Abu-Lu'lu'ah

Abu-Lu'lu'ah (Arabic: أبو لؤلؤة; Persian name: پيروز نهاوندى "Pirouz Nahāvandi") was a Persian slave who assassinated the Muslim ruler, or caliph, Umar al-Khattab in AH|23|644|+ CE. His original name was Pīrūz (Arabicized: "Fīrūz", "the victorious"; other transliterations of his name include Feroz, Firouz, Abu-Lo'lo'a, Abu Lulu, Abu Lolo, and Baba Shuja-e-din). He was a Zoroastrian convert to Islam. [The Succession to Muhammad, By Wilferd Madelung, pg. 75] While Sunnis question his sincerity, he is a respected figure amongst Shias.

Biography

Early life

Abu Lu'lu'ah is said to have been born in Persia, enslaved and captured after the fall of Ctesiphon in what is today known as Iraq, and carried off as booty by the Islamic conquerors of Iraq.

Moving to Medina

He was a skilled workman, a carpenter and artisan, and his owner allowed him to live in his own household in the Islamic capital of Medina (although according to Ibn Sa'd, Mughira ibn Shu'ba, his owner who was also the governor of Basra, had written 'Umar from Kufa; and then 'Umar had given Mughira special permission to send Abu Lu'lu'ah to Medina --since captives were not permitted to live in Medina). Abu Lu'lu'ah hired himself out as a carpenter, and gave two dirhams a day to his owner in return for his limited freedom [while Ibn Shihab's account states that every month Mughira took 100 dirhams from his wages (although the account of Abu Huwayrith, also in Ibn Sa'd's "Tabaqat", states 120 dirhams, four per day)] . He supported a wife and child on the rest of his earnings.

Umar's murder

One story [which summarizes and is largely in agreement with the account (ultimately deriving from Ibn Shihab) included by Ibn Sa'd in his "Tabaqat"] goes thus: Abu Lu'lu'ah felt that he had to give too much of his wages to his owner. He approached Umar, the caliph, and begged for relief, saying (according to Abu Huwayrith's account in Ibn Sa'd's "Tabaqat") "The taxes [Mughira] are levying on me are more than I can bear." Mughira (his owner), as a Muslim, was subject to Umar; surely Umar could enforce justice. However, Umar, after questioning him about how much his income was in proportion to the tax that Mughira was demanding from him (according to Ábu Huwayrith), told Abu Lu'lu'ah that he was such a skilled workman that he was sure to make a good wages; there was no need to reduce his obligation to his owner. The slave was enraged at the reply and swore vengeance. [Ibn Sa'd adds: So in his robe he wrapped his two-headed dagger, the grip of which was in the middle, and hid himself in a corner of the Medina mosque.] When Umar went to wake up those sleeping in the mosque for morning prayers, Abu Lu'lu'ah leaped upon him and stabbed Umar six times [three times, according to Ibn Sa'd] . He attempted to make his way out of the mosque, slashing at the bystanders [11 men besides 'Umar, according to Ibn Sa'd] as he fled.

Death

There are different narrations of how he died. Bukhari's "Sahih" states that he killed himself when he got caught minutes after murdering Umar. Some Shia say he escaped and ended up in Kashan, where, seven years later, he was captured and killed.

On hearing about his father's murder, Ubaydullah ibn Umar (not to be confused with his brother Abdullah) killed people related to Abu Lu'lu'ah. Possible victims include Abu Lu'lu'ah's wife, daughter, and sons, a Christian man named Jufaynah, and the "Hurmuzan" of Khuzistan (A Muslim-convert who lived in Medina). Caliph Uthman ibn Affan pardoned Ubaydullah. Some sources say that when Caliph Ali ibn Abi Talib decided to have qisas done, Ubaydullah fled to Mu'awiyah I and joined his forces.

Legacy

Descendents

Currently some people in Iran, mainly in Kashan and Aran Bidgol claim that they are descendants of Abu-Lu'lu'ah. They usually use the family name Azimi (عظیمی) Fact|date=May 2008.

The shrine in Kashan

Abu Lu'lu'ah is respected by a few Shi'a Muslims for killing Umar. They gave him the title "Bābā Šajā ud-Dīn" ("the one who is brave in the cause of religion") [ [http://islamicweb.com/beliefs/cults/sources_of_shia.htm A Refutation And Exposition of The Sources of Shi'ism ] ] . He has a shrine in Kashan, Iran.

References