DOCTOR MOHAMMED ABDULLAH PASHA was born in

Bangalore, India.
He graduaed in !edi"ine in #$%&. T'e au'or "a!e o England in
#$%(. He reired as a "onsulan )ro! 'e *HS in #$$+ and was
awarded an MBE in +,,&.
His boo-s in"lude People of the Book .#$$&/, Sixth Century and
Beyond .#$$0/ and Syed Ahmed Khan .#$$1/.
Dedi"aion
To 'e !e!or2 o) !2 wi)e
3AMALA
#$&, 4 #$$$
5Ma2 Her Soul Res in Pea"e6
D r Mo h a mme d A b d u l l a h P a s h a , MB E
U M A R F A R O O Q
T H E G R E A T C A L I P H
Co72rig' Dr Mo'a!!ed Abdulla' Pas'a, MBE
T'e rig' o) Dr Mo'a!!ed Abdulla' Pas'a, MBE o be
ideni)ied as au'or o) 'is wor- 'as been assered b2 'i! in
a""ordan"e wi' se"ion 88 and 81 o) 'e Co72rig', Designs and
Paens A" #$11.
All rig's reser9ed. *o 7ar o) 'is 7ubli"aion !a2 be
re7rodu"ed, sored in a rerie9al s2se!, or rans!ied in an2
)or! or b2 an2 !eans, ele"roni", !e"'ani"al, 7'oo"o72ing,
re"ording, or o'erwise, wi'ou 'e 7rior 7er!ission o) 'e
7ublis'ers.
An2 7erson w'o "o!!is an2 unau'ori:ed a" in relaion o 'is
7ubli"aion !a2 be liable o "ri!inal 7rose"uion and "i9il "lai!s
)or da!ages.
A CIP "aalogue re"ord )or 'is ile is a9ailable )ro! 'e Briis'
Librar2.
ISB* $81 #10$(& 0%+ (
www.ausin!a"aule2."o!
;irs Publis'ed .+,#0/
Ausin Ma"aule2 Publis'ers Ld.
+% Canada S<uare
Canar2 ='ar)
London
E#0 %LB
Prined and bound in >rea Briain
A!"o#led$me"%s
To 7rodu"e a boo- "an ne9er be a soliar2 9enure. T'e au'or
is de7enden on 'is )a!il2, )riends, ad9isers, lierar2 agens
and )inall2 'e edior and 'e 7ublis'er.
Ad!iedl2, 'e )a!il2, 'e 9er2 near and dear do ins7ire
'e au'or, as well as bear and s'are 'is burden, a 'e "os o)
'eir own "o!)or.
Rig'l2, I would li-e o 'an- ea"' and e9er2 !e!ber o)
!2 )a!il2 )or 'eir su77or. M2 s7e"ial 'an-s o !2
argu!enai9e daug'er, ?as!in, a @ournalis, )or 'er eA"ellen
ad9i"e on 'e )or!a o) 'e boo- and is !e'odolog2.
To !2 dear )riend ?usu) >oola! Ali and 'is wi)e, Ro, )or
a-ing a grea deal o) ineres and s7ending "onsiderable i!e
and e))or in reading 'e boo- and "o!ing u7 wi' 9aluable
suggesions.
During !2 resear"' )or 'is boo-, I 'ad 'e o77oruni2 o
dis"uss and eA"'ange !2 'oug's wi' se9eral Musli!
s"'olars in India, Pa-isan, Saudi Arabia, Eg27, Tur-e2 and in
'e Unied 3ingdo!. To all o) 'e! !2 grae)ul 'an-s.
I 'a9e also o 'an- !2 daug'er, So)i and 'er 'usband Ian
Robinson )or s'owing genuine ineres, as 'e2 "alled i, Bin 'e
roos o) Isla!C and en"ouraging !e o 9enure on 'is 7ro@e".
I a! dee7l2 indebed o !2 7ublis'ers Ausin Ma"aule2
)or 'eir ediorial "onsideraions and in 7ari"ular o 'eir
7rodu"ion "oordinaor Mr Din' Tran )or 'is 9aluable ad9i"e,
7aien"e and undersanding in 7rodu"ing 'is boo-.
;inall2, I "anno 'an- enoug' !2 li)elong )riend, Eo2"e
Da9e2, )or "orre"ing and 7ro"essing se9eral re9ised 9ersions
o) 'is !anus"ri7. Lasl2, 'an-s o !2 sisersF A!ina S'ari)
and Dr ;ai!a A:i: )or 'eir s7lendid 'el7.
Abou% %he boo!
T'is boo- is a brie) )res' a77raisal o) 'e li)e and
a"'ie9e!ens o) one o) 'e grea "'ara"ers o) earl2 Isla!.
U!ar was born as a 7agan in 'e 8' "enur2 CE a
Ma--a', Arabia, and was na!ed BU!ar ibn Al 3'aabC.
On 'is "on9ersion o Isla!, Pro7'e Mu'a!!ad .7bu'/
besowed on 'i! 'e ile o) BAlG;aroo<C !eaning dis"erner,
w'o "ould dis"ern rig' )ro! wrong.
U!ar ;aroo< re!ained rue o 'is ile 'roug'ou 'is li)e.
He was 'e )irs 'in-er o) Isla! neA o 'e Pro7'e.
>oing ba"- o 'e da2s o) 'e Pro7'e and o) U!ar
;aroo<, is esseniall2 o 'onour 'e roos o) Isla!. T'us i is a
good eAer"ise )or Musli!s o re!ind 'e!sel9es, 'e 9er2
basi" )oundaions o) Isla!, 'o7e)ull2 o se u7 a debae on 'e
need and ne"essi2 o) Isla! in is rue sense. A broad !inded
ideolog2, w'i"' ab'ors eAre!is! in e9er2 disguise and
7res"ribes a !iddle 7a' o) !oderaion, as i was de!onsraed
b2 U!ar ;aroo< in 'is li)ei!e as a 7ra"i"al wor-ing !odel,
w'i"' 'as been )ull2 au'eni"aed in 'isor2.
I is sad 'a 'e Musli! world re!ained obli9ious o)
U!arHs li)e, unil 'e lae Alla!a S'ibli *ou!ani .#1%8 4
#$#0/ awa-ened 'e Urdu s7ea-ing Musli!s o) India, b2
wriing 'is "lassi" Al-Farooq, 'ereb2 drawing aenion o
'eir los 'eriage.
Al-Farooq, al'oug' i was ranslaed ino Englis',
re!ained "on)ined o 'e Musli! elie and ne9er des"ended
down o 'e edu"aional insiuions, as i s'ould 'a9e done.
I is !2 belie) 'a U!ar ;aroo<Hs li)e 'isor2 is
edu"aional o Musli!s and nonGMusli! ali-e. His li)e as a
rue and oleran Musli!, 'is ad!inisrai9e and organi:ing
genius, in seing u7 a 9iable 9as Isla!i" sae, based on 'e
IurHan, and !a-ing i a 7eo7leCs re7ubli", 'e )irs e9er wel)are
sae o) 'is world, was a re!endous a"'ie9e!en.
T'is is eAa"l2 w'a is 'ig'lig'ed in 'is boo- Umar
Farooq: the Great Caliph.
On 7ur7ose i is wrien in si!7le Englis' as )ar as
7ossible, in 'e )or!a o) a sor2, so 'a 'o7e)ull2 s"'ool
"'ildren "an easil2 read and undersand i earl2 in 'eir "areer.
;inall2, 'is boo- "arries a !essage )ro! U!ar, o 'e
7resen da2 un"erain world. S'ould 'ere be a )uure )or
7olii"s and de!o"ra"ies, 'e2 bo' s'ould be bridled wi'
!orali2J
Umar Farooq, the Great Caliph. T'is boo- is an
inno9ai9el2 wrien sud2 o) 'e "ali7'Cs li)e. I "o!bines an
ob@e"i9e biogra7'i"al s2le wi' eas2 o read, narrai9e 7rose.
