Omar

Farouk Omar

30th Episode

I see pleasure in your face, Ameer Al-Mu'mineen!

Won't you congratulate me?

Congratulations! But for what?

I have married into the Prophet's household, taking Umm Kulthoom Bint Ali as my wife.

How honourable a marital tie.

You have combined two-way marriages with the Prophet's household.

That's it.

Won't you invite your friends to a dinner, Ameer Al-Mu'mineen?

A dinner of meat stew. I mean real meat stew: meat, sauce and bread,

not the bread and oil stew which almost burnt your stomach.

He even said: if God will not end the drought,

Ameer Al-Mu'mineen is bound to die.

Come in.

Have you requested permission for us to see Ameer Al-Mu'mineen?

Have you told him that we are here?

How couldn't I? Be patient until he gives permission.

But this unknown man you admitted came after us, as did the one before him.

I do as Ameer Al-Mu'mineen bids me.

I have lost patience. I am going out. Whoever wishes may come with me.

I have never seen anything like this.

He admits those who used to be our slaves, and leaves us waiting at his door.

Ask God's forgiveness, Abu Sufyan. Do not let your good deeds be squandered

now after God has blessed us with embracing Islam,

and removed from us the false pride of jahiliyyah.

You, Abu Sufyan, fought hard at Yarmuk.

It behoves you not to let Satan find a way to you.

I seek God's forgiveness. I seek God's forgiveness.

I did feel something like you did, but I strove to suppress Satan's whispers.

Those who were our slaves have only earned their higher position

because of their earlier service of Islam.

They have fairly earned their new positions.

If we are angry, we should be angry with ourselves.

All people were called upon to accept Islam. They went ahead but we left it late.

How will we feel on the Day of Judgement if they are invited and we are left behind?

It is now due.

What is due?

I better go to Syria and be in company with my son, Abu Jandal.

Syria is a place where we need to stay ready for jihad.

It may be that God will make my last days better than earlier ones.

Will you not reconsider, Ameer Al-Mu'mineen?

You removed him from the command of the armies in Syria when you first took office.

He submitted to your orders and continued under Abu Ubaidah.

Had it been someone other than Khalid, he might have beeen rebellious.

Yet his endeavours after being removed

were no less sincere than when he was the overall commander of the army.

He was the main figure in the conquest of Damascus, then the rest of Syria.

It was he who also conquered Qinnisreen.

Abu Ubaidah appointed him governor there and you did not objected.

True. I said then:

May God have mercy on Abu Sulaiman. He appointed himself.

By his tireless efforts. Abu Ubaidah said nothing but praise about him.

Now you are sacking him from the governorship of Qinnisreen.

I fear that you may be encouraging ill feelings in him and his Makhzoom clan.

They will say: 'Why is Umar always finding fault with our man?'

I do not seek to find fault with anyone.

I am only appplying my policy with my officials and governors.

I draw no distinction between them, not even with any of you.

I gave general instructions to him and other officials

that the money available to them should be given only to weak and needy people.

It should not be given to the powerful who have a reputation or are well known.

When he returned from an expedition against the Byzantines, with spoils of war,

he gave a gift of ten thousand to Al-Ash'ath Ibn Qais al-Kindi and his clique!

This is clearly against my instructions.

Shouldn't he have referred first to Abu Ubaidah,

who is in charge of the whole of Syria, or referred to me?

Yet, such is Khalid. He will do what he thinks is right.

- He might have had some good reason. - He should tell me first.

I would either approve or disapprove.

I have explained my policy when I assumed my position.

Anyone who wants to be an officer of mine should follow my instructions, or stay away.

"Damascus"

Do not be upset, Abu Sulaiman. This world is just a passing stage.

The burden of office is greater than its privileges.

With us you retain your very high position of honour.

What is with God is much greater, God willing.

To the end of time, Muslims will speak of the liberation of Syria and Iraq,

and they will always remember God's sword Khalid and his grand efforts.

Every Muslim who lives in these areas owes a debt to you.

Just as you said, Abu Ubaidah.

What is with God is better and longer lasting.

I had my view and Umar had a different one. I was there and he was not,

but he is Ameer Al-Mu'mineen.

Will you not stay with me here in Damascus?

Ameer Al-Mu'mineen appointed me as governor of the whole of Syria.

Then he and I agreed that I'll be at Qinnisreen.

When Syria became comfortable and sweet, he sacked me.

Be patient, commander. It could be case of strife.

In no way, as long as Umar Ibn Al-Khattab is alive.

What has caused you to sack (fire) Khalid Ibn Al-Waleed again?

It was not for any personal grudge or any misdeed of his.

This is what you said the first time. Now you say it again, yet you sacked him.

