Editing Umar (section)

== Abu Bakr's era ==
Due to the delicate political situation in Arabia{{Vague|date=December 2014}}, Umar initially opposed military operations against the rebel tribes there,{{citation needed|date=July 2017}} hoping to gain their support in the event of an invasion by the Romans or the Persians. Later, however, he came to agree with Abu Bakr's strategy to crush the rebellion by force. By late 632, Khalid ibn Walid had successfully united Arabia after consecutive victories against the rebels. During his own reign later, Umar would mostly adopt the policy of avoiding wars and consolidating his power in the incorporated lands rather than expanding his empire through continuous warfare.<ref>''Medieval Islamic political thought'', Patricia Crone, p. 18</ref>

Umar advised Abu Bakr to compile the Quran in the form of a book after 300 huffāẓ (memorizers) of the Quran died in the [[Battle of Yamamah]].<ref name="sunnah.com">{{cite web |url=http://sunnah.com/bukhari/93/53 |title=Hadith – Book of Judgments (Ahkaam) – Sahih al-Bukhari – Sayings and Teachings of Prophet Muhammad (صلى الله عليه و سلم) |website=sunnah.com}}</ref>

=== Appointment as a caliph ===
Abu Bakr appointed Umar as his successor before dying in 634.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://archive.org/stream/TheBiographyOfAbuBakrAsSiddeeq/TheBiographyOfAbuBakrAs-siddeeq#page/n711/mode/2up |title=The Biography of Abu Bakr As-Siddeeq |via=Internet Archive |date=2007}}</ref> Due to his strict and autocratic nature, Umar was not a very popular figure among the notables of Medina and members of [[Majlis-ash-Shura|Majlis al Shura]]; accordingly, high-ranking companions of Abu Bakr attempted to discourage him from naming Umar.<ref>Serat-i-Hazrat Umar-i-Farooq, by Mohammad Allias Aadil, pp. 58–59</ref><ref>K. Y. Blankinship, ''The History of al-Tabari'', vol. XI, p. 157</ref> Nevertheless, Abu Bakr decided to make Umar his successor. Umar was well known for his extraordinary willpower, intelligence, political astuteness, impartiality, justice, and care for the poor.<ref>''Early caliphate'', Muhammad Ali, Muḥammad Yaʿqūb K̲h̲ān, p. 85</ref>
Abu Bakr is reported to have said to the high-ranking advisers:

{{blockquote|His (Umar's) strictness was there because of my softness when the weight of Caliphate will be over his shoulders he will remain no longer strict. If I will be asked by God to whom I have appointed my successor, I will tell him that I have appointed the best man among your men.<ref>''Umar Farooq-i-Azam'', Mohammad Hussain Haikal, chapter 4, pp. 112–113</ref>}}

Abu Bakr was aware of Umar's power and ability to succeed him. His was perhaps one of the smoothest transitions of power from one authority to another in the Muslim lands.<ref>K. Y. Blankinship, ''The History of al-Tabari'', vol. XI, p. 145–153.</ref>
Before his death, Abu Bakr called [[Uthman]] to write his will in which he declared Umar his successor. In his will he instructed Umar to continue the conquests on [[Iraq]]i and [[Syria]]n fronts.{{Citation needed|date= December 2017}}