At the end of the twenty-third year after the Hijrah, Sayyidina Umar (RA) dreamed that a red rooster pecked him twice. When he narrated the dream to Asma, the daughter of Umais (the wife whom Ali married after she performed the funeral bath for Abubakar), who was known for interpreting dreams, she said to him, "A non-Muslim will kill you."
Under Umar's (RA) government, no adult male from among the disbelievers was permitted to enter Madinah. However, Mughirah ibn Shu'bah, his governor of Kufa, requested his permission to send him a skilled youth from among the Persian boys named Abu Lu'lu'ah, who had not embraced Islam. The boy was skilled in handicrafts such as blacksmithing, carpentry, and painting, among others. Sayyidina Umar (RA) granted the permission.
After Abu Lu'lu'ah had settled in Madinah, he sought a reduction in the tax that Mughirah had imposed on him from the Leader of the Muslims, Umar. Umar asked him, "How much do you pay per year?" He said, "One hundred Dirhams." Umar said, "What is your profession?" He said, "Blacksmithing, carpentry, and painting." Umar then said, "Well, in that case, one hundred Dirhams is not too much." It was at the very moment the Leader of the Muslims was ordering a reduction in Abu Lu'lu'ah's tax, that he himself was there plotting his betrayal.
On the morning of the 26th of Dhul-Hijjah, 23 AH, which corresponded to the 3rd of November, 644 AD, the Leader of the Muslims, Umar, went to the Mosque as was his habit, without a guard or any security officer. When the prayer began, Umar moved to the front, straightened the people's rows, and then pronounced the Takbir (Allahu Akbar). Because his recitation of Surah Al-Fatihah was prolonged, a silence was noticed; those outside the Mosque did not know what was happening. Then the voice of Abdur Rahman ibn Auf was heard continuing the prayer, and he shortened it greatly.
Inside the Mosque, those nearby saw Abu Lu'lu'ah slip through the crowd, stabbing them with a dagger. He stabbed 13 people before reaching the Imam (Umar), and he stabbed him six times in different places – including one in his navel that was fatal. Sayyidina (RA) did not fall to the ground until he motioned for Abdur Rahman ibn Auf to take his place so he could continue leading the people in prayer. The assassin hurried to flee, but a man from the congregation tore his cloak and threw it at him. When he realized he would inevitably be caught, he stabbed himself with the dagger, dying instantly, saying, "To your city!" (a curse).
Sayyidina Umar (RA) fainted from the pain of the dagger that had pierced his body. As the prayer was being concluded, he was regaining consciousness, so he asked, "Have the people prayed?" He was told, "Yes." He said, "There is no share in Islam for whoever abandons the prayer." He instructed Ibn Abbas to find out who had stabbed him. When he heard that it was a non-Muslim, he thanked Allah that it was not a Muslim who had stabbed him. Then he asked for water to perform ablution and pray again, but three times, whenever he performed ablution, the pain overwhelmed him and he fainted. On the third time, he managed to perform his final prayer.
At first, people did not expect Umar to die until a doctor came, mixed a medicine, and gave it to him to drink. When he drank it, the medicine came out from where he had been stabbed in his stomach. It was then the doctor instructed the Leader of the Muslims to make his will. People began to weep upon hearing that they would lose Umar, but Umar forbade them from weeping for him, citing a Hadith he heard from the Messenger of Allah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) that the deceased is tormented by the weeping of the living.
The Companions gathered around the Leader of the Muslims, Umar, congratulating him on attaining martyrdom, reminiscing about the good deeds he had performed in his life, his actions during the time of the Messenger of Allah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam), and his justice during his caliphate, while also praising him and wishing him well. But among them, no one's words pleased Umar more than those of Ibn Abbas. After he finished his speech, Umar asked him, "Will you bear witness to this for me before Allah?" Immediately, Ali, the son of Abu Talib, said to Ibn Abbas, "Answer him, I am also with you." But Umar, as he was saying, hoped that he would be saved by the reward of his Jihad with the Messenger of Allah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam). "As for this your work (the caliphate), if I have undertaken it, if it is not for reward but for sin, then it is nothing."
Umar instructed his son, Abdullah, to check the amount of debt he owed. He told him that the debt amounted to eighty-six thousand Dirhams (Dirh. 86,000). Umar said, "Gather what we possess and pay the debt. If it is not enough, ask our clan, Banu Adiyy, to help. If they cannot, ask the Quraysh, but do not go beyond them."
Then he instructed him to seek permission from the Mother of the Believers, A'ishah, for he wished to be buried in her room next to his two trusted companions, the Messenger of Allah (Sallallahu Alaihi Wasallam) and Abubakar as-Siddiq. A'ishah felt compassion for Umar and said, "I had reserved that spot for myself, wishing to be buried there with my father and my husband." When Umar heard this, he said to his son, "Seek permission again when my body is brought, for perhaps she felt hesitant about me while I was alive. If she changes her mind, do not worry, take me to the cemetery of the other Muslims, it is no problem."
While this was happening, a young man entered to offer condolences to Umar, to give him patience, and to pray for him as the other Muslims were doing. When he turned to leave, Umar noticed that his garment was trailing below the Islamic limit. Umar had him called back and advised him, saying, "Lift your lower garment, for it is cleaner and more in accordance with Allah's pleasure."
Allahu Akbar! Indeed, the pain of his wound did not prevent Umar from doing his habitual work of preaching. And he was about to conclude his rule over the Muslim world after 12 years, yet he was in debt of 86,000 Dirhams.
When evening came, Umar sensed the approach of his appointed time. He instructed his son to lay him down from his lap and place him on the ground so he could show humility to the Most High Lord. He continued to utter words seeking Allah's forgiveness until the Angel of Death took his soul.
Umar did not leave this world until he had outlined for the Muslims how they should choose his successor, and he left a long will for whoever would be chosen. We will speak about this when we come to the election of the third Caliph, if Allah wills.
The Companion Umar led the Muslims for ten years, five months, and twenty-one days. May Allah SWT have mercy on his soul.