Q. & A. 711 to 1707 with solved Papers css 1971 to date

DEATH AND REVIEW OF HIS ACHIEVEMENTS Illness of Hazrat Abu Bakr (Rad.A) and Umar’s Nomination
It was the 7th Jamad-ul-Akhira, 13 A.H. that Abu Bakr (Rad.A) fell ill. He had a severe fever. When the illness took a serious turn he called the ”Shura” to consult about his successor, the second Caliph. Since he had seen some confusion after the demise of the Holy Prophet for the selection of a Caliph, he preferred to let the Muslims decide the matter in his presence. Following were the leading figures present in the Shura. Umar, Usman, AH, Abdur Rahman bin Auf, Muadh bin Jabal, Zaid bin Thabit and other leading Muliajirin and Ansar. According to some historians he first consulted some of the most prominent companions before calling the meeting of the General Shura about this. Among these persons were Usman, Abdur Rahman bin Auf and Usaid bin Hadir etc. Hazrat Abu Bakr (Rad.A) put his proposal for Hazrat Umar (Rad.A) to be the second Caliph- All of them agreed with the proposal except for an objection by some of the companions about his strictness that was the only ground on which Hazrat AM (Rad.A) and Talha (Rad.A) also did not agree with Hazrat Abu Bakr (Rad.A). But Abu Bakr (Rad.A) rejected their plea on the ground that burden of Caliphate would make him milder. Since there was no opposition to Hazrat Abu Bakr’s (Rad.A) view, Hazrat Umar (Rad A) was declared to be the next Caliph and
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all the companions, including Hazrat Ali (Rad.A) and Hazrat Talha (Rad.A), agreed to it.10
At this point I would like to point out that the decision of Hazrat Abu Bakr (Rad.A) for the selection of Hazrat Umar (Rad.A) in his presence during his life was purely based on his ”Ijtihad” (personal judgment of a Jurist) as explained by him after his nomination of Umar (Rad.A) was recorded. As a matter of fact it was the need of the time and Hazrat Abu Bakr (Rad.A) was totally right in his ”Ijtihad”. The proof of this is also the ”Ajma” (agreement) of the companions on his proposal to select a Caliph while he was still alive.
Although the appointment of the Caliph did not take place in the same way as it happened with Hazrat Abu Bakr (Rad.A). It was not undemocratic in the sense that the nomination of Hazrat Umar (Rad.A) took place after fair consultation with the ”Shura”. Hazrat Abu Bakr (Rad.A) never wanted anything which would make Islam weak after him. He knew what had happened after the death of the Holy Prophet the repetition of which was to be avoided. The strength of the Muslim community lay in unity and that had to be preserved at any cost. For these reasons Hazrat Abu Bakr (Rad.A) wanted an agreed person to be nominated as his successor in his presence. Therefore he took a decision by ”Ijtihad” for the nomination of a Caliph after due consultation.
After the ”Shura” had agreed on Hazrat Umar (Rad.A), Haztat Abu Bakr (Rad.A) asked Hazrat Usman (Rad.A) to wirte the will. This is the declaration which is made by Abu Bakr bin Abi Quhafah (Rad.A) which he is about to leave for the next world. At this time even a non-believer starts to believe and even a great sinner returns to faith, and a disbeliever begins to trust in Allah. I appoint Umar bin Khattab (Rad.A) as the Caliph. You must follow his orders and obey him. I have done everything good for the sake of Allah, for His Holy Prophet and for the welfare of his religion and Muslims and for myself in appointing him. I hope that he would be honest and just but if he changes his ways and becomes unjust, I would have no responsibility, as I do not have the knowledge of the unseen. Everybody is responsible for what he does.”11
Afterwards he went up to his balcony with the help of some persons and addressed a big gathering of Muslims: ”O my brothers! I
l> Akhar Shah Napb Ahadi larikhe Islam (Urdu)P31l
’ Saeed Ahmad Akbar Abadi, Siddique-i-Akbar (Rad A) (Urdu) P 125 Saeed Ahmad Akbar Abbadi, P 106

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have not appointed any of my relations or brothers as a Caliph. I have chosen the best person among you. Do you agree on this. All of them replied in the affirmative. Then he called Umar (Rad.A) and talked with him for a long time and gave him words of parting advice. Some of them are as under:
”O Umar (Rad.A) always fear Allah. An optional deed is not accepted unless the obligatory deed is done. The weight of your goodness would be heavy on the Day of Judgement. If you followed the right path in this world. The deeds of the persons who followed wrong path in this world be having no weight on the Day of Judgement. They will have a terrible time. Make the Holy Qur’an and Truth your guide for success. Umar (Rad.A) if you follow the path propose for you. I will surely be by your side.”