I is in)or!ai9e wi' deailed anal2sis o) U!arCs
a"'ie9e!ens during 'is de"ade o) Cali7'ae 4 (&0CE o
(00CE. U!ar, a "on<ueror, ad!inisraor, a saisi"ian and
gi)ed 7olii"ian, a )arGsig'ed !an, w'o "on9ered 'is 9as
Isla!i" E!7ire, ino a wel)are saeK 'e )irs 7er'a7s in world
'isor2. ;inall2 'is boo- "arries a !essage )ro! U!ar 4
s'ould 'ere be a )uure )or 7olii"s, )inan"e and re7resenai9e
go9ern!ens 'e2 all s'ould be bridled wi' !orali2, !eaning
'e -nowledge o) w'a is rig' and w'a is wrong in a gi9en
siuaion.
Fore#ord
I was inrodu"ed o Dr M.A. Pas'a MBE 'roug' 'is boo- Sir
Syed Ahmed Khan: i! "ife and #ime! 7ublis'ed b2 ;ero:sons
a 3ara"'i, Pa-isan in #$$1.
His 7resen boo- Umar Farooq: the Great Caliph is
7robabl2 one o) 'e )ew boo-s o) is -ind.
I is a "rii"al sud2 o) 'e li)e and a"'ie9e!ens o) U!ar
;aroo<.
=e, as Musli!s, are 9er2 !u"' 7rone o see 'e brig' side
o) our religious lu!inaries. Musli! 'isorians generall2
des"ribe and narrae 'e li)e and "'ara"er o) Arabs a)er 'eir
"on9ersion o Isla! and no 'eir bir' and in)an nurure,
ba"-ground, u7bringing, "ulure and belie)s in 'e dar- da2s o)
Ea'ili2a. A deailed assess!en o) U!arCs )a!il2 o) 'e 7reG
Isla!i" 7eriod is beaui)ull2 deal wi' in 'is brie) and easil2
readable boo-. U!arCs "on9ersion o Isla! and 'e 7ar 'e
7la2ed in 'e earl2 'isor2 o) Isla! is ad!irabl2 done. T'e en
2ears o) U!arCs Cali7'ae and 'is grea a"'ie9e!ens 'a9e
been "rii"all2 anal2sed, as well as 'e "'ara"er o) U!ar 'e
!an.
T'e au'or 'as done grea @usi"e in na!ing U!ar as 'e
)irs in 'isor2 o la2 'e )oundaions o) a wel)are sae in 'e
8' "enur2 CE.
I 'earil2 "o!!end 'is boo-. I "erainl2 'as a !essage
)or 'ose w'o as7ire o undersand.
Lae Pro)essor A'ar Hussain
Reired Pro)essor o) Isla!i" Hisor2
3ara"'i
Pa-isan
I"%rodu%&o"
T'ere is a!7le e9iden"e oda2 'a 'e =es and 'e Eas are
!erging oge'er and are graduall2 e9ol9ing ino a world
"o!!uni2 in 'e !odern world w'i"' is )as be"o!ing a
large global 9illage. T'is is largel2 due o s"ieni)i" and
e"'nologi"al ad9an"es, in ra7id "o!!uni"aions, dis7ersal o)
in)or!aion and onGgoing indusrialisaion, w'i"' !a2 well
bring )or' a new !odern "i9ilisaion and 'o7e)ull2 an
inerde7enden world so"ie2, w'i"' re<uires 7ea"e )or
7rogress and 7ros7eri2 )or !an-ind. ParadoAi"all2 7olii"al,
"ulural, ideologi"al, religious and e9en e'ni" di))eren"es are
'reaening o disru7 'e 7ea"e o) 'e world. E"ono!i" )a"ors
and e"ono!i" i!7ro9e!en in 'e B'a9e noC naions !a2
sri-e a noe o) balan"e, 2e 'e 7olii"al and ideologi"al
di))eren"es are gaining 'e w'i7 'and. T'is does !ean 'a
al'oug' enoug' aenion 'as been besowed on e"'ni"al
ad9an"es !u"' !ore so in 7oorer "ounries, bu no enoug'
aenion is dire"ed owards 'e "ulural, religious and
ideologi"al as7e"s o) 7eo7le in a 7lural world.
T'ere is no doub 'a 'ese dee7 di))eren"es o) "ulure and
religion are bound o 7rodu"e 7olii"al ensions, "on)li"s and
!isundersandings. To 'e wesern se"ularis 'e religious
di))eren"es !a2 be a !inor )a"or, bu o 'e easerner, w'ose
"ulure is largel2 based on 'is religion, religious di))eren"es
are a !a@or )a"or in "o!!unal li)e and would in)luen"e 'e
world "o!!uni2, 7ari"ularl2 as 'ere is a grea ignoran"e o)
religion and an"ien radiions o) 'e T'ird =orld. Religion
and s7iriuali2 are, 'ere)ore, bound o 7la2 a 9ial role in 'e
)uure world 9isGLG9is e"'nologi"al ad9an"es and wesern
se"ularis!.
During 'e las %, 2ears or !ore, an enor!ous a!oun o)
lieraure 'as s7rung u7 on world religions, in 7ari"ular on
Isla!, w'i"' is 7robabl2 'e )ases growing religion o) 'is
"enur2. ?e 9er2 lile is -nown o) 'e earl2 'isor2 o) Isla!.
Ad!iedl2 'ere are !an2 biogra7'ies on 'e Pro7'e
Mu'a!!ad .7bu'/, bu 9er2 lile is -nown, and "erainl2 no
in de7', o) deails abou 'e grea "o!7anions and 'e "ali7's
in 'e earl2 da2s o) Isla!i" 'isor2. ='a in)or!aion 'ere is
in 'e Englis' language is !osl2 wrien b2 nonGMusli!
s"'olars. T'e enor!ous a!oun o) lieraure in Arabi", Urdu
and e9en Persian, wrien b2 Musli!s, sill re!ains ou o)
rea"' )or la"- o) being ranslaed ino Englis', w'i"' is )as
be"o!ing a world lin$ua fran%a. T'ere is a need, 'ere)ore,
'a Musli!s w'o are -nowledgeable in Englis' s'ould ell
'eir own )a"ual 9ersion as 'e2 see i and 'o7e)ull2 'e world
"o!!uni2 would wel"o!e i as an eAer"ise in undersanding
'e Isla!i" ideolog2.
T'is boo-, a biogra7'2 o) one o) 'e earl2 grea "ali7's,
U!ar ;aroo<, is a 'u!ble ae!7 w'i"' I sin"erel2 'o7e will
enlig'en 'e general reader, 7ari"ularl2 in 'e =es as well as
in 'e Eas. T'e bir' and e!ergen"e o) Isla! )ro! 'e deser
land o) Arabia in 'e 8' "enur2 CE oo- 'e world b2 sur7rise.
Bu 'e greaes s'o"- was 'e 9as eA7ansion o) Isla!, so 'a
wi'in #,, 2ears o) 'e dea' o) 'e Pro7'e Mu'a!!ad
.7bu'/, Musli! lands eAended )ro! 'e Alani" in 'e wes o
'e Ri9er Indus in 'e eas, a ale o) ra7id "on<ues and
"on9ersion 'e world 'as ne9er winessed be)ore or sin"e. B2
)ar, 'e 9as !ass o) "on<uess )ell during 'e 7eriod o) @us
o9er #, 2ears during 'e Cali7'ae o) U!ar ;aroo<, 'e se"ond
and, 7er'a7s 'e greaes "ali7' o) Isla!.
U!ar was one o) 'e )our ini!ae "o!7anions o) 'e
Pro7'e, 'e o'er 'ree were Abuba-r, a )ai')ul )riend and
)a'erGinGlaw, Ali bin Abi Talib, 'e Pro7'eCs )irs "ousin and
sonGinGlaw, and U'!an ibn A))an, also 'is sonGinGlaw. U!ar
on 'is own was 'e odd !an ou, a lae "on9er o Isla!, 2e
neA o 'e Pro7'e 7la2ed 'e !os do!inan role in 'e
esablis'!en, s7read and "onsolidaion o) Isla! and 'e
Isla!i" Sae in 'e earl2 2ears.
