Jakarta – Caliph Umar bin Khattab succeeded in expanding to a number of areas outside Medina. There is an area that has not been mastered during his tenure as caliph.
The territory that had not been controlled when Umar bin Khattab served as caliph was the center of the Byzantine government in Constantinople, as stated in the book Umar bin Khathab R.A by Abdul Syukur.
The area was only successfully conquered in the 15th century AD by Sultan Muhammad al-Fatih from the Ottoman Turks and subsequently changed its name to Istanbul. Meanwhile, the Persian empire was successfully conquered by Umar bin Khattab.
Told in the same book, at that time, Islam went with the flow by participating in war. The aim is none other than because this is to defend itself so that it is not controlled by other nations. Even though from the beginning Muslims always prioritized peace as taught by Rasulullah SAW.
In fact, when spreading Islam in other countries, they prefer to send letters through emissaries. However, in some situations, sometimes there are parties who are rude to the messenger and even kill him.
During the Caliphate Umar bin Khattab this is all changing, the book also tells that Umar bin Khattab expanded beyond the Medina area. Even a number of areas that were previously greater than the strength of the Muslims managed to be seized, for example, the territory of Byzantium and Persia.
Meanwhile, in Persia, Umar bin Khattab succeeded in gaining complete control. Since then, the world superpower ended and was replaced by an Islamic state in Medina with Umar bin Khattab as its leader.
Since the destruction of Persia, the two superpower countries that were in power at that time were Byzantium and Islam in Medina. Counting at that time, only about 10 years after the death of Rasulullah SAW, Umar bin Khattab succeeded in bringing Islam to become a world superpower.
Islamic territory at that time covered the Arabian Peninsula, Palestine, Syria, Iraq, Egypt, and all of Persia. Even though it was classified as very short, that was the success of Umar bin Khattab in spreading Islam.
In a book entitled Umar bin Khattab RA, it is explained that he was a very perfect leader. His nature is simple, firm, courageous, and never breaks promises and enforces justice for all creatures.
Not only expanding, according to an article published in Journal of Islamic Treatises Salmah Intan’s work titled Caliphate of Umar bin KhattabUmar bin Khattab also perfected the government system that had previously been carried out.
He made major changes to the state administration system. He also gave birth to many ideas related to administration. This was demonstrated by the determination of taxes in a number of areas that he managed to control.
At that time too, Umar bin Khattab managed state administration by providing examples of administration that at that time had developed in Persia. The government of Umar bin Khattab ultimately divided into 8 provinces.
The eight provinces are Makkah, Medina, Syria, Jazirah, Basrah, Kufa, Palestine and Egypt. The following are rules related to state administration regulated by Umar bin Khattab:
- Published a salary payment system and land tax.
- Establishing a state court in order to separate the judiciary from the executive branch.
- Forming the head of state in order to carry out his executive duties, he is assisted by an official called al-Kitab (secretary of state). At the time of Umar, it was held by Zaid bin Thabit and Abdullah bin Arqam.
- Establish a police department to maintain security and order and catch criminals.
- Forming military posts, officially registered in the country, serving in border areas such as Kufah, Basrah, and being paid regularly every month.
- Umar also founded the Baitul Mal, state finances collected from taxes and other things kept in Baitul Mal and its use was regulated by the Council.
- Forge or print currency as the official medium of exchange from the state.
- Create Islamic calendar or Hijri year.
In addition, one of the biggest breakthroughs from the Caliphate of Umar bin Khattab regarding its administrative system was clearly seen in the government system. At that time, Umar bin Khattab divided between the executive and judicial powers. This is explained in the book The Life Story of Umar ibn Khattab by Mustafa Murrad.
The separation between powers began with the appointment of wulat (governors), ahl al-hall wa ak-aqd (mediating institutions and issuers of fatwas), the establishment of courts, the appointment of qadhi (judges) related to the number of people balanced with the population at that time.
That was about achievement Umar bin Khattab during his time as caliph who managed to expand the territory outside Medina.
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