All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the worlds. May peace and blessings be upon the Seal of the Prophets and Messengers, upon his family, his companions, and all those who follow them in righteousness until the Day of Judgment.

I seek refuge in Allah from the accursed Satan. In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

O respected audience! Present your humble greetings of respect and salutations in the court of the radiant Prophet ﷺ, the Intercessor of the Day of Resurrection! O Allah, send Your blessings, peace, and mercy upon our master, our beloved Muhammad, his family, and all his companions.

Dear brothers in Islam! The Master of Prophethood, the Leader of the Universe ﷺ, and all his noble Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) are like shining stars. Any Muslim who takes any of them as a role model and guide will surely attain guidance. Ameer al-Mu’mineen, Sayyiduna Umar al-Farooq (may Allah be pleased with him), is one of these luminous stars—a radiant, dazzling beacon that illuminates the path of truth for misguided Muslims and dispels the darkness of misguidance from the hearts and minds of people across the world until the Day of Judgment.

Beloved friends! Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) is the second rightly guided Caliph of Islam. Allah Almighty blessed him with bravery, courage, and truthfulness, making him a source of guidance and honoring Islam through him. Indeed, he is a towering personality whose immense services to Islam are unparalleled. His just rulings, achievements, conquests, and exemplary character have brightened the face of Islam. He is one of the most renowned figures in human history, whose greatness is acknowledged not only by Muslims but even by non-Muslims. Undoubtedly, he was a magnificent, just ruler, a devoted follower of the Prophet ﷺ, and one of the greatest Companions.

His Noble Name and Lineage

Respected audience! The full name of Ameer al-Mu’mineen, Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him), is Umar ibn al-Khattab. His kunyah (agnomen) is Abu Hafs, and his title is Al-Farooq (the one who distinguishes between truth and falsehood). His lineage is as follows: Umar ibn al-Khattab ibn Nufayl ibn Abdul-Uzza ibn Riyah ibn Abdullah ibn Qurt ibn Razah ibn Adi ibn Ka’b. His mother’s name was Hantama bint Hisham ibn al-Mughirah ibn Abdullah ibn Umar ibn Makhzum (may Allah be pleased with her).

His lineage meets that of the Prophet ﷺ in the ninth generation. He was the fortieth person to accept Islam; thirty-nine individuals had embraced Islam before him. He was born approximately thirteen years after the Year of the Elephant in Makkah and accepted Islam in his youth, in the sixth year of Prophethood. After Sayyiduna Abu Bakr as-Siddiq (may Allah be pleased with him), he became the second Caliph of Islam. He was among the most trusted Companions of the Prophet ﷺ and one of the ten who were given the glad tidings of Paradise in this world. He was also counted among the scholars and ascetics of the Companions.

The Prophet’s Prayer for His Acceptance of Islam

Dear friends! Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) is also called Murad-e-Rasool (the one desired by the Prophet) because the Messenger of Allah ﷺ specifically prayed for him:
“O Allah, honor Islam through the one who is dearer to You between these two men: Abu Jahl or Umar ibn al-Khattab.” (Tirmidhi)

In another narration, the Prophet ﷺ prayed:
“O Allah, honor Islam specifically through Umar ibn al-Khattab.”

Allah accepted this supplication, and within days, the fiercest enemy of Islam became its greatest supporter and protector!

“That Umar, whose enemies are destined for Hell—
Millions of salutations upon this beloved of Allah!”

His Title: Al-Farooq

Respected audience! Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) was given the title Al-Farooq (the distinguisher between truth and falsehood) by the Prophet ﷺ. Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that he once asked Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) why he was called Al-Farooq. He replied:

“Three days after Sayyiduna Hamzah (may Allah be pleased with him) accepted Islam, Allah opened my heart to Islam, and I spontaneously proclaimed: ‘There is no god but Allah, and all perfect names belong to Him.’ At that time, no one on earth was dearer to me than the Messenger of Allah ﷺ. I asked my sister where the Prophet ﷺ was, and she directed me to Dar al-Arqam near Safa. When I knocked on the door, the Companions gathered, and Sayyiduna Hamzah (may Allah be pleased with him) asked what was happening. They replied, ‘Umar has come!’ The Prophet ﷺ himself came out, seized me firmly, and said: ‘Will you not stop, O Umar?’ I immediately declared: ‘I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, alone without partner, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger!’ Upon hearing this, the Companions raised the Takbeer so loudly that it echoed in the Kaaba. I asked the Prophet ﷺ: ‘O Messenger of Allah, are we not upon the truth, whether we live or die?’ He replied: ‘By the One in Whose Hand is my soul, you are upon the truth in life and in death!’ I then said: ‘Then why do we hide? By the One Who sent you with the truth, we must come out openly!’ So we marched in two rows—Sayyiduna Hamzah (may Allah be pleased with him) in the front and myself in the back, covered in dust. When we entered Masjid al-Haram, the Quraysh were struck with fear like never before. That day, the Prophet ﷺ named me Al-Farooq because through me, Allah distinguished between truth and falsehood.”

