Transcript TILT - Minaret College

Ideal Islamic Society
How ‘Umar bin ‘Abdul ‘Aziz established
an ideal Islamic Society.
By Sadiah Faray, Zuwairah Baba and Hawa Tufa
VCE Religion and Society Presentation – 2003
Teacher: Mr Salifu Baba
CONTENTS

Background

Education and Achievements

Period before ‘Umar’s Caliphate

Period of ‘Umar’s Caliphate

Revival of Islam
BACKGROUND

Born approximately 50 years after Prophet
Muhammed (SAW)’s death

His mother was the grand daughter of Hadhrat
‘Umar ibn al-Khattab (the 2nd Caliph)

Born of a royal family, father was an important
figure in the Egyptian provinces

Earning 50 000 pounds annually
BACKGROUND

‘Umar lived like a grandee

His food, dress and habits were that of
a prince’s

His lifestyle at the time did not hint any
of the tasks he would undertake in his
later years
EDUCATION
AND ACHIEVEMENTS

Training in Hadith and Fiqh

First-rate Muhaddith

Authority on Fiqh
What impelled ‘Umar to act

‘Umar was confronted with obstacles
of un-Islam brought about by his own
immediate family elders

A general moral degeneration had set
in all the Muslim countries involving all
classes of society.
What impelled ‘Umar to act

The collective life of the people did not bear
any impression of the guidance of the
Qur’an and the Sunnah

The lives of luxury led by the ruling few and
greed had caused many people a grave
economic set-back and the levying of undue
taxes had made their lives all the more
miserable.
What impelled ‘Umar to act

Such were the conditions when
‘Umar iinherited the throne when
he was 37 years old.
‘UMAR’S CHALIPHATE
Processes involved in
establishing an ideal
Islamic society by “Umar
ibn Abdul Aziz

‘UMAR’S CHALIPHATE

He declared that people were not bound,
but free to elect anybody they pleased as
their Caliph.

The people were only willing to elect him as
their leader

Straight away he dismissed the false ruling
pride, court practices of worldly kings and
pledged himself to a simple life of a Caliph
‘UMAR’S CHALIPHATE

Levelled the royal household to that of the
common Muslims

All estates in the possession of the royal
family, including his own, were returned to
the public treasury

Unlawfully seized property was returned to
their rightful owners
‘UMAR’S CHALIPHATE

Umar’s annual income of 50 000 pounds
was reduced to 200 pounds

He rejected all monetary reward for his
services as Caliph

After setting the house hold affairs in order,
he turned to reform the government system
‘UMAR’S CHALIPHATE

He removed unjust governors and launched
a search for righteous men to replace them

Obliged all despotic government officials to
adhere to justice and peace

He abolished all unlawful taxes and reorganised the system of collecting Zakat
‘UMAR’S CHALIPHATE

Granted non-Muslims their rights and
privileges under the Shari’ah

He enforced the Islamic principles of equity
and fair-paly over the shadows of the unjust
royal influence

He revived the true spirit of practising the
Shari'ah
‘UMAR’S CHALIPHATE

Arranged for education of the masses

Drew attention to Qur'an sciences, Hadith
and Fiqh

As a result, he succeeded in generating a
powerful intellectual movement and
eventually produced the four great Imams
‘UMAR’S CHALIPHATE

He enforced total prohibition and
discouraged all ease-loving tendencies left
from the rule of the monarch
Thus he achieved the purpose for which
Islam endeavours to establish its rule:
“When we give them authority in the earth, they
strive to establish Salat, make arrangements
for the collection of Zakat, enforce good and
forbid evil.” (22:41)

‘UMAR’S CHALIPHATE
‘It is related that during the reign of
Waleed, people would meet and talk
about buildings and gardens, under
Sulaiman bin Abdul Malik their main
interest was sex, but when ‘Umar bin
‘Abdul ‘Aziz became Caliph, conditions
quickly changed and Salat, Fasting
and the Quran became the popular
subjects for conversation.’
‘UMAR’S CHALIPHATE

Non-Muslims were so impressed that
they embraced Islam in thousands

Even the neighbouring non-Muslims
willingly embraced Islam

In those days, the Roman Empire was
at arms with Islam for a century or so
‘UMAR’S CHALIPHATE
Even they (Romans) were so impressed
with the high morality displayed by ‘Umar
that when ‘Umar died the Roman Emperor is
reported to have said:
“I should not be the least surprised if a monk
renounces the world and busies himself in
worship behind closed doors. But I am
simply amazed at this man who had a vast
empire at his feet, but he rejected it and
lived the life of a monk”

‘UMAR’S CHALIPHATE

‘Umar ibn ‘Abdul ‘Aziz was the first Mujaddid
of Islam and did work for more than two and
a half years to revolutionise life in all its
various aspects

The Umayyads felt threatened by this man
that they conspired against him to his death
by poisoning him at the young age of 39
‘UMAR’S CHALIPHATE



He cleansed the social life of the Muslims of
the evil influence left by the Umayyads and
prepared them morally and intellectually to
burden the responsibilities of leadership and
revival,
‘Umar covered every aspect in reviving
Islam,
However he remained deficient in one area:
he could not abolish monarchy.
GROUP WORK
1.
2.
3.
Identify and discuss the features of an
ideal school.
Can Minaret College be turned into an
ideal Islamic school? If “yes”, please
go to the next question. If your
answer is “no”, please explain why.
What are the processes involved in
establishing such a school?