How Did Hz. Omar (r.a.) Pray?
Hz. Omar (r.a.), known by the title “Al-Farooq,” made supplications filled with justice, mercy, and divine guidance. These prayers reveal the depth of his character and his devotion to Allah.
The Minbar Prayer
The prayer Hz. Omar (r.a.) recited when he first ascended the minbar as caliph reflects his approach to governance:
“O Allah! I am a harsh-tempered servant; make me gentle! I am weak; strengthen me! I am stingy; make me one of Your generous servants.”
(Suyuti, Tarikh al-Khulafa, p. 129)
Supplication Seeking Refuge from Negligence
Hz. Omar (r.a.) sought refuge with Allah from falling into negligence with the following prayer:
“O Allah! I seek refuge in You from being overtaken unexpectedly, left in negligence, and made of those who are negligent.”
(Ibn Abi Shaybah, Musannaf, VII, 82)
Prayer for Righteous Deeds
Hz. Omar (r.a.) recited this prayer so that his deeds would be solely for Allah and pure:
“O Allah! Make my deed righteous! Make my deed purely for You alone, and leave no share of it for anyone else! (Avoid showing off and seeking praise)!”
(Ali al-Muttaqi, II, 675/5041)
Prayer for the Hereafter
Hz. Omar (r.a.) recited this prayer to attain a noble station in the hereafter:
“O Allah! Take my soul among Your righteous servants! Do not make me of the wicked! Protect me from the torment of Hell! Join me with Your pious and chosen servants!”
(Ibn Saad, III, 331)
Prayer for Sustenance
Hz. Omar (r.a.) recited this prayer for sustenance and blessings:
“O Allah! Place abundance in my heart! Make me inclined towards Your favors! Bless the sustenance You have granted me, and make me independent of forbidden things!”
(Ibn Abi Shaybah, Musannaf, VII, 81)
Prayer for Balance Between This World and the Hereafter
Hz. Omar (r.a.) recited this prayer to maintain balance between this world and the hereafter:
“O Allah! You have adorned this world for us and informed us that what comes after it is better than this world! Make our share in the more beneficial and lasting side!”
(Ibn Abi Hatim, Tafsir, II, 612; Suyuti, ad-Durr al-Mansur, II, 295)
Prayer in Tahajjud Prayer
Hz. Omar (r.a.) sought to attain divine closeness through the prayer he performed in the Tahajjud prayer:
“O Allah! You see where I am, and You know my need! O Allah! Return me to Your presence; a servant who is seen by You, whose needs are met, safe from all fears and dangers, obeying Your commands promptly, whose prayers are accepted, whose sins are forgiven, and upon whom You have shown mercy!”
(Ibn Abi Shaybah, Musannaf, VII, 81)
Prayer After Prayer
Hz. Omar (r.a.) highlighted the transience of this worldly life with the prayer he recited after prayer:
“O Allah! I see nothing abiding in the earth, nor do I see anything straight [in a righteous state] there. O Allah! Make me one of those who speak with knowledge, remain silent with wisdom, and give me not much of the world that I may not be arrogant, nor deprive me so that I forget my duties. Surely, little which suffices is better than much which leads to heedlessness.”
(Ibn Abi Shaybah, Musannaf, VII, 82)
Prayer During a Year of Famine
Hz. Omar (r.a.) recited this prayer for the safety of the Ummah during a year of famine:
“O Allah! Do not destroy us with famine! Remove this calamity from us!”
(Ibn Saad, III, 319)
Prayer for the Safety of the Ummah
Hz. Omar (r.a.) recited this prayer wearing torn clothes during a year of famine:
“O Allah! Do not destroy the Ummah of Muhammad because of me!”
(Ibn Saad, III, 320)
Prayer After Funeral Prayer
Hz. Omar (r.a.) recited this prayer for the deceased after performing funeral prayer:
“O Allah! This servant has departed from the world and left it to those who remain behind. He is needy of You, and You are independent of him. While he was with you, he bore witness that there is no god but Allah, and that Muhammad is Your servant and Messenger. O Allah! Forgive him, overlook his shortcomings, and reunite him with Your Messenger!”
(Ibn Abi Shaybah, Musannaf, VII, 126)
Prayer After Smoothing the Grave
Hz. Omar (r.a.) recited this prayer after smoothing the grave:
“O Allah! You have entrusted to You his family members, wealth, and relatives. His sins are great. Forgive him!”
(Bayhaki, as-Sunan al-Kubra, IV, 56)
Prayer During His Last Pilgrimage
Hz. Omar (r.a.) recited this prayer during his last pilgrimage:
“O Allah! My age has advanced, my strength has weakened, and my followers have multiplied spreading everywhere. Do not let me die without performing a faultless deed and without negligence, and accept me before You!”
(Muwatta’, Hudud, 10; Hakim, III, 98/4513)
Sayings About Knowledge
When Hz. Omar (r.a.) passed away, Abdullah bin Mas’ud (r.a.) said:
“–Nine-tenths of knowledge has gone.”
When asked, he meant by the knowledge;
“–I am speaking about the knowledge of ma’rifah [gnosis].”