Editing Umar (section)

== Assassination ==
{{Main|Abu Lu'lu'a Firuz}}
[[File:Tarikhuna bi-uslub qasasi-The Conspiracy to kill Umar.jpg|thumb|left|Early 20th-century depiction of ([[Abd al-Rahman ibn Awf]] or [[Abdul-Rahman ibn Abi Bakr]]) witnessing the purported conspiracy of [[Abu Lu'lu'a]], [[Hurmuzān]], and Jufayna (wrongly depicted here as a woman; the depiction of the murder weapon may also be wrong)<ref>{{harvnb|Madelung|1997|p=404}} refers to Jufayna as "al-Naṣrānī", indicating that he was a man. Moreover, while the murder weapon seems to be depicted here as a split-blade sword (like [[Zulfiqar]]), {{harvnb|El-Hibri|2010|p=109}} describes it as "a unique dagger", having "two pointed sharp edges, with a handle in the middle". The picture is taken from {{transliteration|ar|Tārīkhunā bi-uslūb qaṣaṣī}} ("Our History in a Narrative style"), a popular history book first published in Iraq in 1935.</ref>]]
[[File:Tombstone of Umar (r.a) by mohammad adil rais.JPG|thumb|Tombstone of caliph Umar, in the [[Green Dome]] in [[al-Masjid al-Nabawi]], Medina. The first window from the right gives a view of Umar's grave.]]

In 644, Umar was assassinated by a Persian slave named [[Abu Lu'lu'a Firuz]]. His motivation for the assassination is not clear, but medieval sources attribute it to a tax dispute with his Arab master [[al-Mughira ibn Shu'ba]].{{sfnp|Pellat|2011}}

According to some historical accounts, Abu Lu'lu'a was a [[Zoroastrian]] from [[Nahavand]] (Iran), though other reports describe him as a [[Eastern Christianity|Christian]].<ref>{{harvnb|Pellat|2011}}. Modern authors also take different views: {{harvnb|Levi Della Vida|Bonner|2000}} merely state that he was a Christian slave, whereas {{harvnb|Madelung|1997|p=75 note 67}} finds the sources claiming he was Christian unreliable. {{harvnb|Ishkevari|Nejad|2008}} mention that according to the {{transliteration|ar|Mujmal al-tawārīkh wa-l-qiṣaṣ}}, an anonymous work written c. 1126, Abu Lu'lu'a came from Fin, a village near [[Kashan]].</ref> A highly skilled [[joiner]] and [[blacksmith]],<ref name="Pellat2011">{{harvnb|Pellat|2011}}.</ref> Abu Lu'lu'a was probably taken captive by his master al-Mughira in the [[Battle of Nahavand]] (642) and subsequently brought to [[Arabia]], where he may also have converted to Islam.<ref>This is the view of {{harvnb|Madelung|1997|p=75 note 67}}.</ref> Other historical sources report that he was rather taken captive by al-Mughira in the [[Battle of al-Qadisiyya]] (636), or that he was sold to al-Mughira by [[Hurmuzān]], an ex-[[Sassanid]] military officer who had been working for Umar as an adviser after his own capture by the Muslims.<ref>See the sources cited by {{harvnb|El-Hibri|2010|pp=108–109}} (cf. also p. 112).</ref> Although [[Medina]] was generally off-limits to the {{transliteration|ar|[[ʿajam]]}} (non-[[Arabs]]) under Umar's reign, Abu Lu'lu'a was exceptionally allowed to enter the capital of the [[Rashidun Caliphate|early caliphate]], being sent there by al-Mughira to serve the caliph.<ref>{{harvnb|Pellat|2011}}; cf. {{harvnb|Madelung|1997|p=75 note 64}}.</ref>