=e li9e in an age w'en 'e bul- o) 'e 7o7ulaion, be i in
'e =es or in 'e Eas, is 9iruall2 ignoran o) 'isor2, w'a i
reall2 !eans and w'a 'isor2 sands )or. Per'a7s i is 'e )aul
o) edu"aion and la"- o) 7ro7er orienaion. T'is sorr2 sae o)
a))airs a77lies dire"l2 o 'e 9as !a@ori2 o) #.(% billion
Musli!s o) 'is world, be i in Musli! lands, su"' as Pa-isan
or Palesine or e9en in 'e Dias7ora in 'e wesern 'e!is7'ere
in Euro7e and 'e A!eri"as. ?e, 'e na!e o) U!ar ;aroo<
re!ains )a!iliar and 'o!el2 o 'e Musli! !an and wo!an in
'e sree. In al!os e9er2 )a!il2, be i large or s!all, a new
born !ale "'ild is na!ed ei'er U!ar or ;aroo<, bu w'a is
no )a!iliar, is w'a U!ar was li-e as a !an, 'is
a"'ie9e!ens, 'is !isa-es as a 'u!an )igure, 'is grea
"onribuion o Isla! and 7er'a7s o 'e world and 'u!ani2 a
large, all 'ese re!ain obs"ure.
T'is is largel2 due o 'e relu"an"e and inbuil resisan"e
o) Musli! s"'olars and biogra7'ers in 7ari"ular, o9er a 7eriod
o) "enuries, o 7robe dire"l2 ino 'e sub@e" ob@e"i9el2, 'e
!an 'i!sel), in order o dis"o9er 'e ru'.
I 'a9e o sa2 'a 'is s2le o) del9ing or 7robing in sear"'
o) ru', or 'e s"ien"e and ar o) biogra7'2, is largel2 =esern
in origin, w'ereas 'e Easern biogra7'ers and, in 7ari"ular
'e Musli!s, al'oug' 'e2 'a9e de9elo7ed 'e ar o)
biogra7'2 o 'e inri"a"2 o) !inuiae, 2e 'eir wriings are a
beaui)ul narraion o) e9ens or e7isodes in 'e li)e o) 'e
sub@e" and, 'ere)ore, in general are 'agiogra7'i" in 'eir
s2le.
;ro! 'e Musli! 7oin o) 9iew, I ad!i 'e in'ibiion lies
in 'e age old radiion 'a i is disres7e")ul or e9en rude o
"rii"ise 'e earl2 seers o) Isla!, 'e grea Co!7anions o) 'e
Pro7'e. Bu surel2, 7ro9ided 'e inenions are 'onourable, a
"rii"al a77re"iaion "anno be disres7e")ul bu on 'e
"onrar2, 'ig'l2 7rodu"i9e in er!s o) undersanding 'e
realiies or 'e ru' in a gi9en siuaion.
Biogra7'2 o) !en and wo!en and 'e i!es in w'i"' 'e2
li9ed, 'e 7roble!s 'e2 )a"ed, 'eir a"'ie9e!ens, 'eir
)ailures, 'eir 7rin"i7les and 7ra"i"es are alwa2s an e2eG
o7ener o 'e unwar2 as well as 'e 'irs2 o sla-e 'eir 'irs.
I is 'e biogra7'erCs as- o elu"idae 'e ru' and 7resen i in
'e bes 7ossible !anner. See-ing ru', w'ae9er 'e 9e'i"le
!a2 be, is 7er'a7s 'e bes wa2 o i!7ro9e and -ee7 on
"oninuousl2 i!7ro9ing 'e <uali2 o) li)e, )or in i!7ro9e!en
@us as in -nowledge, 'ere is a beginning bu 'ere "an ne9er
be an end. U!ar ;aroo<Cs li)e was one su"'. His li)e illusraed
a 7er)e" balan"e o) !aerialis! based on a s7iriual 7edesal
dis7la2ing 'e ideolog2, 7'iloso7'2, 'eor2 and 'e 7ra"i"ali2
o) 'e sraig' 7a' or 'e wa2 o) li)e, "alled Isla!, a blessing
o !an and a grea "onribuion o 'e wellbeing o) all
!an-ind.
T'is boo-, in all is earnesness, ries o 7resen a 7orrai
o) U!ar ;aroo<, 'o7e)ull2 in a Hogar'ian s2le, wi' all is
ble!is'es, unou"'ed and de9oid o) all !a-eGu7, in an ae!7
o 7resen 'e Breal U!arC and 7la"es i in 'e wide lands"a7e
o) Isla!. T'is !a2 a )irs sig' see! unusual )or 7orrai
7la"e!en, bu 'en U!ar was no onl2 unusual, bu an
eA"e7ional "'ara"er.
An indi9idual on 'is ownK al'oug' 'is indi9idualis! was
oall2 !as-ed b2 'is own genuine rans7aren 7ersonal
'u!ili2, do"ili2 and oal obedien"e o Isla!. He was,
7er'a7s, one o) 'e greaes leaders o) !en 'a 'e world 'as
7rodu"ed, bo' during war and 7ea"eK "erainl2 'e greaes
leader o) 'e Isla!i" world, neA o 'e Pro7'eK a leader w'o
"ould s7o 'e 7roble! and go )or i, alwa2s leading 'is 7eo7le
)ro! 'e )ron. He "o!bined in 'i!sel) an eAraordinar2
<uali2 o) a-ing de"isions bo' b2 insin" and inelle".
I is )air o sa2 'a U!ar did no Bin9enC 'i!sel) bu
Isla! did. True o 'e s7iri o) Isla!, 'e de9oed 'is li)e as a
BMusli! eAraordinar2C and, w'ae9er Isla! 7ro7elled or 'e
earl2 Musli!s sel)G7ro7elled 'eir ideals o) Isla!, U!ar
a""o!7lis'ed 'e! )ull2 in 'is li)ei!e. Alas, sin"e 'en, 'e
Musli! U!!a' as a w'ole or as a 7ar 'a9e 7ersisenl2 )ailed
o )ul)il 'eir sel)G7ro"lai!ed ideals o) Isla!. I, )or one, sill
)eel i is ne9er oo lae o learn )ro! our own !isa-es in all
'u!ili2, "o!7assion and rig'eousness as 'e IurCan eA7e"s
Musli!s o ado7 in 'eir "ondu" o) da2GoGda2 li)e.
As a biogra7'er, surel2 i !us be !2 arge o 7resen an
inelle"ual 7orrai o) U!ar ;aroo<. I 'a9e o "on)ess 'a I do
no 7ossess 'e ne"essar2 <uali)i"aions, nei'er a! I an
a"ade!i" nor an inelle"ual in 'e a""e7ed sense, nor a
de9oee or dis"i7le in 'e e!oional or s7iriual 7arlan"e,
"erainl2 no a 'ero wors'i77er in 'e BoswellGEo'nson
!anner, bu @us a "o!!on !an o) 'e sree, a 7u7il eA7loring
'e ideolog2 o) Isla! and is greaes eA7ounder, U!ar ;aroo<.
Bold as i !a2 a77ear o e!bar- on 'is 9enure, I a! )ull2
aware 'a !an2 learned biogra7'ers o) U!ar 'a9e gone
be)ore !e. I would 'en regard !ine as a 'u!ble "onribuion.
T'e grea sur7rise o !e w'en I iniiall2 e!bar-ed on resear"'
on 'e li)e and i!es o) U!ar was 'is originali2 in 'is ideas
and 7ra"i"es. ;or eAa!7le, 'e insiued 7ensions )or 'e 7oor
and need2 and 'e widows as well as "'ild allowan"e long,
long be)ore an2one 'oug' o) 'is "o!7assionae 'el7 in
7ra"i"al er!s )ro! a 7olii"al sae.
A <uesion 'a a biogra7'er !us as- is, did U!ar 'a9e
an2 "onradi"ions in 'is "'ara"erM Hardl2 an2,
disa77oiningl2 )ew. Tanru!s o) e!7er and a readiness o
uns'ea'e 'e sword, bu 'ose be"a!e !ellowed as 'e grew in
age. A 'a772 !an, wi' no inner "on)li"s, a 7ea"e wi'
'i!sel)F 'e a"-led 'e 7roble!s o) li)e as a !an o) 'e world
wi' 'is )ee )ir!l2 on 'e s7iriual ground. Conradi"ion or
no, U!ar disli-ed indi9idualis!K 2e 'e was a 27i"al
indi9idualF 'e dis"lai!ed a!biion, 2e 'e was as a!biious as
Caesar or AleAander 'e >rea, al'oug' well !as-ed b2
s7iriuali2 and 'u!ili2, bu I "anno "lassi)2 'is 7ersonali2
o be "onradi"or2, as I belie9e 'e was eAre!el2 sin"ere in
'is belie)s in dis"lai!ing bo' indi9idualis! and a!biion.
