’Umar Criticisms against ‘Umar in Nahiul-Balagha have taken another form.

’Umar Criticisms against ‘Umar in Nahiul-Balagha have taken another form. Apart from the joint criticisms leveled against him and Abu Bakr by use of the sentence « لشد ما تشطرا ضرعيهاا » a series of criticisms have been leveled against him taking into consideration his moral and spiritual characteristics. ‘Ali (A.S.) has criticized two moral qualities of ‘Umar: Firstly, his harsh and rude behavior - in this regard, he was just the opposite of Abu Bakr.

In character, ‘Umar was rough, harsh-tempered, and incited fear. Ibn Abi al-Hadeed says: “The distinguished companions refrained from meeting ‘Umar. Ibn Abbas expressed his opinion about the matter of « عول » after ‘Umar’s death.

He was asked as to why he didn’t disclose his opinion before and he replied: “Due to fear of ‘Umar.” The whip of ‘Umar (درّة عمر) had become a proverb for his harshness such that afterwards it was said: »درة عمر اهيب من سيف حجاج« The whip of Omar is more fearful than the sword of Hajjaj. ‘Umar’s rudeness was more towards the women and hence they were fearful of him.

At the time of Abu Bakr’s death, when the women from his household were lamenting over his death, ‘Umar was persistently forbidding them from such an act. However the women continued their lamentation and crying. Finally ‘Umar dragged out Umm Farwa, sister of Abu Bakr from among the women and lashed her with his whip. After this incident, the women dispersed.

Another moral quality of ‘Umar which has come under criticism in the sayings of ‘Ali (A.S.) is the matter of making haste in judgment and then turning back from the same judgment i.e. his self-contradiction. Repeatedly, he would pass judgments and later on when he would realize his mistakes, he would confess to them. Many instances have been narrated in this regard.

For example ‘Umar has himself said: كلكم افقه من عمر حتي ربات الحجال “All of you, even women, are more learned than ‘Umar.” Similarly the sentence: لو لا علي لهلك عمر “Were it not for ‘Ali, ‘Umar would have perished.” It is said that this sentence was heard from him over 70 times. It was in connection to these very mistakes that ‘Ali (A.S.) used to correct him. Amir al-Mu’minin ‘Ali (A.S.) has reproached ‘Umar on these two very qualities, which have been strictly approved by history i.e.

his severe harshness such that his companions were fearful of expressing the truth, and secondly his haste and repeated mistakes and consequently his apologies in wrong decision making.