Umar ibn al-Khattab (may God be pleased with him) ibn Nufayl, of the Adi clan of Quraysh, Abu Hafs, was the second of the Rightly Guided Caliphs and ruled from 634 to 644 CE 1 2. He was among the nobles of Quraysh and served as their envoy before Islam, and was harsh towards the Muslims before he embraced Islam 1. Ibn al-Athir relates from Sa'id ibn al-Musayyab that Islam came into the open in Mecca when Umar embraced it, and Sahih al-Bukhari has Ibn Mas'ud's words, "We have been strong ever since Umar became Muslim" 1 3. Abu Bakr named him as successor in his last illness, and he was given allegiance in 13 AH 4 5 6.
Ibn al-Athir counts Iraq, Syria, Egypt, the Jazira, Fars and Khuzistan among his conquests; Khalifa ibn Khayyat dates the taking of Damascus to 14 AH, Umar's treaty with the people of Iliya' to 16 AH and the conquest of Egypt to 20 AH 7 8 9 10. Ibn al-Athir says he founded the garrison cities, set up the registers and paid stipends to the people, and that his letters came to carry the title "Commander of the Faithful" 7. Britannica credits him with inaugurating Hijri dating 11. Sunni tradition honours him as its Faruq and a model of the just ruler 12 13. Abu Lu'lu'a, a slave of al-Mughira ibn Shu'ba, stabbed him at the dawn prayer in Dhu al-Hijja 23 AH; he died days later and was buried beside the Prophet ﷺ and Abu Bakr 14 15 16. Khalifa gives his rule as ten years, six months and some days 17.
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