T'is is one o) 'e idios2n"rasies o) 'u!an naure, a sor o)
'idden agenda. U!ar -new 'is li!iaionsF 'e 'ad absoluel2
no doub abou 'e ideolog2 o) Isla! and 'e di9ini2 o) 'e
IurCan. T'e Pro7'e originaed and iniiaed Isla!, and U!ar
illusraed o 'e world 'a 'e Isla!i" ideolog2 was )ull2
9iable and wor-able as a s2se! o) li)e, 7ro9ided !en and
wo!en wor- wi' 'eir brains and belie)s in e<ual 7ro7orion.
T'is was 'e grea se"re o) U!arCs a"'ie9e!ens.
T'e earlies sour"es o) in)or!aion abou U!ar ;aroo< are
o be )ound in 'e wriings o) grea Arabi" s"'olars w'o
e!erged in 'e 1' and $' "enuries, @us o9er #,, 2ears a)er
'e dea' o) 'e Pro7'e and 'is "o!7anions. T'is, 'owe9er,
does no rule ou 'e 7ossibili2 on 'e wriings o) B'earsa2C.
Considering 'a 'e Arab genius was one o) !e!or2, as in
re"iing 9olu!es o) 7oer2 or ales o) a bale or relaing
genealog2, e9en i) allowan"e is !ade )or 'earsa2, 'ere is a
greaer 7er"enage o) au'eni"i2 in 'e wriings o) 'ose earl2
da2s. T'e grea s"'olars w'o wroe a sor o) 'isor2 were
Tabari .1&1G$&+/ w'o wroe in deail 'e 'isor2 o) U!arCs
Cali7'ae, and Masudi .d.$%(/.
Classi"al biogra7'ies o) 'e Pro7'e b2 Ibn Is'a< .d.8(8/
)ollowed b2 alG=a<idi .808G1++/, alG3albi .d.1#$/, Ibn
His'a! .d.1&0/ and abu alG;ida .#+8&G#&&+/ also !enions
deails o) 'e li)e o) U!ar and 'is wor-s wi' 'e Pro7'e and
)ellow Co!7anions. Ano'er boo- in Arabi" and ranslaed
ino Urdu is &artyr of &ahra': Umar i'n al-Khatta' b2 S2ed
U!ar Tal!asani.
T'is boo- is 27i"al o) 'agiogra7'2 raising U!ar o 'e
saus o) a sain, absol9ing 'i! )ro! 'e reali2 Bo err is
'u!anC. In addiion, 'e nu!erous Hadi', w'i"' re"orded 'e
li)ei!e e9ens o) 'e Pro7'e, also re"orded 'e e9ens
7eraining o U!ar. T'e Hadi', in 7ari"ular, is 'a o)
Bu-'ari or Sa'i' Bu-'ari .1#,G18,/. As Arabi" is no !2
!o'er ongue, I 'ad o resor o ranslaions in Urdu, !2 own
!o'er ongue, and a good nu!ber o) boo-s are sill 7resen a
Del'i, Aligar' and H2derabad in India and a 3ara"'i and
La'ore in Pa-isan.
Biogra7'2 was no in )as'ion in 'ose da2s, 'e onl2
eA"e7ion being 'a o) 'e Pro7'e. T'e !aerial abou U!ar
was s"aered 'ere and 'ere and re<uired diligen "olle"ion.
E9en in 'e #1' "enur2, 'e biogra7'2 o) U!ar b2 S'a'
=aliGAlla' .#8,&G#8(+/, w'o wroe in Persian, is largel2
"on"enraed on Bi@i'adC, as 7ar o) U!arCs 7ro@e"ion. B2 )ar
'e bes and "o!7re'ensi9e biogra7'2 is 'a o) S'ibli *u!ani
.#1%8G#$#0/, Pro)essor o) Arabi" a Aligar', na!el2 Al
Farooq 7ublis'ed in #1$1 in 'e 'en Briis' India. Al'oug'
Al Farooq is a s"'olarl2 wor-, S'ibli, in -ee7ing wi' 'e
radiion o) Musli! wriers, @us )alls s'or o) real "rii"al
a77re"iaion, bu ne9er'eless, i re!ains a "lassi"al wor-. A
re"en boo- )ro! La'ore, 'e )irs biogra7'2 o) U!ar in
Englis', b2 Pro)essor MasudGulGHasan, 7ublis'ed in #$$0, is
elaborae, in)or!ai9e and a boo- o) re)eren"e, bu i is a
"olle"ion o) essa2s and a narraion o) e9ens. T'ere are se9eral
=esern wriers w'ose wriings are @us "o!!enaries and do
no )all under biogra7'2. T'e2 are Sir =illia! Muir,
=as'ingon Ir9ing and Edward >ibbon, o na!e a )ew. One o)
'e re"en boo-s 7ublis'ed in >er!an b2 9on Halid Unal in
#$1( is a s'or biogra7'2 o) U!ar illusraing 'is 7olii"al
saes!ans'i7 and ra"es in deail 'is genealog2. A )ur'er
illu!inai9e biogra7'2 eniled A'qariat ul-Umar 'as "o!e
)ro! Cairo, Eg27, in Arabi" b2 Abbas Ma'!ud al A<aCd,
w'i"' is "erainl2 an i!7ro9e!en on 7re9ious wor-s, in as
!u"' as i la2s sress on 'e 7ersonali2 o) U!ar, w'o! 'e
"onsiders as a genius.
M2 eAer"ise in 'e biogra7'2 o) U!ar ;aroo< 'as been a
7leasurable 'un o rea"' 'e inner !an o) U!ar w'o, al'oug'
'u!ble abou 'is 7ubli" adulaion, oo- a serious noe o)
7ubli" "rii"is! be i )ro! )riends, )oe or so!eone oall2
srange and un-nown, dis7la2ing 'is inense sensii9i2.
As I sudied U!ar, i a77eared o !e 'a b2 wa2 o)
ne"essi2, 'is biogra7'2 'ad o be a s'ule beween U!arCs
li)e and 'e earl2 'isor2 o) Isla!. *o onl2 was 'e 'ig'l2
in)luen"ed b2 'e e9ens in 'e 'isor2 o) Isla!, bu 'e,
'i!sel), "reaed 'isor2 in Isla!K 'is "on9ersion o Isla! being
one su"' 'isori"al e9en. His 7ro"la!aion 'a 'e o))i"e o)
'e "ali7'ae was no di9ine was a 7olii"al land!ar-.
In de)eren"e o !e'odolog2, 'is boo- is di9ided ino
nineeen "'a7ers. T'e las "'a7er is U!arCs lega"2, w'i"' is
'oug' 7ro9o-ing and 7erinen o 'e 7roble!s o) 7resen
i!es.
T'is biogra7'2 o) U!ar is 7resened 'o7e)ull2 as a
disillaion and no an a""u!ulaion or @us a narraion, bu an
argu!en in )a9our o) 'e genius o) U!ar, w'ose li)e and
wor-s deser9e o be -nown o all !an-ind o) 'is large global
9illage o) ours, our world, wi' 7ari"ular re)eren"e o 'e
Musli! world. Sin"e 'e Se"ond =orld =ar a 'uge
i!!igraion 'as o""urred o) Musli!s )ro! 'e Eas o 'e
=es and i is esi!aed 'a in 'e =esern world 'ere are as
!an2 as 0, !illion Musli!s, 'e larges !inoriies being in 'e
Unied 3ingdo!, =esern Euro7e and *or' A!eri"a.
In 7ursui o) 'ar!on2, i sands o reason 'a a Musli!
7oin o) 9iew 'as o be "onsidered b2 nonGMusli!s, w'i"' I
a! sure will bring a beer undersanding )or )uure
inerrelaions. Iuie disin"l2 U!ar, as a rue Musli! and a
)ollower o) Mu'a!!ad .7bu'/, 'e Pro7'e, sood )irs )or
Reali2 .Alla'/, neA )or reason, resrain, !orali2 and du2
wi' digni2, de9oid o) su7er)i"ial seni!enali2 and
e!oional eAuberan"e. T'a 'en, is 'e de7' o) 'e
7'iloso7'2 o) U!ar. Morali2 in 7olii"s was a !us )or U!ar.
