Umar

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Umar ibn al-Khattab (Arabic: عُمَر بْن ٱلْخَطَّاب, romanized: ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb; c. 584 CE – 6 November 644 CE) was the second Rashidun caliph, ruling from August 634 until his assassination in 644. He succeeded Abu Bakr (r. 632–634) and is regarded as a senior companion and father-in-law of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. Umar was initially opposed to Muhammad, a distant Qurayshite kinsman, even setting out to kill him with his sword. However, after a spiritual break, he converted to Islam in 616, becoming the first Muslim to pray openly in the Kaaba. He participated in nearly all of Muhammad's battles and expeditions, and Muhammad conferred upon him the title al-Fārūq ("the Distinguisher") for his sound judgement. After Muhammad's death in June 632, Umar pledged allegiance to Abu Bakr as the first caliph and served as his chief adviser. Shortly before his death in 634, Abu Bakr nominated Umar as his successor. During Umar's reign, the caliphate expanded at an unprecedented rate. His...

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