Sayyiduna ‘Umar Farooq-e-A’zam رَضِیَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْہُ was born in Makkah-tul-Mukarramah, 13 years after ‘Aam-ul-feel, this corresponds to 583 A.C., approximately 41 years before the Hijrah (migration). He was almost 10 years and 6 months younger than Sayyiduna Siddeeq-e-Akbar رَضِیَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْہُ and almost 13 years younger than the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم.

(‘Usd-ul-Ghaabah, vol. 4, pp. 157)

His name was ‘Umar’ in the pre-Islamic era of ignorance as well as after embracing Islam. (Riyad-un-Nudrah, vol. 1, pp. 267) ‘Umar’ means the one who makes something flourish . Islam also flourished through Sayyiduna ‘Umar Farooq-e-A’zam رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ therefore, Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ had already granted him the name ‘Umar’.

(Mirat-ul-Manajih, vol. 8, pp. 360)

The title of Sayyiduna Farooq-e-A’zam رَضِیَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْہُ is ‘Farooq-e-A’zam’. This title was bestowed upon him from the court of the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم . Umm-ul-Mu`mineen, Sayyidatuna ‘Aaishah Siddiqah رَضِیَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَنْهَا has narrated: The Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم gave Ameer-ul-Mu`mineen, Sayyiduna ‘Umar Farooq-e-A’zam رَضِیَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْہُ the name (i.e. title) ‘Farooq’.

(Tahzeeb-ul-Asma, vol. 2, pp. 325)

By virtue of the blessing of Allah’s grace and mercy and the blessed Du’a of the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم Ameer-ul-Mu`mineen embraced Islam in the sixth year of the declaration of Nubuwwat after 39 people had already embraced Islam. (Ar-Riyad, vol. 1, pp. 258)

It is stated in a blessed Hadees: The Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم made this special Du’a: ‘اَللّٰھُمَّ اَعِزَّ الْاِسْلامَ بِعُمَر بْنِِ الخَطَّابِ خَاصَّۃً i.e. O Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ bless the religion of Islam with honour and eminence especially through ‘Umar Bin Khattab رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ.

(Ibn Majah, vol. 1, pp. 77, Hadees 105)

گر تکبُّر ہو دِل میں ذرّہ بھر سُن لو جنّت حرام ہوتی ہے

Humbleness and humility of Farooq-e-A’zam رَضِیَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْہُ

If somebody attains the post of Khilafat or a governmental post by the bestowal of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ it is indeed a great privilege for him. He can fulfil the right of this post in a real sense when he does justice to his subjects, when he always thinks about fulfilling the rights of the people. Furthermore, he also spends his life in worshipping Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ and obeying His Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم. Otherwise, the ruler who does not do these acts and performs acts of disobedience to Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ then there is a fear for him being humiliated and disgraced in the world and the Hereafter. Usually, when someone receives a high-ranking post, instead of giving thanks and fulfilling its requirements, he suffers from different types of spiritual diseases such as arrogance, self-appreciation, a desire for respect, etc. Sometimes he becomes so cruel that he starts depriving people of their rights, he starts oppressing the people and even kills them by using his post in an impermissible way. He does not consider these things to be bad or evil. In such sinful conditions, it is very difficult to develop humility and forbearance . However, there had been pious people of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ who despite attaining even very high posts, remained humble and simple. 4 Madani pearls full of the humbleness and humility of Sayyiduna ‘Umar Farooq-e-A’zam رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ :

1. Sayyiduna Sa’eed Bin Musayyab رَضِیَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْہُ has said: When Ameer-ul-Mu’mineen Sayyiduna ‘Umar Farooq-e-A’zam رَضِیَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْہُ would travel out of the city etc., he would gather the sand at a place, spread a cloth over it and then rest upon it.

(Al-Musannaf, vol. 21, pp. 150, Hadees 8)

2. Sayyiduna Zar رَضِیَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْہُ has said: On the day of Eid, I left my home (for Salah) with some people of Madinah. On the way, I saw Ameer-ul-Mu`mineen, Sayyiduna ‘Umar Farooq-e-A’zam رَضِیَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْہُ walking bare feet (to offer the Eid Salah).