Ma2 be 'is is an answer o a B!oral "risis Uni9ersalisC o)
oda2Cs world.
I 'a9e ried !2 bes o undersand, anal2se and 7resen 'e
"'ara"er o) U!ar ;aroo< in !2 wa2. ='e'er I 'a9e
su""eeded or no, I 'a9e o lea9e 'a 9erdi" o !2 reader in
'e uli!ae anal2sis.
Pre'ae
T'is boo- is a !odes biogra7'2 o) U!arGibnGAlG3'aab, a
noble "o!7anion o) Pro7'e Mu'a!!ad .7bu'/. A)er 'is
"on9ersion o Isla!, 'e Pro7'e .7bu'/ "on)erred on 'i! 'e
ile o) AlG;aroo< !eaning a dis"erner, w'o "an di))ereniae
rig' )ro! wrong. T'erea)er 'e be"a!e 7o7ular as U!ar
;aroo<. He was 'e se"ond o) 'e )our rig'l2Gguided "ali7's
#
o) earl2 Isla!. His "ali7'ae o) @us o9er en 2ears .(&0G(00
CE/, was 'e longes a!ong 'e )irs )our "ali7's. As 'e
be"a!e 'e "ali7', 'e assu!ed 'e ile o) A!iral Mu!inin
+
or
Co!!ander o) 'e ;ai')ul. His de"ade o) "ali7'ae !ar-ed a
urning 7oin in bo' 'e Isla!i" as well as 'e 'isor2 o) 'e
world.
Isla! oda2 is being !isre7resened and 'ere)ore
!isundersood. *o @us b2 'e nonGMusli! world, bu b2 'e
Musli!s 'e!sel9es. T'ere are !an2 reasons )or 'is
un)orunae i!7asse. One o) 'e !os i!7oran being la"- o)
7ro7er edu"aion. T'e !a@ori2 o) 'e Musli! world oda2,
re!ains illierae and, as su"', 'ese !asses o) 7eo7le "an be
easil2 led asra2 b2 soG"alled religious leaders. A!ongs 'e
!inori2 o) 'e lierae Musli!s an elie o) s"'olars 'as risen,
o s'ow 'e rig' dire"ion bu a "o!!on "o'eren"e 'as 2e o
e!erge.
;irs o) all, reading o) 'e Re9elaion 4 T'e IurCan, sill
re!ains su7er)i"ial.
Translaions o) 'e IurCan in Englis' are largel2 lieral,
wi' o""asional "o!!enar2, 2e 9er2 lile res7e" o 'e
"oneA is gi9en. One o) 'e )ew eA"e7ions is an eA"ellen
#
T'e er! Cali7' .Ar. 3'ali)a/ is s'or )or 'e .3'ali)a Alla'/ De7u2 o) Alla'
w'i"' be"a!e a nor!al ile o) 'e ruler o) 'e Musli! Co!!uni2 4 'e U!!a',
and was )irs a77lied o Abuba-r, 'e )irs Cali7'ae, w'o su""eeded 'e Pro7'e
.7bu'/ in (&+ C.E.
+
A!iralGMu!inun or Co!!ander o) 'e ;ai')ul.
ranslaion and !eaning o) 'e IurCan, b2 'e lae, Abdulla'
?use) Ali. Al'oug', 'e was 'e )irs Musli! o))i"er in 'e
Indian "i9il ser9i"e during 'e da2s o) 'e Briis' Ra@, 'e -new
'e IurCan "o!7re'ensi9el2.
In 'is "oneA, U!ar ;aroo< 7resens as 'e )irs 'in-ing
!ind o) Isla!, neA o 'e Pro7'e .7bu'/. His li)e 7orra2s 'e
!essage o) Isla!, is nauralness, si!7li"i2 and uni9ersali2
7ure and unsullied. U!ar laid 'e )oundaion o) a s7iriual,
so"ial and 7olii"al edi)i"e )or a Musli! so"ie2, )or 7er7eui2.
A re7ubli"anis! based on 'e "on"e7s o) 'e IurCan and 'e
ea"'ings o) Pro7'e Mu'a!!ad .7bu'/, as illusraed in
7ra"i"al er!s b2 U!arCs "ali7'ae, w'i"' was nei'er a
-ings'i7 in di9ine "a!ou)lage, nor a na-ed di"aors'i7 and
"erainl2 no a 'eo"ra"2 as i is undersood in !odern
7arlan"e, bu a 7eo7leCs re7ubli", guided b2 'e re9ealed Lig',
e!bra"ing bo' 'e sa"red and 'e se"ular in e<ual !easure,
)orward loo-ing and 7rogressi9e, wi' inno9aions o sui 'e
"'anging i!es. T'a, in essen"e, is 'e !essage o) U!ar
;aroo< and 'is "ali7'ae.
A 'u!ble ae!7 is !ade in 'is lile boo- o 7resen a
"rii"al a77re"iaion o) U!ar ;aroo< and 'is lega"2. On
7ur7ose i is no 'e radiional )or! o) narraion, nor s"abrous,
nei'er saniised, les 'e 9agaries o) 'u!an naure be !as-ed.
Ho7e)ull2 'is boo- !ig' 7ro9o-e a 'eal'2 debae a!ongs
'e Musli!s, in a grand oal o) #.( billion or !ore in 'e
U!!a' o) 'is world.
T'e o7en <uesion is "an 'e 7resen da2 Musli!s 7rodu"e
a!ongs 'e!sel9es, a new BU!ar ;aroo<C, 7er'a7s a dire
ne"essi2 in 'e 7resen da2 un"erain world. T'e "'allenge
ress.
I a! 'o7e)ul 'e2 will. Cerainl2, w'en 'e2 re"o9er )ro!
'e disease o) dar-ness and begin o wal- again in 'e lig' o)
Isla!, as )ree !en and )ree wo!en.
I belie9e 'a as a leader o) 7eo7le, U!arCs 7ersonal
"ondu" and 'is a"'ie9e!ens during 'is de"ade o) "ali7'ae
are dire"l2 a77li"able o 'e 7resen da2 world and is )uure,
in !an2 res7e"s.
Cha(%er O"e
Pa$an Childhood
U!ar was born a 7agan. His )a'er was 3'aab bin *u)ail.
T'eir )a!il2 was de9oed idol wors'i77ers and 'ad 'eir own
)a!il2 idol, na!ed AlGU:a, a )e!ale goddess. In addiion,
along wi' o'er Arabs a Ma--a', 'e2 also wors'i77ed AlG
Hubal, 'e !ale god and 'e su7re!e god o) all gods and
goddesses. Al'oug' 7agans, 'eir grea )a!il2 an"esor was a
!an "alled Adi. He )ounded a "lan in 'is na!e w'i"' be"a!e
-nown as Banu Adi. Adi was one o) 'e )ew !en w'o "ould
read and wrie. Reading and wriing ran in 'eir )a!il2 w'i"'
!ade 'e "lan o) Adi disin" and di))eren, no onl2 )ro! 'e
deser Bedouins and !an2 ri"' !er"'an Arabs a Ma--a'.
U!arCs grand)a'er, *u)ail, was a 7oe as !os Arabs
were, bu !ore i!7oranl2 a genealogis, an arbiraor, a @udge
as well as a )or!idable warrior, 2e a di7lo!a. He arbiraed
in a dis7ue beween Abdul Mualib, grand)a'er o) 'e
Pro7'e Mu'a!!ad .7bu'/, and HarabGbinGU!a2a' o9er 'e
"usodians'i7 o) 'e 3aaba'
&
. 3'aab, )a'er o) U!ar, was
'ead o) 'is "lan Banu Adi. T'e2 "las'ed on se9eral o""asions
wi' 'e bigger and sronger "lan o) Banu S'a!s. 3'aab, 'e
di7lo!a !ade a deal o) allian"e wi' Banu S'a!s and
oge'er wi' eig' o'er "lans 'e2 )or!ed a large ribe, 'e
Iurais' o) Ma--a'. T'e Iurais', as agains 'e Bedouins,
were o) noble bir'. T'e2 were !er"'ans, land owners, ri"'
and 7ower)ul in nu!bers and )a!ous )or 'olding 'e
&
3aaba', a large "ubi" sone sru"ure w'i"' sands in 'e "enre o) 'e >rand
Mos<ue a Ma--a'. T'e 3aaba' is no an ob@e" o) wors'i7, bu re7resens a
san"uar2 "onse"raed o Alla', )irs sin"e 'e da2s o) Ada!. Laer rebuil b2
Ibra'i! and 'is son Is!ail. I is owards 'e 3aaba' 'a Musli!s orien
'e!sel9es in 7ra2er.
