Umar bin Al-Khattab (R) The Second Caliph of Islam

'Umar bin Al-Khattab رضي الله عنه is one of the greatest Companions of the Prophet ﷺ and the second Caliph of Islam. He was so firm and clear-sighted in his practice of the religion that on several occasions he saw what was right before revelation confirmed it, and the Qur'an came down agreeing with what he had said.

He is remembered above everything else for justice. The state he governed stretched from Egypt to Persia, and he ran it while sleeping under a tree and owning almost nothing. He used to tell his companions: if a mule stumbles near the Euphrates, I fear being questioned by Allah as to why I had not paved the road for it. That is not a figure of speech — he genuinely believed he would be asked.

This book sheds light on his life and his struggle, and on the standard of justice he set. We should follow in his footsteps to maintain justice in every part of our own lives.

About the Golden Series

The Golden Series of the Prophet's Companions tells the life of one Companion per book, in language written for young readers and for families reading together. Each account is drawn from authentic Islamic sources and told as a story rather than a lesson — which is why children finish them.

The series works well for Islamic schools and weekend academies, for home libraries, and as a reading reward or gift. Because each title stands alone, a family can start anywhere and collect the rest over time.

More in the Golden Series

Each title in the series covers one Companion in the same short, readable format. Eighteen are currently available:

• Salman Al-Farisi — In Quest of Truth
• Abu Dhar Al-Gifari — Struggle for Equality
• Abdullah bin 'Umar — The Jurist
• 'Amr bin Al-'Aas — The Conqueror of Egypt
• Abu Bakr As-Siddiq — The First Caliph
• 'Ali bin Abi Talib — The Fourth Caliph
• Abu 'Ubaidah bin Al-Jarrah — The Nation's Trustworthy
• Az-Zubair bin Al-'Awwam — The Disciple
• Khabbab bin Al-Aratt — The Teacher
• 'Uthman bin 'Affan — The Third Caliph
• Bilal bin Rabah — The Mu'adhdhin
• Jabir bin Abdullah — The Example of Sacrifice
• Khalid bin Al-Waleed — The Sword of Allah
• Sa'd bin Abi Waqqas — The Lion in the Deen
• Sa'd bin Mu'adh — The True Supporter of Islam
• Suhaib Ar-Roomi — The Example of Sacrifice
• Talhah bin 'Ubaidullah — The Living Martyr

Related Reading

• Heroes of Islam — over 70 short biographies in a single volume
• Commanders of the Muslim Army — the commanders of the early Muslim armies
• Q&A on the Rightly Guided Caliphs — the four caliphs in question-and-answer form