(Al-Mustadrak, vol. 4, pp. 32, Hadees 4535)

3. Sayyiduna Hasan Basri رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه has mentioned: Sayyiduna ‘Umar Bin Khattab رَضِیَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْہُ would sometimes keep his hands near a fire and question himself, ‘O son of Khattab! Do you have the strength to bear this fire?

(Manaqib ‘Umar Bin Al-Khattab, pp. 154)

4. It is also stated that he رَضِیَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْہُ used to ask the little children of Madinah, O Children! Make Du’a for Umar’s forgiveness.’

(Fadaail-e-Du’a, pp. 112)

Just look at the humbleness and humility of Ameer-ul-Mu`mineen , Sayyiduna ‘Umar Farooq-e-A’zam رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ whilst going to the Eid Gah (a place where Eid Salah is offered) he was bare-footed even on the day of Eid. Sometimes he would gather sand as his pillow to rest upon it and sometimes, although being one who is guaranteed Jannah, he would request little children to make Du’a for his forgiveness, this was due to his deep fear of the punishments of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ . Surely, that person who becomes humble for Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ is granted a high status by Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ . The Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم has said: ‘The person who adopts humility for his Muslim brother, Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ bestows eminence upon him, and that person who desires eminence over his Muslim brother, Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ disgraces him.

(Al-Mu’jam-ul-Awsat, vol. 5, pp. 390, Hadees 7711)

تُو عطا حِلم کی بھیک کر دے میرے اَخلاق بھی ٹھیک کر دے

تجھ کو فاروق کا واسطہ ہے یا خدا تجھ سے میری دُعا ہے

Just look at the humility and humbleness of Ameer-ul-Mu`mineen, Sayyiduna Farooq-e-A’zam رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ although he was the supreme ruler of his time, yet he did not like people to respect him due to his post. He said: The respect which Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ has granted me is sufficient for me. On the other hand, we desire fame and respect and want to be praised in every matter. Sometimes, we also desire to become famous amongst the rich and those who have high official positions, so that we receive special privileges, gifts and praises.

The blessed saying of Beloved Mustafa صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم in order to stay away from self-praise and love for fame and respect:

Whoever asks for fame, his faults will be exposed (on the Day of Judgement), and that person who performs deeds to show the people, Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ will give him the return of it. (Sahih Bukhari, vol. 4, pp. 247, Hadees 6499)

Ameer-ul-Mu`mineen, Sayyiduna ‘Umar Farooq-e-A’zam رَضِیَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْہُ was declared to be the most superior person by the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم after Sayyiduna Abu Bakr Siddeeq رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ but he never felt proud of this, nor did he ever look down upon any Muslim, but he would consider other Muslims to be better than himself.

May I be sacrificed upon the humility and humbleness of Sayyiduna Farooq-e-A’zam رَضِیَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْہُ as he is the most superior person after Sayyiduna Siddeeq-e-Akbar رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ amongst the Ummah of the Beloved Rasool صَلَّى اللهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم and he is a guaranteed Jannati. He was the greatest ruler of his time, even then, he would consider others to be better than himself. This is also part of the definition of humility, to consider yourself to be inferior to others in good qualities and superior to others in bad qualities.

(Fayd-ul-Qadeer, vol. 1, pp. 559)

Sayyiduna Hasan رَضِیَ اللہُ تَعَالٰی عَنْہُ has stated: Humility is to consider every Muslim you meet to be superior to you, when you leave your home.

(Az-Zawajir ‘Aniqtiraf-il-Kabaair, vol.1, pp. 163)

Therefore, we should also make humbleness and humility a part of our character and habit by also staying far away from arrogance. Furthermore, we should try to act upon all the methods mentioned in this speech. By acting upon them, we will develop the passion to become humble and we shall adopt humility along with hating arrogance and vices.

فخر و غُرور سے تُو مولٰی مجھے بچانا

یا ربّ! مجھے بنا دے پیکر تُو عاجزی کا

اٰمِيۡن بِجَاهِ النَّبِيِّ الۡاَمِيۡن صَلَّى اللّٰهُ تَعَالٰى عَلَيۡهِ وَاٰلِه وَسَلَّم

صَلُّوۡا عَلَى الۡحَبِيۡب صَلَّى اللّٰهُ تَعَالٰى عَلٰى مُحَمَّد