"usodians'i7 o) 'e s'rine, 3aaba', a "ubeGli-e sru"ure
w'i"' 'oused &(, idols, belonging o 'e %,, or !ore ribes o)
all Arabia. On"e a 2ear, on 'e a77oined !on', 'e 7ol2'eis
Arabs rolled down o Ma--a' )or 'eir annual 7ilgri!age.
T'e2 ae la!b, "a!el and 'orse !ea and dran- wine !ade
)ro! )er!ened daes. Men and wo!en, al!os na-ed, dan"ed,
sang lus"ious and sedu"i9e 7oer2 as 'e2 "ir"u!a!bulaed
'e 3aaba', se9en i!es on ea"' o""asion.
T'e )esi9al lased )or a w'ole !on' o) 'e 'en luniGsolar
"alendar. T'us 'e s'rine o) 'e 3aaba' was a grea lu"rai9e
business )or 'e Iurais'. T'e Iurais' also s7o-e in a 7os'
re)ined diale" o) Arabi" o disinguis' 'e!sel9es as 7riess o)
'e 3aaba'. Mu'a!!ad, 'e Pro7'e, .7bu'/ belonged o a
!ediu! si:ed and 'ig'l2 in)luenial "lan na!ed Banu Has'i!,
a "lan, one a!ong !an2 "lans, "onsiuing 'e 7ower)ul ribe
o) 'e Iurais'.
3'aab was no onl2 a 7ol2'eis bu also 7ra"ised
7ol2ga!2 adGlib. One o) 'is )a9ourie and beaui)ul wi9es was
3'ana!a', daug'er o) His'a! bin Mug'ira, a daring soldier
and "o!!ander o) 'e Iurais', w'o used o "o!!and Ra::ias
or inerGribal wars, so ra!7an in Arabia, )ro! an"ien i!es.
U!ar was born o 3'ana!a' a Ma--a'. T'e dae o) 'is
bir' is un"erain, bu belie9ed o be %1, CE, en 2ears 2ounger
'an 'e Pro7'e .7bu'/. 3'aab also 'ad a son na!ed A!r
)ro! a di))eren wi)e. A!r 'ad a son na!ed Naid, 'e was a
renegade. ;ro! 3'aabCs )a!il2Cs 7oin o) 9iew, Naid
rebelled agains 7ol2'eis!. He dis"arded idolar2 and
)a9oured 'e wors'i7 o) one god, w'i"' 7ro9ed an ana'e!a o
3'aab and U!ar. U!ar "'ased 'is "ousin Naid ou o) Arabia.
Legend 'as i 'a 'e was slain or -illed in 'e S2rian Deser in
eAile. 3'aab "elebraed U!arCs bir' wi' a )eas o) roas
la!b wi' 'is )a!il2 and )riends. To 'e Arabs, a son was
alwa2s 7re)erred o a daug'er. Man2 i!es a!ongs 'e
Arabs, 'ig' or low, a )e!ale "'ild on 'er bir' was buried
ali9e. Abo!inable indeed, bu 'a was 'e a""e7ed "uso!K
e9en edu"aed )a!ilies, al'oug' )ew and )ar beween,
7ra"ised i. Ob9iousl2, e9en edu"aion 'ad no e))e" on 'ard2
radiions. Ano'er radiion was o send 'e newborn son awa2
wi' a )oser !o'er )or u7 o 'ree 2ears ino 'e deser so 'a
'e "'ild "ould be"o!e 'ard2 and 'eal'2. Be 'a as i !a2,
3'ana!a' re)used o send U!ar as 'e was 'er onl2 "'ild.
U!ar la77ed 'e lo9e and a))e"ion )ro! 'is !o'er, and grew
u7 o be a 7la2)ul, ra'er !is"'ie9ous bo2 o) )i9e 2ears. As 'e
"'ild grew ino 'is bo2'ood, a 'e age o) se9en, 3'aab oo-
"'arge o) 'i!.
U!arCs )a'er, a sern !an, sri" in dis"i7line, and a 'ard
as- !aser. T'e )irs as- 'e alloed o U!ar was o enrol 'i!
as a s'e7'erd bo2. U!ar was rained b2 eA7er Bedouin
s'e7'erdsK 'e2 aug' U!ar 'e language o) 'e "a!el. *ow
and again, 'e Bedouin s'e7'erds used o laug' a U!ar and
a-e 'e !i"-e2 ou o) 'i!. U!arCs res7onse was one o)
resrained anger. Deer!ined as 'e was, 'e soon learn 'ow o
"onrol a "a!el, 'e be"a!e )riendl2 wi' 'is )ellow s'e7'erds,
7la2ed ga!es, 9enured o ener dae or"'ards w'ere ea"' o)
'e bo2s would grab 'e wind)alls. U!ar obser9ed -eenl2 and
go 'e bo2s o "olle" 'e daes in a 72ra!id 'ea7. T'e2 'en,
ea"' o) 'e!, s'ared an e<ual nu!ber o) daes. T'us 'e won
'e res7e" o) 'is s'e7'erd )riends, a re!ar-able )ea o)
leaders'i7 e9en in U!arCs bo2'ood.
A)er U!ar "o!7leed 'is raining as a s'e7'erd 3'aab
ga9e 'i! 'e @ob o) s'e7'erding 'e "a!els o) 'is own
'ouse'old. U!ar was en 2ears old and i was U!arCs @ob o
a-e 'e "a!els o 'e !eadows )or gra:ing. T'ese !eadows
were abou wo !iles awa2 )ro! Ma--a'. He 'en 'ad o
bring 'e! 'o!e and 7u 'e! in 'eir s'elers. All 'is was
under 3'aabCs su7er9ision. T'is was 'e dail2 rouine. A)er
a gruelling da2 in 'e deser 'ea, sand and dus, )a'er and son
would reurn 'o!e. 3'ana!a' would gree 'e! bo',
e!bra"ing 'er son, s!o'ering 'i! wi' -isses, 'en was'
'i!, dress 'i! in "lean "lo'es and 'e 'ree o) 'e! oge'er
would en@o2 a 'ear2 !eal o) 7ied daes, w'ea bread, 'one2,
"a!elCs !il- and s7ring waer 4 a w'oleso!e !eal o) a
Bedouin deser Arab. A)er 'e !eal, U!ar would be 'al)
aslee7 bu 3'aab would sna"' 'i! )ro! 'is !o'erCs la7,
s'a-e 'i! 9igorousl2 o wa-e 'i! u7, e9en s7las'ing "old
waer on 'e "'ildCs )a"e and would 'en a-e 'i! o a se7arae
en. T'ere 'e2 would bo' si down on a "a!elG'air !a
s7read on 'e )loor, wi' a 7en and 7ar"'!en. 3'aab would
ea"' 2oung U!ar o read and wrie.
3'aab was also -een o ea"' U!ar 'e "orre"
7ronun"iaion o) Arabi" words. ='en 'e bo2 'ad "o!7leed
an 'our o) 'ard gruelling, 'e )a'er would a7 'i! on 'is
ba"-, e!bra"e and -iss 'i! on 'is )ore'ead and 'en le 'i!
go o 'is !o'er w'o would 7u 'i! o bed, elling sories and
singing 7oer2.
