✦ Introduction: A Parable of Justice and Loss
One day, Musa ibn Aʿyan and his companions were grazing sheep. Strangely, they noticed wolves and sheep coexisting peacefully. This was no ordinary sight. But that night, a wolf suddenly attacked a sheep—an act that stunned them.Musa ibn Aʿyan immediately realized what had changed: the just ruler whose era had tamed even the beasts was no longer in this world. News confirmed the departure of a pious soul who had brought balance to creation.
❖ Who Was This Just Ruler?
He was none other than ʿUmar ibn ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz, famously remembered as “al-Fārūq al-Thānī” (the Second Fārūq). His lineage:ʿUmar ibn ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz ibn Marwān ibn al-Ḥakam ibn Abī al-ʿĀṣ ibn Umayyah al-Qurashī.
It is as though Allah created him for the sole purpose of reviving divine justice on earth. He revived the legacy of ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb, establishing a standard of governance unmatched after the Prophet ﷺ and his companions.
✿ The Legacy of ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb in Justice
When ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb رضي الله عنه was on his deathbed after being fatally wounded, he summoned his son ʿAbdullāh and asked him to assess his debts. It amounted to 86,000 dirhams. He said:“If my family can repay it, good. If not, seek help from my tribe. But ensure it is repaid and returned to the public treasury.”
(
Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, 3700)Even as he faced death, his mind and heart remained occupied with fulfilling trust and justice.
When someone tried to comfort him by listing his merits — his companionship with the Prophet ﷺ, his status in Islam, and his impending martyrdom — he humbly replied:
“You regard these as great blessings, but I only hope they will be enough for my salvation. I fear they may become burdens against me.”
◈ The Contrast: Today's Leaders and Their Failings
Contrast this with modern rulers, who treat power as a personal enterprise, exploiting national wealth and public trust. Leaders today often leave office wealthier, not in legacy but in bank accounts.The austerity and humility of our predecessors once inspired not only mankind but even beasts to respect their rule. Today, the corruption of leaders has reduced Muslim nations to subservience and moral decay.
As the poet laments:
"They were honored in the world by being Muslim —
But we are disgraced for turning away from the Qur'an."
✔ A Timeless Lesson for Leaders
Will any of today’s rulers take inspiration from ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb and ʿUmar ibn ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz and make justice their legacy?The Prophet ﷺ said:
“Seven people will be shaded by Allah on the Day of Judgment when there will be no shade but His… one of them is a just ruler.”
(
Ṣaḥīḥ al-Bukhārī, 6806; Ṣaḥīḥ Muslim, 1031)❖ Conclusion
This article explores the remarkable reign of justice under ʿUmar ibn ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz, aptly titled al-Fārūq al-Thānī. It opens with a symbolic parable illustrating the impact of his just leadership. His governance, following in the footsteps of ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb, became a beacon of divine balance and humility.In contrast to the moral collapse of today’s rulers, these caliphs embody the Qur'anic model of leadership — firm in justice, humble in piety, and conscious of accountability before Allah.
Their stories serve as a call to reform, reminding current and future leaders of the eternal reward awaiting the just, and the grave consequences of betrayal and corruption.