When al-Mughira forced Abu Lu'lu'a to pay a {{transliteration|ar|[[kharāj]]}} tax of two [[dirham]]s a day,<ref>Other sources speak of three dirhams a month; see {{harvnb|Pellat|2011}}.</ref> Abu Lu'lu'a turned to Umar to protest this tax. However, Umar refused to lift the tax, thus provoking Abu Lu'lu'a's rage.<ref>{{harvnb|Pellat|2011}}; {{harvnb|Levi Della Vida|Bonner|2000}}. As pointed out by Pellat 2011, other accounts rather maintain that Abu Lu'lu'a's was angry about the caliph's raising a {{transliteration|ar|kharāj}} tax on his master al-Mughira.</ref> Although this is the reason given by most historical accounts for Abu Lu'lu'a's assassination of Umar,<ref>{{harvnb|Levi Della Vida|Bonner|2000}}.</ref> Umar's biased policies against non-Arab captives may also have played a prominent role.<ref>This is the hypothesis of {{harvnb|Madelung|1997|p=75}}.</ref> One day when Umar was leading the congregational prayer in the [[mosque of Medina]], Abu Lu'lu'a stabbed him with a double-bladed dagger.<ref>{{harvnb|El-Hibri|2010|p=109}} describes the dagger as "unique", having "two pointed sharp edges, with a handle in the middle".</ref> There are different versions of how this happened: according to one version, he also killed Kulayb ibn al-Bukayr al-Laythi who was behind Umar,<ref>{{The History of al-Tabari |volume=14 |page=90}} Cf. {{harvnb|El-Hibri|2010|p=109}}. See also {{harvnb|Caetani|1905–1926|loc=vol. V, p.}} [https://archive.org/details/annalidellislam05caetuoft/page/216/mode/1up 216].</ref> while in another version, he stabbed thirteen people who tried to restrain him.<ref>{{harvnb|El-Hibri|2010|p=109}}.</ref> According to some accounts, the caliph died on the day of the stabbing (Wednesday {{nowrap|26 [[Dhu al-Hijja]]}} of the {{nowrap|[[Islamic calendar|Islamic year]] 23}}, or {{nowrap|3 November 644}} according to the [[Julian calendar]], or {{nowrap|6 November 644}} according to the [[Gregorian calendar]]), while other accounts maintain that he survived three more days.<ref>{{harvnb|Levi Della Vida|Bonner|2000}}; {{harvnb|Pellat|2011}}.</ref>

Some historical sources report that Abu Lu'lu'a was taken prisoner and executed for his assassination of Umar, while other sources claim that he committed suicide.<ref name="Pellat2011"/> After Abu Lu'lu'a's death, his daughter was killed by [[Ubayd Allah ibn Umar]], one of Umar's sons. Acting upon the claim of one man (either [[Abd al-Rahman ibn Awf]] or [[Abd al-Rahman ibn Abi Bakr]]) that they had been seen conspiring with Abu Lu'lu'a while he was holding the double-bladed dagger, Ubayd Allah also killed Hurmuzān (Umar's Persian military adviser), and Jufayna, a Christian man from [[al-Hira]] (Iraq) who had been taken to Medina to serve as a private tutor to a family in Medina.<ref>{{harvnb|Madelung|1997|p=69}} (cf. p. 404, where Madelung refers to him as "Jufayna al-Naṣrānī").</ref> After Ubayd Allah was detained for these murders, he threatened to kill all foreign captives residing in Medina, as well as some others. Although Ubayd Allah may have been encouraged by his sister [[Hafsa bint Umar]] to avenge their father's death, his murder of Hurmuzān and Jufayna was likely the result of a mental breakdown rather than of a true conspiracy. It was regarded by his peers as a crime rather than as a legitimate act of retaliation.<ref>{{harvnb|Madelung|1997|p=69}}.</ref>

In early 20th-century scholarship it was sometimes supposed that Abu Lu'lu'a had really been an instrument in the hands of a conspiracy, though not a conspiracy led by Hurmuzān, but rather one led by [[Ali]], [[al-Zubayr ibn al-Awwam]], and [[Talha ibn Ubayd Allah]]. These men, who according to the historical sources were appointed by Umar himself as members of the council who would elect the next caliph, were thought by scholars to have conspired to overthrow Umar's reign and to put Ali in his place.<ref>{{harvnb|Caetani|1905–1926|loc=vol. V, pp. 40–51}}, as reported by {{harvnb|Madelung|1997|pp=68–70}}.</ref> This hypothesis, however, is rejected by more recent scholars.<ref>{{harvnb|Madelung|1997|pp=68–70}}; {{harvnb|Levi Della Vida|Bonner|2000}}; {{harvnb|Pellat|2011}}.</ref> Nevertheless, while Ubayd Allah was subsequently acquitted of his crimes by Umar's successor [[Uthman]] (r. 644–656), who considered the execution of Ubayd Allah an excessive measure in view of his father's recent assassination,{{sfn|Madelung|1997|p=70}} Ali, among others, did protest against this and vowed to apply the regular punishment for murder if he were ever to be caliph.<ref>{{harvnb|Madelung|1997|pp=69–70}}.</ref>

Umar was buried at the [[Green Dome]] in al-Masjid al-Nabawi alongside Muhammad and the caliph Abu Bakr, by the permission of [[Aisha]] given to his son Abdullah ibn Umar on Umar's request.{{sfn|Fayda|Koçak|2007|p=46}}

