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Umar ibn al-Khattab, al-Farooq (in Arabic, عمر بن الخطاب) (c. 581 - November, 644), sometimes referred to as Umar Farooq or just as Omar or Umar, was the second caliph of Islam and one of the first four caliphs, also referred to as the Khulfa-e-Rashidun (or "Rightly Guided Caliphs") by the Sunnis.
Umar was born in Mecca around 581 to the Adi clan of the Quraish tribe. Umar belonged to a family of average class, but he was able to become literate and was well known for his physical strength, becoming a champion wrestler. When Muhammad first declared his message of Islam, Umar took it as a sacrilege upon the idolatry of the Quraish and his ancestors.
We can read in a Sunni site (http://www.islamiska.org/e/said.htm):
Umar was a headstrong young man of great determination. He saw Islam as a threat to the Quraysh and became most violent and unrestrained in his attacks on Muslims. He finally decided that the only way to put an end to the trouble was to eliminate the man who was its cause. Goaded on by blind fury he took up his sword and headed for the Prophet's house. On his way he came face to face with a secret believer in the Prophet who seeing Umar's grim expression asked him where he was going. "I am going to kill Muhammad..."
There was no mistaking his bitterness and murderous resolve. The believer sought to dissuade him from his intent but Umar was deaf to any arguments. He then thought of diverting Umar in order to at least warn the Prophet of his intentions.
He was stopped on his way to Muhammad's house with news of his sister's conversion to Islam. This news caused him to make a detour to his sister's house, where he found both her and her husband with Khabab ibn 'Arit who was reading a verse (Surah 20. Ta-ha) from the Quran which was written on a leaf.
In the same site (http://www.islamiska.org/e/said.htm):
"Have you not considered whether the Truth is not to be found in your religion?" said Said to Umar trying to reason with him. Instead, Umar set upon his brother-in-law hitting and kicking him as hard as he could and when Fatimah went to the defence of her husband, Umar struck her a blow on her face which drew blood.
"O Umar," said Fatimah, and she was angry. "What if the Truth is not in your religion! I bear witness that there is no god but Allah and I bear witness that Muhammad is the Messenger of God."
Their resolve and fearlessness and the sight of his sister bleeding led Umar to a change of heart. He asked to read what they were reading, and he was instantly changed. Rather than killing Muhammad, he set out to his house to accept Islam.
Umar's conversion to Islam strengthened its standing in the city of Mecca due to Umar's reputation as a great warrior and many of the Quraish who would torture the Muslims began to stop out of fear of Umar. Umar would be part of the first emigration to Medina, and became an important companion of Muhammad.
Umar made adjustmenst (http://www.usc.edu/dept/MSA/fundamentals/hadithsunnah/muwatta/003.mmt.html#003.3.1.8) to the adhan, one day since he overslept. He also participated in all of the Muslim battles against the Quraish. Upon the death of Muhammad, Umar was in such a state of despair that he threatened to decapitate anyone who said that Muhammad was indeed dead. Abu Bakr calmed Umar and others, putting the death of Muhammad into perspective by saying, "If you worship Muhammad, know that he is dead; if you worship Allah, then know that He is everlasting and will never die."
Abu Bakr became the first successor to Muhammad. During Abu Bakr's short reign as caliph, Umar was one of his chief advisors, and Abu Bakr selected Umar as his successor prior to his death.
Umar reigned as caliph from 633 until his assassination in 644. Umar's time as caliph would see the Islamic empire grow at an unprecedented rate, taking Iraq and parts of Iran from the Sassanids (and effectively ending that empire), and taking Egypt, Palestine, Syria, North Africa and Armenia from the Byzantines. Umar also codified Islamic law, and was known for his simple lifestyle and modest living. So much so, that a famous story tells of him arriving in Jerusalem walking beside his camel upon which his servant was sitting.
Umar died in 644, the victim of an assassin's dagger. Umar's killer was a Persian slave who was angered by a personal quarrel with Umar; he stabbed the Caliph six times as Umar led prayers in the Masjid al Nabawi mosque in Medina. Umar died two days later, and was buried there alongside Muhammad and Abu Bakr. Prior to dying, he appointed a council of six men to appoint his successor from amongst them. They chose Uthman ibn Affan.
Farooqui
The family name Farooqui (alternative spellings, Farooqi, Faruqi, etc.) is maintained by families claiming descent from Umar.
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