Stories of the Prophets
Umar bin Abdul Aziz
عُمَر بْنُ عَبْدِ الْعَزِيزِ رَحِمَهُ اللهُ
The Fifth Just Caliph (Fifth Khulafaur Rasyidin)
Umar bin Abdul Aziz, even though he came from the Umayyads who at that time were known to live in luxurious palaces, completely changed his lifestyle and government as soon as he was appointed caliph - returning lands that had been seized unjustly, abolishing burdensome taxes, and living as simply as ordinary people. His extraordinary justice made many scholars dub him the fifth caliph after Khulafaur Rasyidin (Abu Bakar, Umar, Uthman, Ali), even though his reign only lasted about two and a half years before he died.
1The Just Fifth Caliph
Umar bin Abdul Aziz (61–101 H), from the Umayyads, great-grandson of Umar bin Khattab through his mother. Initially he lived in luxury as a governor, but after being appointed caliph he completely changed to become an ascetic and just leader, to the point of being called the fifth upright caliph.
📖 QS An-Nahl: 90
2Returning Property and Upholding Justice
On his first day in office, he returned the property taken by the unjust, including his own, to Baitul Mal, and refused the caliphate's facilities. His justice makes people prosperous so that it is difficult to find people who want to receive zakat.
📖 QS Al-Ma'idah: 8
3Pioneer of Hadith Bookkeeping
He ordered the ulama, including Imam Az-Zuhri, to officially record the hadith so that the sunnah would not be lost with the death of the memorizers - a policy that saved the hadith heritage of the people.
📖 QS Al-Hijr: 9
4Zuhud and Death
Umar bin Abdul Aziz lived a very simple life even though he controlled a large country, and died young in 101 AH - some histories say he was poisoned. His short reign became an enduring example of justice in Islam.
📖 QS Al-Qashash: 83