=== Aftermath ===
On his deathbed, Umar vacillated on his succession. However, it has been reported that he said that if [[Abu Ubayda ibn al-Jarrah]], [[Muadh ibn Jabal]], or [[Khalid ibn al-Walid]] were alive he would have appointed one of them his successor.<ref>{{Cite book|author=[[Ziya-ur-Rahman Azmi]]|title=[[Al-Jami al-Kamil]] (Authentic Hadith Encyclopaedia - Arranged According to the Chapters of Fiqh)|volume=9|publisher=[[Darussalam Publishers]]|year=2016|page=197|language=Arabic}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|author=Nabil bin Mansur bin Ya‘qub al-Basara|title=Anis al-Sari in the Verification and Authentication of the Hadiths Mentioned by Al-Hafiz Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani in Fath al-Bari|volume=9|publisher=Al-Samahah Foundation, Al-Rayan Foundation|year=2005|page=6263|language=Arabic}}</ref> Umar finally appointed a committee of six persons to [[The election of Uthman|choose a caliph from amongst them]]: [[Abdur Rahman bin Awf]], [[Saad ibn Abi Waqqas]], [[Talha ibn Ubaidullah]], [[Uthman ibn Affan]], [[Ali ibn Abi Talib]] and [[Zubayr ibn al-Awwam]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://archive.org/stream/UmarIbnAl-KhattabHisLifeAndTimesVolume2/100713541-Umar-Ibn-Al-Khattab-Vol-2#page/n381/mode/2up |title=Umar Ibn Al-Khattab : His Life and Times, Volume 2 |via=Internet Archive}}</ref>

All six are among [[the ten to whom Paradise was promised]] according to Sunnis.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://sunnah.com/abudawud/42/54 |title=Hadith – Book of Model Behavior of the Prophet (Kitab Al-Sunnah) – Sunan Abi Dawud – Sayings and Teachings of Prophet Muhammad (صلى الله عليه و سلم) |website=sunnah.com}}</ref> The only one out of the "famous ten" left out of the committee who was still alive at the time was Saeed ibn Zaid, the cousin and brother-in-law of Umar. He was excluded on the basis of being related by blood and of the same tribe as Umar. Umar had a policy of not appointing anyone related to him to a position of authority even if they were qualified by his standards.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://archive.org/stream/UmarIbnAl-KhattabHisLifeAndTimesVolume2/100713541-Umar-Ibn-Al-Khattab-Vol-2#page/n45/mode/2up |title=Umar Ibn Al-Khattab - His Life and Times, Volume 2 |via=Internet Archive}}</ref>

Umar appointed a band of fifty armed soldiers to protect the house where the meeting was proceeding. Until the appointment of the next caliph, Umar appointed a notable [[Sahaba|Sahib ( singular of Sahaba )]] and mawla, [[Suhayb ar-Rumi]] (''Suhayb the Roman''), as a deputy or caretaker caliph to run state affairs.<ref>Efendioğlu, Mehmet(2009), ''[[TDV Encyclopedia of Islam]]'', Volume 37, p. 476.</ref>
While the meeting for selection of a caliph was proceeding, [[Abdulrehman ibn Abu Bakr]] and Abdur Rahman bin Awf revealed that they saw the dagger used by Abu Lu'lu'a, the assassin of Umar. A night before Umar's assassination, reported Abdur Rahman bin Awf, he saw Hurmuzan, Jafina and Abu Lu'lu'a, while they were suspiciously discussing something.{{Citation needed|date=December 2017}} Surprised by his presence, the dagger fell; it was the same two-sided dagger used in the assassination. Abdulrehman ibn Abu Bakr, son of the late caliph Abu Bakr, confirmed that a few days before Umar's assassination, he saw this dagger in Hurmuzan's possession. After this revelation, it seemed clear that it had been planned by the Persians residing in Medina. Infuriated by this, Umar's younger son [[Ubayd Allah ibn Umar]] sought to kill all the Persians in Medina.{{Citation needed|date= December 2017}} He killed Hurmuzan, Jafinah, and the daughter of Umar's assassin Abu Lu'lu'a, who is believed to have been a Muslim. Ubayd Allah was intercepted by the people of Medina, who prevented him from continuing the massacre. [[Amr ibn al-Aas]] is said to have intercepted him and convinced him to hand over his sword. The murder of Jafinah enraged Saad ibn Abi Waqqas, his foster brother, and he assaulted Ubaidullah ibn Umar; again the companions intervened. When Umar was informed about the incident, he ordered Ubayd Allah imprisoned and that the next caliph should decide his fate.<ref name="haykal-death">Haykal, 1944, Chapter "Death of Umar".</ref>

Umar died on 6 November 644; on 7 November [[The election of Uthman|Uthman succeeded him]] as caliph. After prolonged negotiations, the tribunal decided to give [[blood money (restitution)|blood money]] to the victims, and released Umar's son Ubaidullah on the ground that, after the tragedy of Umar's assassination, people would be further infuriated by the execution of his son the very next day.