Al-Farooq (
Arabic
Arabic (, , or , ) is a Central Semitic languages, Central Semitic language of the Afroasiatic languages, Afroasiatic language family spoken primarily in the Arab world. The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) assigns lang ...
: الفاروق, "distinguisher") is the title given to one who distinguishes right from wrong.
Sunni Muslims use the title Al-Farooq for
Umar
Umar ibn al-Khattab (; ), also spelled Omar, was the second Rashidun caliph, ruling from August 634 until his assassination in 644. He succeeded Abu Bakr () and is regarded as a senior companion and father-in-law of the Islamic prophet Mu ...
, while Shia Muslims believe it is a title reserved exclusively for
Ali
Ali ibn Abi Talib (; ) was the fourth Rashidun caliph who ruled from until his assassination in 661, as well as the first Shia Imam. He was the cousin and son-in-law of the Islamic prophet Muhammad. Born to Abu Talib ibn Abd al-Muttalib an ...
, and that the Prophet Muhammad gave him this title. There is disagreement among Sunnis as to whether the Prophet or the
People of the Book
People of the Book, or ''Ahl al-Kitāb'' (), is a classification in Islam for the adherents of those religions that are regarded by Muslims as having received a divine revelation from Allah, generally in the form of a holy scripture. The clas ...
gave this name to Umar.
Etymology
According to the Lisān al-'Arab (Arabic dictionary by
Ibn Manẓūr
Muhammad ibn Mukarram ibn Alī ibn Ahmad ibn Manzūr al-Ansārī al-Ifrīqī al-Misrī al-Khazrajī () also known as Ibn Manẓūr () (June–July 1233 – December 1311/January 1312) was an Arab lexicographer of the Arabic language and author of ...
) al-Farouq refers to making a distinction between two subjects, and is a person who distinguishes between right and wrong.
Al-Farooq is translated as "discriminator" by Gerald T. Elmore, Richard F. Burton. As, however, the morphophonology of the lexeme ''farūq'' is not Arabic, the word seems to be of Syro-Aramaic origin, e.g. ''pārōqā'' "Saviour" as for example pointed out by Robert M. Kerr.
History
Sunni view
According to historical Sunni sources,
Muhammad
Muhammad (8 June 632 CE) was an Arab religious and political leader and the founder of Islam. Muhammad in Islam, According to Islam, he was a prophet who was divinely inspired to preach and confirm the tawhid, monotheistic teachings of A ...
entitled
Umar ibn al-Khattab
Umar ibn al-Khattab (; ), also spelled Omar, was the second Rashidun caliph, ruling from August 634 until his assassination in 644. He succeeded Abu Bakr () and is regarded as a senior companion and father-in-law of the Islamic prophet Muh ...
as al-Farooq.
The son of Kahn Jahan, the minister of
Muhammad bin Tughluq
Muhammad bin Tughluq (; ; 1290 – 20 March 1351), or Muhammad II, also named Jauna Khan as Crown Prince, further known by his epithets, The Eccentric Prince, or The Mad Sultan, was the eighteenth Sultan of Delhi. He reigned from 4 February 1 ...
claimed Umar ibn al-Khattab got this title from the Islamic prophet Muhammad. Also Umayyad caliph
Sulayman called him discriminator (al-farooq) It is mentioned in the History of Tabari, Taqabat ibn Sad, and Tahdhib "the people of the Book (Jews) were the first to call Umar 'al-Faaruq, we have never heard the Prophet make such reference."
Shia view
Among historical Shia sources, there is a hadith attributed to Muhammad in which he entitled
Ali ibn Abi Talib
Ali ibn Abi Talib (; ) was the fourth Rashidun caliph who ruled from until Assassination of Ali, his assassination in 661, as well as the first imamate in Shia doctrine, Shia Imam. He was the cousin and son-in-law of the Islamic prophet Muha ...
as al-Farooq.
Abu Dhar al-Ghifari
Abu Dharr Al-Ghifari Al-Kinani (, '), also spelled Abu Tharr or Abu Zar, born Jundab ibn Junādah (), was the Timing of Sahaba becoming Muslims, fourth or fifth person converting to Islam, and a member of the Muhajirun. He belonged to the Banu Gh ...
and
Salman the Persian
Salman Farsi (; ) was a Persian religious scholar and one of the companions of Muhammad. As a practicing Zoroastrian, he dedicated much of his early life to studying to become a magus, after which he began travelling extensively throughout Weste ...
narrated some of this Hadithes
There are also some Shia sources that emphasized that
the people of the book called
Omar bin al-Khattab as al-Farooq.
See also
* ''
Al-Farooq'', modern biography about Umar
*
Al Farooq Omar Bin Al Khattab Mosque, mosque named for him in Dubai
*
Alevi
Alevism (; ; ) is a syncretic heterodox Islamic tradition, whose adherents follow the mystical Islamic teachings of Haji Bektash Veli, who taught the teachings of the Twelve Imams, whilst incorporating some traditions from shamanism. Differing ...
*
Ali in the Quran
*
Birthplace of Ali ibn Abi Talib
*
Farooqi
*
List of expeditions of Ali during Muhammad's era
*
Sahaba
The Companions of the Prophet () were the Muslim disciples and followers of the Islamic prophet Muhammad who saw or met him during his lifetime. The companions played a major role in Muslim battles, society, hadith narration, and governance ...
*
Sunni view of Ali
* ''
Omar
Umar ibn al-Khattab (; ), also spelled Omar, was the second Rashidun caliph, ruling from August 634 until his assassination in 644. He succeeded Abu Bakr () and is regarded as a senior companion and father-in-law of the Islamic prophet Muh ...
'', television series
*
Wali
The term ''wali'' is most commonly used by Muslims to refer to a saint, or literally a "friend of God".John Renard, ''Friends of God: Islamic Images of Piety, Commitment, and Servanthood'' (Berkeley: University of California Press, 2008); John ...
*
Zulfiqar
Zulfiqar or Zulfaqar (, ), also spelled ''Zu al-Faqar'', ''Zulfakar'', ''Dhu al-Faqar'', or ''Dhulfaqar)'', is the sword of Ali, Ali ibn Abi Talib that was distinguished by having a double blade.
Middle Eastern weapons are commonly inscribed wi ...
References
{{Reflist
Arabic words and phrases