and Hazrat Abu Bakr (RA). Upon hearing the request, her eyes filled with tears, and she said:

> “I had reserved this place for myself, but today, I give preference to Umar over myself.”



After being wounded on the 26th of Dhul-Hijjah, Hazrat Umar (RA) passed away four days later on 1st Muharram, 24 AH (Sunday) at the age of 63. His funeral prayer was led by Hazrat Suhaib ar-Rumi (RA), and he was laid to rest beside the Prophet ﷺ and Hazrat Abu Bakr (RA) in the blessed chamber of Masjid al-Nabawi.

May Allah elevate the ranks of Hazrat Umar ibn al-Khattab (RA) in Jannat al-Firdaws, and may He bless us with the honor of the company of the Prophet ﷺ and his noble companions. Ameen.

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