A Research Review of the Early Initiatives and Juridical Opinions of ʻUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb (May Allah be pleased with him)

عمر بن خطاب رضی اللہ عنہ کے اولیات اور اجتہادات کا تحقیقی جائزہ

Abstract

This research assistance investigates the significant impact of Ḥaḍrat ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb (May Allah be pleased with him), also known as Al-Fārūq, on Islamic jurisprudence and governance through his innovative Ijtihād (independent reasoning) and pioneering initiatives. ʿUmar's reforms in political, economic, and financial domains were crucial in establishing the early Islamic state. Politically, he introduced the Shūrā (consultative council) and organized the state into provinces with appointed governors to ensure efficient administration. Economically, he founded the public treasury (Bayt al-Māl) to distribute wealth equitably and provide financial support to the needy, and implemented land reforms to enhance agricultural productivity. In the financial sphere, ʿUmar developed systematic tax policies, including the collection of Zakāt and Jizyah, to ensure a stable revenue stream and promote social justice, while also regulating markets to ensure fair trade practices. His administrative vision and legislative measures not only fortified the early Islamic state but also established enduring principles of governance rooted in justice, economic equity, and public welfare.