“The distinguisher of truth and falsehood, the Imam of Guidance—
Millions of salutations upon his unsheathed sword of justice!”

The Status and Rank of Sayyiduna Umar al-Farooq (May Allah Be Pleased with Him)

Respected audience! Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) was a personality of the highest rank. Books of Hadith are filled with his virtues and merits. His status can be understood from the fact that the Prophet ﷺ said:
“If there were to be a prophet after me, it would have been Umar ibn al-Khattab.” (Tirmidhi)

Sayyiduna Abu Hurairah (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Prophet ﷺ said:
“Among the Children of Israel before you, there were men who were spoken to by angels though they were not prophets. If there is anyone like that in my Ummah, it is Umar.” (Bukhari)

The Prophet ﷺ also said:
“After me, the truth will always be with Umar, wherever he may be.”

It is unanimously agreed among the Companions that:
“Umar took away nine-tenths of knowledge.”

The Prophet ﷺ said:
“I see the devils of jinn and men fleeing from Umar.” (Tirmidhi)

When Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) accepted Islam, the angels in the heavens rejoiced. The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Jibreel came to me and said: ‘The inhabitants of the heavens are rejoicing at Umar’s acceptance of Islam.’” (Ibn Majah)

The Love of Sayyiduna Umar for the Prophet ﷺ

Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated a lengthy Hadith in which he said:
“Once, the Prophet ﷺ was resting on a simple mat with no cushion, and his blessed head rested on a leather pillow stuffed with palm fibers. I saw marks on his side from the mat and began to weep. The Prophet ﷺ asked: ‘Why are you crying, O Umar?’ I replied: ‘O Messenger of Allah! Caesar and Khosrow enjoy all the luxuries of the world, while You—the Prophet of Allah—rest on this rough mat!’ The Prophet ﷺ said: ‘Are you not pleased that they have this world, while you have the Hereafter?’” (Bukhari)

The Bravery and Courage of Sayyiduna Umar (May Allah Be Pleased with Him)

Dear respected audience! Sayyiduna Umar’s (may Allah be pleased with him) acceptance of Islam strengthened the Muslim community immensely. Initially, Muslims worshipped in secret, but after his conversion, they began praying openly in the Kaaba.

Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn Mas’ud (may Allah be pleased with him) said:
“Umar’s Islam was a victory, and his caliphate was a mercy. By Allah, we could not pray at the Kaaba until Umar accepted Islam. When he did, he confronted the disbelievers until we were able to pray openly.”

At the time of Hijrah (migration), while other Muslims left secretly due to fear of the Quraysh, Sayyiduna Umar’s (may Allah be pleased with him) faith-driven courage would not allow him to hide. He strapped on his sword, performed Tawaf around the Kaaba, and openly challenged the Quraysh:
“Let the faces be disgraced! Whoever wishes his mother to mourn him, his children to be orphaned, and his wife to be widowed—let him meet me beyond this valley!”
But none dared to confront him.

Instances of Divine Approval for Sayyiduna Umar’s Opinions

Respected audience! Over twenty verses of the Quran were revealed in accordance with Sayyiduna Umar’s (may Allah be pleased with him) opinions, demonstrating his deep wisdom and insight. These include:

• The command to take Maqam-e-Ibrahim as a place of prayer.
• The ruling on hijab for Muslim women.
• The decision regarding prisoners of war after the Battle of Badr.
• The prohibition of alcohol.
• The prohibition of praying funeral prayers for hypocrites or visiting their graves.
• The advice to march toward Badr.
• The revelation affirming the purity of Sayyidah Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her).
• The declaration that “The enemy of Jibreel is the enemy of Allah.”
• The command to refer disputes to the Prophet ﷺ.
• The prohibition of entering houses without permission.
• The distinction between two groups of people in Paradise.

