Assignment # 1

Topic: Administration and Reforms in the Era of

Hazrat Umer Farooq.

Supervisor: Sir Amir Jawad Munir

Prepared By:

HAMZA USMAN
HAFIZ MUHAMMAD WASEEM IQBAL
BAKHTAWAR AHMED
WASMIA ZAFAR
MOHAMMAD FAZEEL ASHRAF
Brief History of Hazrat Umer

Hazrat Umer, son of Khattab, was born in Makkah twelve or thirteen years after
the birth of Holy Prophet. Hazrat Umer Was very learned, intelligent and studious.
He was a poet and a very good orator. Among the Quraish of Makkah, Hazrat Umer
was a very influential and powerful person.

In 6th year of prophet hood Holy Prophet prayed to Allah to strengthen Islam by
giving him Umer. One day Umer set out from his house with intention to kill Holy
Prophet. On the way, he was informed that his sister and her husband has
embraced Islam. Umer changed his course and went straight to his sister’s house,
who was reading Quran loudly when Hazrat Umer reached. This enraged him so
much that he attacked his sister and her husband. On Hazrat Umar’s insistence his
sister recited some verses from Surah TAHA. Those words of Holy Quran softened
his heart and tears began to fall from his eyes. He then proceeded to Holy Prophets
house and embraced Islam in front of Holy Prophet. His Conversion was an
immense value to Islam. From that day small number of people who had embraced
became bold enough to pray openly in MAKKAH. After his conversion, Hazrat Umer
too became the target of enmity and persecution of pagans. He migrated to
MADINAH shortly before Holy Prophet’s own hijrat. He took part in all major battles
fought in life time of Holy Prophet.

After the demise of Holy Prophet, he accompanied Hazrat Abu Bakr to the council
Hall where the people of Madinah were assembled to select their future leader. He
was the first to swear allegiance to Hazrat Abu Bakr and throughout his Khilafat he
remained his friend and advisor.

BS Public Administration (1st Semester)

Nomination as Khalifa:
Hazrat Umer became the second Khalifa of Islam on 22nd of Jamadi-uth-Thani 13
A.H. (23rd Aug. 634 A.C.) after the death of Hazrat Abu Bakr in accordance to his
will. All the eminent companions of Holy Prophet pled allegiance to him. On
assuming Khilafat, he came to be known as Ameer-ul-Momineen.
After the assumption of office as the Caliph, Umar addressed the Muslims who
had assembled in the Prophet's mosque. In the course of the address, Umar
said:
"O ye faithful! Abu Bakr is no more amongst us. After having led us for about
two years, he has returned to His Maker. He has the satisfaction that he has
successfully piloted the ship of the Muslim state to safety after negotiating
the stormy sea. He successfully waged the apostasy wars, and thanks to him,
Islam is now supreme in Arabia. Islam is now on the move and we are carrying
Jihad in the name of Allah against the mighty empires of Byzantine and Persia.
In the performance of my duties, I will seek guidance from the Holy Book, and
will follow the examples set by the Holy Prophet and Abu Bakr. In this task I
seek your assistance. If I follow the right path, follow me. If I deviate from the
right path, correct me so that we are not led astray.”

BS Public Administration (1st Semester)

 As an Administrator or Caliph.

Hazrat Umer not only conquered a vast empire during his 10 years of khilafat but
also consolidated it by an effective system of administration. As an administrator,
he remained a model for all great rulers who followed him. Justice Syed Ameer Ali
says “During the thirty years the Republic lasted, the policy derived its character
chiefly from Umer both during his lifetime and after his death. Hazrat Umer proved
to be a great Leader due his reforms and administrative decisions.

Reforms of Hazrat Umer.

Self-Responsibility:
Hazrat Umer knew his responsibilities very well, he did not call himself a ruler but
servant of common people. He never wanted to become a Khalifa and once he said
that he is holding this post because Hazrat Abu Bakr wanted him to do so. By his
own example Hazrat Umer set the example for the head of the state to be the most
humble servant of the common man. Once few camels ran away in the desert and
he himself went to look for them, A companion asked him that he should have given
this task to slave, on this Hazrat Umer replied:
“Am I not the most humble of all the slaves. “
Once he said that:
“Umer will be held responsible if a dog at the bank of Dajlah dies of hunger. “

BS Public Administration (1st Semester)

Accountability:
This is a well-known quote that, Charity begins at home, Hazrat Umer was a perfect
example of this quote. He inflicted double punishment of drinking wine on his son.
He was extremely vigilant and harsh about the appointment of the governors. Every
important office holder the state had to submit the list of his property, at the time
of his appointment and at the time of leaving the office.
Every Governor had to take oath on four things before he would assume his duties:
 He will not ride a Turkish Horse.
 He will not wear thin and delicate cloth.
 He will not use refined cloth.
 He will not set a gatekeeper at his door.
 He will not use refined wheat.

