Two and a half years is not long to govern anything. 'Umar ibn Abdul Azeez used them to restore justice, protect the rights of the oppressed, eliminate corruption, enforce honesty in public office and revive the Prophetic model of leadership — and he is still cited as the standard fourteen centuries later.
His governance became a demonstration that Islamic principles can produce a society built on fairness, compassion, accountability and fear of Allah. His policies benefited Muslims and non-Muslims alike, which is one of the reasons his era is among the most admired in Islamic history.
Rather than a chronological biography, this book gathers meaningful incidents, wise sayings, personal experiences and memorable events that reveal his character — each chosen to encourage the practical application of Islamic values rather than simply to be admired.
What tends to stay with readers is the personal side. A man born into privilege and married into the ruling family who gave up the privileges of his office, returned property that had been wrongly taken including his own family's, and lived on almost nothing while governing an empire.
How the Series Reads
Each story stands on its own, so a reader takes one at a time rather than committing to a continuous narrative. That suits reading aloud at home, classroom use, and picking the book up for ten minutes — and it is printed in full color, which is a large part of why children will sit with it.
More in the Golden Series
Abdul Malik Mujahid's full-color series covers one subject per volume, each written to be picked up and put down. Also available:
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