“The interpreter of the Prophet’s words, the voice of the Prophet’s tongue—
Millions of salutations upon the essence of justice!”

The Conquests and Governance During the Era of Farooq

Dear brothers in the Ummah! Sayyiduna Umar’s (may Allah be pleased with him) caliphate lasted ten years, five months, and twenty-one days. During his reign, Muslims achieved unparalleled victories. He toppled the empires of Caesar and Khosrow (the two superpowers of the time) and raised the flag of Islam. Under his leadership, Iraq, Egypt, Libya, Syria, Iran, Khorasan, Eastern Anatolia, Southern Armenia, and Sijistan were conquered, expanding the Islamic state to 2,251,330 square miles. It was during his caliphate that Al-Quds (Jerusalem), the first Qibla of Islam, was liberated from Jewish control.

With his military brilliance, Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) dismantled the Persian Empire in just two years while efficiently managing the vast territories, ensuring the welfare of the people, and establishing just governance.

During his reign:

• Approximately 3,600 regions were conquered.
• Around 5,000 mosques were built.
• Bait-ul-Mal (the treasury) was established to support orphans, the poor, widows, and elderly citizens.
• Courts were established for swift justice, and judges were appointed based on merit.
• The Hijri calendar was introduced.
• A census was conducted.
• Canals were dug to provide water to remote areas.
• New cities were founded.
• Prisons were built for detainees.
• A police department was established.
• Military outposts were set up for defense.
• Travelers’ lodges were constructed.
• Stipends were allocated for orphan care.
• Schools were established for religious education, and salaries were fixed for scholars, imams, and muezzins.
• Methods for timekeeping were innovated.

His Martyrdom

Respected audience! The Prophet ﷺ himself foretold the martyrdom of Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him). Sayyiduna Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated:
“Once, the Prophet ﷺ, along with Sayyiduna Abu Bakr, Sayyiduna Umar, and Sayyiduna Uthman (may Allah be pleased with them), climbed Mount Uhud, causing it to tremble. The Prophet ﷺ said: ‘Be still, Uhud! Upon you stand a Prophet, a Siddiq, and two martyrs.’” (Bukhari)

On the 26th of Dhul-Hijjah, 23 AH, during Fajr prayer, a Magian named Abu Lulu (Firoz) stabbed Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) three times with a poisoned dagger. The wounds proved fatal. In the chaos, the attacker wounded eleven others, six of whom later died, before killing himself.

His Blessed Mausoleum

Beloved friends! Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) remained between life and death for four days. Before passing away, he instructed his son, Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with him):
“Go to Umm al-Mu’mineen Aisha (may Allah be pleased with her) and ask if I may be buried beside my two companions (the Prophet ﷺ and Abu Bakr).”

When permission was granted, Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said:
“All praise is to Allah! I had no greater wish than this.”

On the 1st of Muharram, 24 AH, his noble soul departed in prostration. “Indeed, to Allah we belong, and to Him we shall return.” His funeral prayer was led by Sayyiduna Suhaib (may Allah be pleased with him), and he was buried beside the Prophet ﷺ.

Supplication

O Allah! Grant us a share of Sayyiduna Umar’s bravery and courage. Enable us to uphold justice, sacrifice our wealth and lives in Your path, and perform all obligations with sincerity. Protect us from miserliness, and grant us the ability to help the needy willingly.

Bless our nation with unity, love, and adherence to Shariah. Accept our prayers, forgive our sins, and relieve us from debts and hardships. Heal our sick, fulfill our needs, and bless our lawful provisions.

O Lord! Protect the Muslims of Kashmir and grant them freedom. Safeguard the lives, wealth, and honor of Muslims in India and resolve their difficulties with blessings.

O Allah! Protect all Muslims from internal and external threats. Shield our homeland from terrorism, chaos, bloodshed, and disasters. Grant our rulers wisdom to serve the nation sincerely. Elevate the ranks of those who sacrificed their lives for faith and country.

Purify our hearts and actions. Enable us to live by the Quran and Sunnah, with true love for the Prophet ﷺ and his Companions. Grant us goodness in this life and the next, and make us among Your beloved servants. Ameen, O Lord of the worlds!

May Allah’s blessings and peace be upon the best of creation, the light of the Throne, our master, our Prophet, our beloved Muhammad, his family, and all his companions. All praise is due to Allah, the Lord of the worlds!