Umar

by Shibli Numani

Umar, the second caliph, is honored by Muslims as the epitome of the just ruler. His reign (634-44 CE) built an empire that, to this day, defines the cultural and geographical heartlands of the Islamic world. This is a new edition of the 1939 Urdu classic, translated and abridged to one-sixth
its original edition to be of interest to the non-specialist reader, and links the conquests with reforms in law, government, and administration as well as Umar's personal efforts to embody the ethos of Islam.

Genres: Islam

160 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2003

Reviews

[Wayfarer · Rating 3 out of 5]

An excellent introduction into the life and times of the second Caliph of Islam, Umar, may Allah be well pleased with him, presenting him within his capacity as a Just Ruler, highlighting the various reforms and policies adopted by him vis-à-vis his administration and in particular a section of the book deals with his treatment of non-Muslim subjects. The text is designed to be read as a first point of contact for readers/researchers and leaves the reader with an annotated further reading list - the aims and objectives of the series - Makers of the Islamic Civilisation - means the text is limited in its scope and coverage and fails to bring out all aspects of Umar’s varied and complex personality Furthermore, cursory mentions are made on various issues, which need in turn to be further researched into and examined.

[Ramzan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice

[Mohamad Ballan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Somewhat hagiographical and dated, but nonetheless a useful introduction to the subject.