Contributions to Islam and it's ethical Teachings
Famous Battles of Umar (Conquering of Countries)
Umar’s primary contribution to the development of Islam as a leader/caliph was a series of military victories resulting in the rapid expansion of Islam. Umar Ibn Al-Khattab ordered the Muslim armies to leave the natives of the conquered land in peace and ordered the military personnel not to force the natives to convert to Islam or expose to harm. (Michael H. Hart,1978). [4:90] ... if they leave you alone, refrain from fighting you, and offer you peace, then GOD gives you no excuse to fight them.
(When Umar conquered Damascus in 635CE & Jerusalem in 637CE which was dominate with Christians and Jews) “this safety is for their life, property, church and cross, for the healthy and the sick and for all their co-religionists. Their churches shall neither be used as residence nor shall they be demolished. No harm shall be done to their churches or their boundaries. ” [Dr. Nazeer Ahmed, 2009)
Gathering of the Quran by Abu barker and Umar
Muhammad’s companions Abu barker and Umar had to discuss and gather the parts of what Muhammad said that was Qur’anic and brought together by ‘Uthman in the year of around 650 CE with 114 suras arranged by length, with shorter ones towards the end (John Bowker, 2002)
Therefore I (Umar) suggest, you (Abu Bakr) order that the Qur'an be collected. So I started looking for the Qur'an and collecting it from (what was written on) palmed stalks, thin white stones and also from the men who knew it by heart, till I found the last verse of Surat At-Tauba (Repentance) with Abi Khuzaima Al-Ansari, and I did not find it with anybody other than him. ... (Sahih al-Bukhari: vol. 6, bk. 61, no. 509)
Great Islamic State
Umar Ibn Al-Khattab was the first caliph known as the founder of a great Islamic State. He implemented Shari’ah law in which the Muslim community followed, was there first leader to established a Public Treasury; the first ruler to levy al Ushr, (the Custom or Import duty), where the rich would pay 10% tax of the goods imported for the poor. Umar safeguarded the internal safety by introducing police force and gave money to the poor. He founded new cities for the growth of Islam culture and civilization; improved agriculture, economics and founded the educational system. Umar laid out a great example of fairness, equality and flexibility using Democratic and Transformational leadership styles. He had used Referent and Expert power base at the time of his ruling.
Enlargement of Masjid al haram
Umar was the first calipha to expand the holy masjid al-Haram (the Sacred Mosque) at Mecca by building a wall surrounding the entire Mosque structure.He was the first to place a cover on the Kaaba and made provisions to protect it from floods. This expansion made a huge impact on the development of Islam as it unites muslims from all around the world anually to practice Islamic rituals (worship god) equally. In Medina, Umar Ibn al khattab enlarged the Prophet’s Mosque by buying the nearby houses and making major enlargements (Muhammad Hozien, 2015)