The World According to Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz: Advice and Reminders from Umar II By Flamur Vehapi

The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "The best of people are my generation, then those who come after them, then those who come after them." (Sahih al-Bukhari 2652, Sahih Muslim 2533) Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz belonged to the generation that came after the Companions, and the Muslims remembered his short caliphate for its justice, its humility and his fear of Allah.

The World According to Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz: Advice and Reminders from Umar II gathers his sayings, letters, sermons and advice into one short volume, compiled and introduced by Flamur Vehapi, with a foreword by Marwa Assar. It is part of the World According To series from Crescent Books.

What This Book Covers

His Sayings, Letters and Sermons

The core of the book is Umar's own words: the counsel he gave, the letters he wrote and the sermons he delivered, collected so that each can be read on its own.

Faith, Justice and Leadership

The material covers his views on faith, leadership and justice, human relationships, personal growth and the Hereafter. A reader can follow one theme through or open the book anywhere.

A Caliphate of Less Than Three Years

Umar ruled for less than three years, yet his words were preserved and passed on long after him. The book opens with the compiler's introduction and includes biographical references, appendices and a map.

About the Author

Flamur Vehapi is a researcher, chronologist, poet, literary translator and academic, and the owner of Crescent Books, the Portland publishing house that publishes this title. He holds a PhD in Education and Leadership from Pacific University, an MA in Conflict Resolution from Portland State University, and a BS in Counseling Psychology with a minor in History from Southern Oregon University. He taught social sciences at Rogue Community College and Southern Oregon University, and afterwards at institutions in the Middle East. He has written several books and translated two works of Sami Frashëri. He and his family live in Oregon. Published by Crescent Books, first edition 2026.

Who This Book Is For

Readers who want the counsel of the generation after the Companions in a short form they can return to. Anyone who carries responsibility over others, at home, at work or in the community, and wants to hear how Umar spoke about it. And readers of Islamic history who want a figure they know by name in his own words.

Continue Reading

For more on the generation Umar belonged to, read our guide to books on the Companions and those who followed them, and see Those Who Followed and Ranks of the Elite. From the same author, The Adhan: A Brief Chronology traces the call to prayer from Madinah to the present. Browse the full Islamic history collection.