T'e neA se7 in U!arCs edu"aion was o inrodu"e 'i! o
7ol2'eis! no one bu !uli7le gods. I was "uso!ar2 )or
)a!ilies o 9isi 'e 3aaba', 7rosrae in wors'i7 be)ore 'eir
)a!il2 gods )ollowed b2 wors'i7 o) all gods. Srangel2
enoug', 'ere is no re"ord o) an2 7riesl2 ser!ons or ani!al
sa"ri)i"es. Priess were 'ere o su7er9ise wors'i7, answer
<uesions, besow 'eir blessings and "olle" donaions. U!ar
en@o2ed going o 'e 3aaba'. He !ade )riends easil2. He "ould
re"ognise and na!e 'e 9arious gods. ='en 'e 7arens were
bus2 7ra2ing or al-ing, U!ar would "olle" bo2s and girls o)
'is age grou7 and 'en a-e 'e! on a "ondu"ed our o) 'e
s'rine, o 'e delig' o) 'is grand)a'er, )a'er and 'is !o'er.
E9en )ro! 'e age o) se9en, 'e 'ad a erri)i" !e!or2 and
would reel o)) )ro! !e!or2 a grea nu!ber o) na!es o)
9arious idols. He was -een o 7ari"i7ae in 'e singing a 'e
end o) "ongregaional 7ra2ers or w'en 'e gods were in9o-ed
)or 9i"or2 in wars. Si!ulaneousl2 wi' 'is lierar2 and
religious edu"aion, U!ar was inrodu"ed o 7'2si"al raining,
running u7 and down a wo !ile ra"- e9er2 !orning, @u!7ing
u7 and down a barrier, )ollowed b2 balan"ing and @u!7ing on
o 'e ba"- o) a saioned wooden 'orse. A)er a )ew !on's,
'e was 7ro!oed o ride a 7on2 and a 'orse, all under 'e
su7er9ision o) a Bedouin 'orse!an. 3'aab "oninued 'is
srenuous s"'edule unil U!ar aained 'e age o) wel9e,
w'en 'e s'o u7 o a all burl2 2ou', a grea 7'2si<ue and a
s'ar7 <uesioning !ind. Al'oug' Arab )a'ers de!anded
obedien"e o 7arens, 3'aab en"ouraged U!ar o as-
<uesions and was 7aien enoug' o sais)2 U!arCs "uriosi2.
ParadoAi"all2, U!ar en@o2ed being an obedien son.
I was 'e rig' i!e and rig' age o inrodu"e U!ar o 'e
7re9alen s7or a Ma--a', na!el2 swords!ans'i7 and
ar"'er2. Training in 'ese wo s7ors was le) in 'e 'ands o)
'e elders o) 'e )a!il2 or ini!ae )a!il2 )riends. 3'aab was
U!arCs )en"ing 7arner. U!ar en@o2ed )en"ing wi' 'i!.
Al'oug' U!ar was <ui"- o 7i"- u7 bo' )en"ing and
s'ooing arrows, 'is own in"linaion was o a-e 7ar in 'e
"o!7eii9e s7or o) wresling. His arge was o be"o!e a
naional 'ero in wresling, w'i"' 'e did. In one o) 'e
wresling !a"'es 'e was "on)roned b2 3'alid bin =alid
0
. In
'e "ones 'a )ollowed, U!ar 'ad o reire wounded, 'a9ing
bro-en a bone in 'is leg and was gi9en an ar! "ru"' o
7re9en weig' bearing on 'e leg. =i'in wo !on's, U!ar
reurned o "'allenge 3'alid and won 'e "ones. Ouside in
'e )ield, U!ar and 3'alid were grea 7als. On 'e inelle"ual
side and in 'e an"ien Arab radiion, U!ar oo- 7ar in
7oei"al "oness. Al'oug' 'e did no !a-e a 'ig' grade in
7oer2, 'e 7oes a77re"iaed 'is 9era"i2 o) 'e Arabi"
language, bo' s7o-en and wrien. On !an2 o""asions 'e was
ele"ed o @udge 7oei" "oness 7ari"ularl2 in na!ing 'e 7oe
o) 'e 2ear. ='a U!ar did no li-e in 7oer2 was 'e 'abi o)
'e 7oes beliling wo!enCs digni2. Besides wresling, U!ar
'ad alread2 learn o a!e, "onrol and ride a "a!el o) single
'u!7 or double 'u!7s. He 'en urned o 'orse riding. =i'in
a )ew !on's a)er su))ering a )ew u!bles, 'e enered
riu!7'anl2 ino "o!7eii9e riding. His s7or was !ore o
win 'an o @us 7la2. I) 'e did no win 'e would burs ino a
<ui"- e!7er and be"o!e i!7euous, e9en 9iolen, i) 'ig'l2
7ro9o-ed. T'is downside in 'is "'ara"er earned 'i! <uie a
)ew ene!ies, w'o soon dis"o9ered 'a, o "'allenge or
7ro9o-e U!ar, one s'ould be ei'er eAraordinaril2 bra9e or
)ool'ard2. U!ar )ound i di))i"ul o )orge and )orgi9e and
"ould be eAre!el2 9enge)ul. He would )ig' bierl2 )or w'a
'e "onsrued as @usi"e and 'aed in@usi"e in all is disguises
and was eAre!el2 lo2al o 'is )a!il2, 'is "lan, 'is ribe, 'is
0
3'alid bin =alid was U!arCs )irs "ousin )ro! 'is !o'erCs side. 3'alid laer
be"a!e a grea "o!!ander w'o ser9ed under Mu'a!!ad .7bu'/, Abu Ba-r and
U!ar.
an"esors and 'eir idols. T'ese idols a 3aaba' were sa"red o
'i! and 'e would )ig' o sa)eguard 'eir san"i2.
T'us, as a 2oung !an, U!ar was !ore 'an siA )ee all,
awn2 "o!7leAion, ra'er a s!all beard and a srong !us"ular
bod2. He was a alened 'orse!an, a swords!an, an ar"'er and
a "'a!7ion wresler. Inelle"uall2, an oraor wi' an elo<uen
r'eori", a genealogis, an arbiraor and a @udge. As a !an,
)ree, @us and u7rig', !orall2 "ool, -ind o wo!en and
"'ildren, 7ari"ularl2 widows.
*o doub 'is 7arenal u7bringing !ade 'i! a wellG
balan"ed 7erson. His !o'er ga9e 'i! un"ondiional lo9e,
w'i"' ga9e 'i! inner se"uri2, and 'is )a'erCs dis"i7lined
raining ga9e U!ar an a!biion and all 'e re<uired was a
argeK a "'allenge in 'is li)e. Un)orunael2, 'e 'ad a blind
s7o )or s7iriuali2. ;or U!ar, 'e bu"- so77ed a 'is idolsK
no'ing be2ond 'is idols. T'a indeed was 'is !indse. Hen"e,
'e be"a!e )urious a Mu'a!!adCs ea"'ings .7bu'/, One
>od, 'e da2 o) @udge!en and 'e Herea)er. T'us 'e began o
su77or 'is !aernal un"le. Abu Ea'al
%
, an ar"'Gene!2 o) 'e
Pro7'e .7bu'/. U!ar was now +, 2ears o) age. ?e wi'in en
2ears, 'is "'ange o) dire"ion, 'is i!7li"i de9oion o 'e
Pro7'e .7bu'/, 'e IurCan and Isla!, would asound e9er2one
in"luding 'i!sel).
%
Abu Ea'al, also a !aernal un"le o) Mu'a!!ad .7bu'/, a leader o) 'e Iurais'
and a grea idol wors'i77er.
Cha(%er T#o
A um'le "eader
T'e !on' was *o9e!ber and 'e 2ear (&( CE. T'e all, bon2
)igure e!erged )ro! 'e !os<ue in 'e earl2 'ours o) 'e
!orning. T'e bluis' dawn lig' did lile o illu!inae 'is
)eaures, w'i"' were alread2 'idden b2 a 'in !uslin s"ar),
s"an 7roe"ion agains 'e "'ill wind. He wal-ed bris-l2, 'is
dar- brown e2es )o"used on silen srees a'ead, li-e a long
disan"e runner, de9oid o) eA7ression bu burning wi'
7ur7ose. ;inall2 'e rea"'ed 'e ous-irs o) Madina', 'e
"a7ial "i2 o) 'e )irs Isla!i" sae )ounded b2 'e Pro7'e
Mu'a!!ad .7bu'/ in (++ CE. He 7aused bra"ing 'i!sel)
agains 'e s'ar7 *o9e!ber wind sra)ing 'e Arabian
Peninsula s7ra2ing sand and sones li-e bulles 4 an e"'o o)
'e )uure. He sraig'ened u7 agains 'e ele!ens as 'e
a77roa"'ed an inerse"ion w'ere 'e road di9ided ino wo.