Hazrat Umar was first to establish a special department for the investigation of
complaints against the officers of the State. This department acted
as Administrative court, where the legal proceedings were personally led by Umar.
The Department was under the charge of Muhammad ibn Maslamah, one of
Umar's most trusted men. In important cases Muhammad ibn Maslamah was
deputed by Hazrat Umar to proceed to the spot, investigate the charge and take
action. Sometimes an Inquiry Commission was constituted to investigate the
charge. On occasions the officers against whom complaints were received were
summoned to Medina, and charged in Hazrat Umar's administrative court. Hazrat
Umar was known for this intelligence service through which he made his officials
accountable. This service was also said to have inspired fear in his subjects. On
discovery of any scandal on the part of any official, an investigation through a
special department of accountability headed by Muhammad ibn Maslamah would
be carried out and if the official would prove guilty he was immediately deposed
from his office and his punishment was vary from publicly humiliating punishments
to flogging. Before appointment, all financial assets and details of the political
officer used to be recorded and were checked each year.

BS Public Administration (1st Semester)

MILITARY:
Hazrat Umar organized the army as a State department. This reform was
introduced in 637 A.D. A beginning was made with the Quraish and the Ansars and
the system was gradually extended to the whole of Arabia and to Muslims of
conquered lands. A register of all adults who could be called to war was prepared,
and a scale of salaries was fixed. All men registered were liable to military service.
They were divided into two categories, namely:

1. Those who formed the regular standing army; and

2. Those that lived in their homes, but were liable to be called to the colors
whenever needed.
The pay was paid in the beginning of the month of Muharram. The allowances were
paid during the harvesting season. The armies of the Caliphs were mostly paid in
cash salaries. In contrast to many post-Roman polities in Europe, grants of land, or
of rights to collect taxes directly from the payers, were of only minor importance.
A major consequence of this was that the army directly depended on the state for
its subsistence which, in turn, meant that the military had to control the state
apparatus.
Promotions in the army were made on the strength of the length of service or
exceptional merit. Officership was an appointment and not a rank. Officers were
appointed to command for the battle or the campaign; and once the operation was
concluded, they could well find themselves in the ranks again. Leave of absence
was given to army men at regular intervals. The troops stationed at far off places
were given leave after four months. Each army corps was accompanied by an
officer of the treasury, an Accountant, a Qazi, and a number of interpreters besides
a number of Physicians and Surgeons. Expeditions were undertaken according to
seasons. Expeditions in cold countries were undertaken during the summer, and in
hot countries in winter. Hazrat Umar established military cantonments on strategic
positions throughout the empire to deal with any emergency efficiently and
quickly. The garrison towns of Kufa, Busra and Fustat were founded by Hazrat
Umar.

BS Public Administration (1st Semester)

Judicial:
Hazrat Umar stressed the independence of the judiciary and declared it a sovereign
state organ that could proceed without any pressure of state. No one was exempt
from the law, not even the Caliph himself. During early years of his rule he also
acted as a chief justice of Madinah but later due to increasing burden of work he
was left with no option but to assign his office to some other person, he accordingly
appointed Abu Dardah, a well-known Sahabi, though he didn't resign completely
from the office and Abu Dardah only acted as his secondary.

