The Chaliphate - Muir - The Search For Mecca

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CHAPTER XXVI
DEATH OF 'OMAR
23 A.H. 644 A.D.
It was now the eleventh year of 'Omar's Caliphate, and 'Omar's last
though some sixty years of age, he was full of vigour, and 1,''^^"^^^^'
vigilant in the discharge of the vast responsibilities devolving Oa. 644 a.d.
on him. In the last month of the year he journeyed, as was
his wont, to Mecca ; and taking the widows of Mohammad
in his suite, performed with them the full rites of the annual
Pilgrimage. He had returned but a few days to Medina,
when his reign came to a tragic and untimely end.
A Persian slave, Abu Lu'lu'a, had been brought by Al- Abu Lulu'a,
Moghlra from Al-'Irak. Made prisoner in his youth by the p.^n^'^^es t^,
Greeks, he had early embraced Christianity ;
and now, taken make him a
by the Muslims, his fate was to endure a second captivity
as Al-Moghira's slave. When the crowd of prisoners was
marched into Medina from the battle of Nihavend, said to
have been Abu Lu'lu'a's birthplace, the sight opened springs
of tenderness long pent up; and, stroking the heads of the
little ones, he exclaimed: " Verily, 'Omar hath consumed
my /xrwe/sf" He followed the trade of carpenter; and
his master shared the profits. Meeting 'Omar in the
market-place, he cried out, " Commander of the Faithful
right me of my wrong, for verily Al-Moghira hath assessed
me heavily." " At how much.''" asked the Caliph. " At two
dirhems a day." " And what is thy trade ? " "A carpenter
and worker in iron," he said. " It is not much," rejilied
'Omar, "for a clever artificer like thee. I am told that tiiou
couldest design for me a mill driven by the wind." " It is
true." "Come then," continued the Caliph, "and make me
such a mill that shall be driven by the wind." " If spared."