Taking advantage of statement from 'Rainmaker' i will write a little about Umar (may Allah be pleasd with him). This is based on sunni recorded history.
The book 'Sword of Allah' on Khalid bin Walid.... tells that Umar was muslim # 40. He was the second caliph for muslims and he was the leader for muslims for 10 years. 'M. Hart' (i believe) rates Umar at 52 among history's all time most influential people.
The first caliph for muslims was Abu Bakr.
The second caliph for muslims was Umar.
The third caliph for muslims was Usman.
The fourth caliph for muslims was Ali.
All elected without power struggle. May Allah bless them all.
Of the 4 caliphs Umar had a strong personailty while the other three were very lean.
When Abu Bakr (before dieing) nominated Umar to succeed him. Some did object saying that Umar was allready too harsh... and once he becomes the caliph, there would be no one to control him. but Abu Bakr, knowing Umar better and after more consulation did nominate Umar.
Ali (may Allah bless him) supported him instantly, even though he too had strong claim to caliphate.
What effects did it have on Umar...? here is an extract taken from the same book above
''Umar was no longer the harsh, impetuous, hot-tempered man that he had once been. With the burdens of the caliphate on his shoulders, he had mellowed and grown more patient. He was still stern and puritanical, but he imposed no burden upon others which he did not carry himself. He was strict with the strong, kind to the weak, generous to widows and orphans. He sat with the poor and often spent the night sleeping on the steps of the mosque. At night he would walk the streets of Medina with a whip in his hand, and Umar's whip was feared more than the sword of another man. He lived on salted barley bread, dry dates and olive oil, and allowed no better fare to his family. His clothes were made of the poorest material, patched in many places. Unshakeable in his resolve to do justice, he had his own son, Ubaidullah, whipped for drinking''.
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I have more to say but since this is a question answer area.... i will come to that as well.
Upon the death of Umar:
Once the Holy Prophet saw in a dream that he was drawing water from a well. Then he stepped aside and asked Abu Bakr to draw water. Abu Bakr was able to draw two buckets only. While drawing the third bucket, he felt exhausted and stepped aside. Then Umar took the job, and he completed ten rounds. The Holy Prophet interpreted the dream to signify that after his death, Khilafat would vest in Abu Bakr, who would hold the office for two years and a few months. Thereafter Umar would succeed him, and his term of office would be ten years. When Umar assumed office as Caliph, he had the conviction that he would die after ten years.
In the time of Abu Bakr, Auf bin Malik Al-Shajjai a prominent companion had a dream in which it was indicated to him by an unknown power that Umar was to be conspicuous for three things: firstly, that he would be a pillar of strength for Islam; secondly, that he would be the Caliph; and thirdly, that he would die the death of a martyr. When the dream was narrated to Umar in the time of Abu Bakr, Umar silenced Auf bin Malik saying "May Abu Bakr live long; do not talk of the caliphate of any one else. "When Abu Bakr died and Umar became the Caliph, he asked Auf bin Malik to narrate his dream. After hearing the dream, Umar said, "How can I get martyrdom when I stay in Madina. But then Umar recalled that the Holy Prophet himself on more than one occasion had referred to him as 'Shahid'. He, therefore, felt that he might be blessed with martyrdom even in Madina.
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He was indeed killed by a non muslim while praying in the mosque.
Umar On Death Bed
From the mosque Omar was carried home. When he regained consciousness he asked who was his murderer. He was told that his murderer was the Persian slave Firoz. Thereupon Omar said, "Praise be to Allah that I have not been murdered by a Muslim".
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NOW THE QUESTION:
While he was dieing people asked him to nominate a successor ?
WHAT WAS ONE OF THE ADVISE GIVEN TO HIM ?
WHO WAS HIS FIRST CHOICE ?
WHAT DID HE DECIDE EVENTUALLY & THE BASIS FOR IT ?
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Sorry for taking more space... but like i said taking advantage of the statement from 'Rainmaker'. Lets see how easy would this be on google !