One ra"- on 'e le) 'eaded owards Eerusale!, 'e o'er
owards Persia. He oo- 'e rig' )or- and wal-ed a )ur'er wo
!iles unil 'e "a!e o a "ara9an roue used b2 !er"'ans, 'eir
"a!els sa"-ed 'ig' wi' s7i"es, 7er)u!es, daes, )igs in
rosewaer s2ru7, enGroue o S2ria. ;or a !o!en 'e re)le"ed
on 'is own da2s, ra9elling wi' 'is "a!el laden wi' 'e )ines
sil- in all Meso7oa!ia, B2:anine, indeed Persia isel).
His 'oug's wandered a"ross 'e 2ears, 'ow )ar 'eCd
"o!e 4 and 'ow !u"' )ar'er 'is @ourne2 would a-e 'i!. He
so77ed b2 a grou7 o) ro"-s, gliering as 'e )irs ra2s o) 'e
sun "re7 ou a"ross 'e 'ori:on. He sa on 'e larges ro"-. His
!o9e!ens were )luidK deliberae and gra"e)ul. Re!o9ing 'is
s"ar), 'e wi7ed i a"ross 'e a<uiline, Se!ii" )eaures 'a
"'ara"erised bo' 'e Eews and Arabs o) 'e regions. I) 'e
in'abians o) 'e s!all grou7 o) "la2 'ouses "lusered oge'er
a"ross 'e road 'ad been awa-e, 'e2 would 'a9e seen 'e
arri9al o) 'e unusuall2 all !an w'o 'ad s7en 'e las )i9e
da2s 7er"'ed on 'e sa!e ro"-, dar- inelligen e2es
"oninuall2 s"anning 'e 'ori:on. Suddenl2 a )igure a77eared
on a "a!el, ad9an"ing owards 'e "i2.
T'e !an greeed 'e rider and eagerl2 "ried ou, 5AsG
Sala! Alei-u!J6 .Pea"e be wi' 2ou/.
T'e "a!el riderCs bla"- urban w'i77ed round 'is )a"e as
'e a77roa"'ed.
His long uni" and bagg2 7ans were gre2 wi' deser dus,
and around 'is wais 'e wore a large lea'er bel )ro! w'i"'
'ung a worn ou s"abbard, !oled wi' "ongealed blood,
"on"ealing a "res"en s'a7ed sword. His )ee were bare, 'is
)a"e was broad and 'e s7ored a 'i"-, bu neal2 ri!!ed,
bla"- beard abou a )is in leng' )ro! 'is "'in. On bo' sides
o) 'is ne"- and on one o) 'is "'ee-s were re"en wounds, sill
un'ealed, 2e o be"o!e bale s"ars. T'e 2oung "a!el rider
reurned 'e greeing wi' "uso!ar2 7olieness.
5=a Alei-u! Salaa!6, 'e old 'e sranger .Pea"e be
u7on 2ou/, bu 'e urged 'is "a!el onwards 7aienl2.
T'e all !an, undeerred, ran along be'ind 'i!,
sur7risingl2 a'lei", 'e s'rouded )igure was no 'a o) an
elder, bu a )i !iddle aged !an. He s'oued as 'e ran
alongside 'e rider.
5Ha9e 2ou "o!e )ro! 'e bale )ronM6
T'e rider nodded, be!used b2 'e eA"ied eA7ression on
'e all srangerCs )a"e.
5?es, I 'a9e been o Iadisi22a.6
(

A )or!er srong'old o) 'e Persians in Ira< was now
wi'in 'e gras7 o) 'e Musli! ar!ies. I was 'e beginning o)
'e end o) 'e Persian E!7ire. ;our 'undred 2ears o) absolue
do!inaion b2 'e Sassanid d2nas2 was now under 'rea.
T'eir !os )eared and 'aed ene!2 Cali7' U!ar, 'e 'ead o)
'e Isla!i" sae o) Madina', 'ad a"'ie9ed 'e i!7ossible. His
ar!ies 'ad de)eaed 'e, unil now, in9in"ible Persians.
(
Iadisi22a is abou +, !iles sou' wes o) Hira on 'e ban-s o) ri9er Eu7'raes
and near 'e )uure "i2 o) AlG*a@a) in Ira<. .See deails o) 'e bale o) Iadisi22a
in A77endiA #/
T'e rider urged 'is "a!el on, eager o rea"' 'e Pro7'eCs
!os<ue in 'e "enre o) 'e "i2 w'ere 'e "ali7' would be
waiing.
T'e all !an "oninued o run be'ind 'e "a!el rider,
s'ouing !ore <uesionsF 5=ere 'ere !an2 "asualiesM6
T'is i!e 'e rider ignored 'i!. T'ere was no i!e o
wase. Bu 'e !an ran on be'ind 'i!. As 'e rider was abou
o answer, a grou7 o) elders a77roa"'ed, <ui"-l2 surrounding
'e!.
T'e )irs o s7ea- was a large "or7ulen !an w'o ad9an"ed
wi' 'is 'ands 'eld ou as i) in 7ra2er and eA"lai!ed, 5AsG
Salaa! Alei-u! A!iral Mu!inin6 .Pea"e be on ?ou 4
Co!!ander o) 'e ;ai')ul/.
T'e rider grew 7ale as 'e wa"'ed 'e all, sweaing !an
gree 'e "i2 )ol- wi' 'e sa!e broad s!ile 'e 'ad used as 'e
ran alongside 'i!.
Suddenl2 'e -new. He dis!ouned 'is "a!el, al!os
)alling in 'is 'ase. T'e riderCs brea' was s'or as 'e
"on)roned 'e !an 4 U!ar, 'e Cali7' 'i!sel) 4 'e !an w'o
was o be"o!e a legend. A !an w'o o77led e!7ires, a
!iliar2 sraegis w'ose brillian"e was ri9alled b2 AleAander
'e >rea, a !an w'ose ru'lessness was !a"'ed onl2 b2 'is
wisdo!, a !an w'o ins7ired absolue de9oion and dedi"aion
o 'e "ause o) Isla!, 'is aweGins7iring 2e asonis'ingl2
'u!ble )igure. T'e sunned soldier )ell o 'is -nees. How
"ould 'e 'a9e insuled 'e "ali7' soM How "ould 'e 'a9e been
so blindM
>ras7ing 'e "ali7'Cs slender )ingers in 'is own 'e
i!7loredF 5='2 did 2ou no ell !e w'o 2ou areM6
T'e "ali7' e!bra"ed 'e re!bling 2oung !an, and
besowed on 'i! 'e sa!e, wide swee s!ile.
5?es, I did no announ"e !2sel),6 'e ad!ied. 5Bu )irs I
waned o 'ear 'e news and, se"ondl2, I did no wan o s7oil
2our !o!en, 'e 7assion and inoAi"aion o) 2our 9i"or2.
*ow go, s7read 'e news.6
T'e riderCs e!barrass!en urned o wonder 4 'ow "ould
'is genle !an be 'e !os 7ower)ul, )eared )igure in 'e
Musli! world.
=i'ou wasing a se"ond 'e did 'e "ali7'Cs bidding, wi'
greaer urgen"2 and @o2 'an 'e 'ad e9er eA7erien"ed in 'is
li)e.
T'e "ali7' s!iled 'is rade!ar- oo'2 grin on"e again as
'e wa"'ed 'e 2oung warrior s'ou 'e news o) 'e 9i"or2 o
'e roo) o7s o) Madina'.
5Praise be o Alla'. He 'as graned 9i"or2 o us Musli!s
a 'e bale o) Iadisi22a. Alla'oGA-bar. >od is grea.6
T'e "ali7' <uiel2 wal-ed ino 'e !os<ue w'i"' was now
"rowded wi' wors'i77ers.
Inside 'e 'urried o 'e "ra"-ed, sone )ounain w'ere 'e
<ui"-l2 was'ed 'is )a"e, 'ands and )ee. T'e "ongregaion
waied )or 'i! o lead 'e 7ra2ers. T'en 'e 7rosraed 'i!sel)
in 'an-sgi9ing o 'is one and onl2 >od, Alla'.