Reforms of Umar's era

Umar was the second muslim Caliph and reigned during 634 to 644 CE. This article details the reforms of Umar's era.

Overview

Umar undertook many administrative reforms and closely oversaw public policy, establishing an advanced administration for newly conquered lands, including several new ministries and bureaucracies, as well as ordering a census of all the Muslim territories. During his reign, the garrison cities of Basrah and al-Kūfah were founded or expanded. In 638, he extended and renovated the Grand Mosque in Mecca and the Mosque of the Prophet in Medina. He also began the process of codifying Islamic law Fact|date=February 2007.

Umar was known for his simple, austere lifestyle. Rather than adopt the pomp and display affected by the rulers of the time, he continued to live much as he had when Muslims were poor and persecuted Fact|date=February 2007.

He saw the appointment of governors as one of his greatest responsibilities, understandably in an age when lack of rapid means of communication meant that each governor ruled his province with something near independence. His criterion for choosing a governor or military commander were 1.piety (al taqwah), although he made it clear that his preference between a man who had more taqwa and less ability and less taqwa and more ability would be the latter. 2. Competence (quwwah). 3. Trustworthiness (amanah). Interestingly he also forbade all his apppointees to engage in trade insisting that political involvement in the market would create an imbalance of power in the market leading to injustice. Another one of his requirements of his appointees was that they be Muslim and this is why he asked his secretary, who was a Christian, to accept Islam so that he could be given a position of authority in the Caliphate. When the slave refused, however, Umar did not force him to change his religion Fact|date=February 2007.

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