I instructed him to give the money only to the weaker people in society,

but he gave it to the honourable and famous people. This is contrary to our agreement.

Yet, by God, I respect and love him.

No one will take issue with me concerning him in future.

By God, you are not justified, Umar.

You sacked a highly honourable man from Makhzoom

who was given a command by God's Messenger.

You have blunted a sword of God, undone something God's Messenger did,

and disregarded your bond with your maternal uncles, the Makhzooms.

This will make people realize that I apply my policy to all people equally.

As for my bond with my relatives, this is my personal matter

and does not fall under state matters.

You have been hard on Ameer Al-Mu'mineen, young man.

That is alright. He is closely related to Abu Sulaiman,

and he is young and feeling angry on account of his cousin.

Is this the capital of your king?

Haven't we said that he is not a king? He is Ameer Al-Mu'mineen, the Caliph.

These are the Companions of the Prophet and Advisors Ameer Al-Mu'mineen.

Who?

Peace be to you with God's mercy.

And to you be peace with God's mercy.

He is an emissary of the Byzantine Emperor.

He comes with a message of peace, acting as an Ambassador of the Emperor,

seeking peaceful relations,

and to collect information about Ameer Al-Mu'mineen and his policies.

Where's your ruler? Umar? Will you take me to him?

- Is this him? - He is Umar, Ameer Al-Mu'mineen.

He is the representative of the king of Byzantium coming

with a message of peace and friendship to you.

Our Lord, You are peace and from You comes peace.

Well, sit down.

Completely surprised what I see! No words can describe.

I came here wondering:

did those armies that took Syria away from us come out of here?

Now my surprise, wonder and ignorance have become: humble submission,

certainty and true knowledge.

I speak only for myself, expressing my own view.

Man has always sought wisdom, but was misguided by following his own desire.

One can learn from an opponent what one cannot learn from a friend. True.

A man who has silenced kings and defeated large armies;

a man who has absolutely terrified kings, lives in such conditions?

Yet, why do I wonder? Those kings have ruled unjustly and became dictators.

Hence, they cannot sleep because of their fears and apprehensions.

You, Caliph... may I address you by your name?

You, Umar, ruled fairly, felt secure and slept.

What's caused you to come here with speed when we agreed to meet in Damascus,

then we would go to the various areas and cities of Syria

to get a feeling of people's conditions.

The land is unhealthy, Ameer Al-Mu'mineen.

It is the plague. It started at Amwas in Palestine,

and spread all over the country. There are many deaths.

My friends here have left...

...that we better meet you here at Sar' and tell you about the epidemic.

We leave it to you whether you wish to come with us or go back to Madinah.

Consult and decide.

As for myself, I think it is better to go in.

You have started seeking God's pleasure and reward.

I do not think that you should stop because of an unexpected adversity.

I think you better go back with the people, Ameer Al-Mu'mineen.

It is a case of a widespread disease.

It is not right that we go into the place where the disease is spreading,

until God has removed it.

- We will go back, God willing. - Do you flee from God's will, Umar?

It is not you, Abu Ubaidah, that should say this.

Yes, we flee from God's will into God's will.

Suppose a man arrives at a valley, with two areas,

one with plentiful vegetation and the other is poor.

Is it not true that if he lets his sheep graze in the fertile area he does so by God's will,

and if he goes to the other one he does so by God's will?

May you always be guided right. I have evidence in support.

I heard God's Messenger (Peace Be Upon Him) saying:

"If you hear of an epidemic in a city, do not go in.

And if you are there when it occurs, do not leave it to escape the disease."

All Praise be to God. You have removed all doubt. Let us go.

I pray you will be all right, Abu Yazeed.

Let us hope that it is a means to ensure forgiveness of all sins

and purification of all ills.

We have a term of life and it ends.

After this life there is only a better company...

and better neighbours.

May God grant you forgiveness, father.

I pray that we will meet together in Heaven.

The best condolences to you, Abu Jandal, and to us.

To God belongs what He takes and what He gives.

To Him we all belong and to Him we shall all return.

This is a letter from Umar.

He says...

that you placed the people in a valley

and that you should place them on high grounds with lighter air.

By God, he is right.

I even heard this from some wise men in Jerusalem.

This requires good management.

Moving the people to the mountains

requires the provision of places where they will sleep, eat and drink.

If God grants me life, I will certainly do that.

Do you notice how weak he is?

He has worn himself out, visiting the sick and comforting people.

I hope to God that it is only as you said.

Leave this and go home.

Do not come back until I send for you.

May God grant you health.

God, The All-Healer, is the only One who can heal him.

You see my condition.

I will give you some advice. If you take it,

you will be well for the rest of your lives.

Attend regularly to your prayers, and pay your zakat.

Fast and offer the Pilgrimage (Hajj) and the Umrah.