History > 0-1899 > Assassination of Omar

Religion > Islam > Assassination of Omar

The Assassination of Omar son of Alkhatab,

the Second Enlightened Caliph

By Dhia Younis

August 21, 2009

Omar was assassinated by Abu Lu’lu’eh Firoz (AKA Piruzan) while the former was praying in a masjid (a place of worship) with other Muslims on the 3^rd of November 644 CE (24^th Dhi Elhija 23 Hijri). This happened to be on a Wednesday and in the city of Medina (in mod. Saudia Arabia).1 The weapon used was a double bladed dagger, and after the assassin fatally wounded the Caliph he proceeded to attack other Muslims and ended up killing another 9 men. He then committed suicide. The dagger was allegedly poisoned and could explain the large number of deaths. Abu Lu’lu’eh was the man slave of Almagheera son of Shu’beh, who was a politically active personage at the time (governor of Basra).2

The background of Abu Lu’lu’eh would be that of a Persian male slave captured during the conquest of Nahawand (in Persia). He was a skilled carpenter, blacksmith and engraver as per Almagheera. He apparently hated Omar and the Arabs as a result of this conquest, and hence his action. It has also been recorded that Abu Lu’lu’eh had presented to Omar a grievance against his master, as reportedly Almagheera son of Shu’beh, was exploiting Abu Lu’lu’eh excessively and sought remediation from the Caliph. The Caliph apparently didn’t appease Abu Lu’lu’eh. This may have been another factor in Abu Lu’lu’eh’s premeditation. 3

There were reports which pointed to the assassination having been a conspiracy. Allegedly the instigation of Abu Lu'lu'eh was by a captured Persian commander named Hormuzan (who actually became a Muslim on attending Medina) and another person named Jafinah. This last person was a Nazarene of Heera.4 (The author has yet to find the reason for his involvement).

Ubaidallah son of Omar (the victim) filled with anger proceeded to kill the two (Jafinah and Hormuzan) allegedly involved in his father’s murder. He also killed the daughter of Abu Lu’lu’eh. His killing of these three led to an outrage of many nobles; most prominent among them was the soon to be 3^rd Caliph, Uthman. This last one even had a confrontation with Ubaidallah which necessitated physical intervention to prevent escalation of the situation more. Noteworthy here was Uthman said to Ubaidallah: ‘May God smite you, you have murdered a man who prays (a Muslim), a young girl, and another under the protective decree (for Christians) of the Messenger of God (Mohamed), you must be held accountable.5

When Omar (the wounded Caliph), was informed about the crime, he ordered that his son Ubaidallah be imprisoned and the next Caliph should decide his fate.6  After prolonged negotiations a tribunal decided that blood money be given to the victims’ relatives and after which Omar’s son Ubaidallah, was released.

Omar didn’t actually die until the following Sunday morning, the 7^th of November and was buried in the House of Aisha, beside the Prophet Mohamed, and the second Caliph Abu Bakr.7

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