Hazrat Umar was very keen in appointing QAZIS (Islamic term for Chief Justice). To
all the major provincial cities, Umar would personally appointed judges. Hazrat
Umar entrusted the office of justice only to those selected persons who could fulfill
his criteria for this office, some of which are as follow:

1. Must be well reputed for his morals, modesty, and interpersonal relations.
2. Must be intelligent, and astute in judicial decisions and enjoy his own
personal view regarding all social issues that could enable them in the
formulation of precedent or case law.
3. He must be highly qualified in FIQH.
4. Must be socially a powerful and influential personality so that he might not
come under pressure of any powerful perpetrator.
Appointment of judges in districts and small towns were made by his appointed
provincial Wāli (Governors).
Hazrat Umar appointed judges with very high salaries and for lifelong tenure this
as in modern times, was to make sure that judges could not be drawn to wards
bribery and a non-prejudice and unbiased verdicts could be reach. Hazrat Umar
also held that in the court the Judge should not be praised and that all acts should
be judged according to the test of public interest. He also gave a general law that
any act which did not harm anyone and was otherwise not forbidden under law
was permissible.

BS Public Administration (1st Semester)

Public Treasury:

The revenue of the state was deposited into the Bait-al-Mal (Public Treasury).
Abdullah-bin-Arqam was appointed the Chief Officer of this department. He was
directed to increase the production, and the welfare of the peasantry and people
at large.

The main sources of revenue were:

1. Zakat – 2.5% of wealth for the poor. This was only applicable on Muslims.
2. Jizya - defence tax paid by non-Muslims living on Muslim lands (dhimmis).
However, the poor, the sick and crippled, women, children, aged, priests, and
monks were exempted from this.
3. Ushr – a special land tax on especially large holdings. (One tenth of produce)
4. Khiraj – a land tax
5. Ghanimah - one-fifth of the war booty
6. A tax on non-Muslim merchants and traders (because they didn’t pay Zakat,
while Muslim traders did)

From the Bait-al-Mal, spending was made for the welfare of the people as well as
for the poor and needy. The weak and disabled, both Muslims and non-Muslims,
were granted allowances. A person who became an invalid or too old to earn his
living received maintenance allowance from the Bait-al-Mal.

Children without guardians were brought up at state expense. When there was
famine, the Caliph, himself, worked day and night to provide food to the starving
people. He used to go out in the night and visit various places to make sure that
everybody was content.

The canals for irrigation purposes were also built from the public revenue. During
Hazrat Umer’s reign a canal was made which joined the Nile to the Red Sea. This
canal facilitated transport of grains from Egypt to the Arabian Peninsula.

Hazrat Umer also gave freedom of religion to the Jews and Christians living in the
Muslim Empire. He allowed them to stay there if they so wished and nobody
could interfere in their religious affairs. To those who desired to migrate he
ensured a safe journey up to the borders. Hazrat Umer also gave compensation
for their properties and other facilities.

BS Public Administration (1st Semester)

Provincial Administration:

For smooth running of the state the Empire was divided into various provinces:

1. Hijaz with Makkah as the capital

2. Syria with Damascus as the capital
3. Iran with Basrah as the capital
4. Iraq with Kufa as the capital
5. Egypt with Fustat as the capital
6. Palestine with Jerusalem as the capital
7. Jazirah (Mesopotamia) with Hims (Homs) as the capital
8. The central province of Arabia with Madinah as the capital

Following was the hierarchy during the reign of Hazrat Umer.

CALIPH

STATE

GOVERNOR

PROVINCE

WALI

DISTRICT

BS Public Administration (1st Semester)

The title of a Provincial Governor was “Wali”. As well as being the chief
administrator of his province, the Wali was also the religious leader being well-
versed in religion. In each province there were usually the following officers besides
the governor: The treasury officer (Sahib Bait-al Maal), the revenue collector
(Sahib Kharaj), the chief police officer (Sahib Ahadath), and the judge (Qazi).The
provinces were divided into districts. Each district was administrated by an officer
called ‘Amil’. All the governors and the high officers of the provinces were called to
Makkah every year on the occasion of Hajj when Muslims from the entire area
gathered there. Complaints against the governors were recorded by the Caliph and
incompetent governors were removed from office.

Hazrat Umer also laid great stress on knowledge and learning. He made Islamic
education compulsory for everyone, both male and female. Thus, he was the first
person to introduce compulsory education. Education was also free for everyone
and a number of schools were built in cities and towns for public instructions.

Conclusion:

To sum up, Hazrat Umer is one of those extraordinary personalities who made
history. His brilliant conquest, his benevolent administration, his far reaching
reforms and the integrity of his character mark him as one of the greatest men of
all times.

BS Public Administration (1st Semester)

BS Public Administration (1st Semester)