Through relentless brainwashing, today’s Muslims have been led to believe that Umar ibn Khattab was not just a historical figure, but a near-mythical leader and he was divinely guided. They are taught that the Islamic state under his rule was the ultimate model of justice and governance, so perfect that no non-Muslim system or civilization could ever come close to matching it.
The message embedded in this brainwashing is clear: today’s Muslims should feel compelled to conquer non-Muslim lands by the sword and impose an "ideal" system modeled after the so-called Islamic state of Umar ibn Khattab.
The Islamic state under Umar is often glorified with the following features:
- Organized Public Treasury (Bait al-Mal / Exchequer)
- Judiciary System
- Army Cantonments and Registered Army
- Police System
- Market Supervision
- Canals System
- Pension/Stipend System
These features are presented as divine proofs of Islamic superiority, which are further used to justify expansionist ideologies under the guise of restoring a golden past.
Our Response:
Let’s strip away the myths and look at the reality.
Umar ibn Khattab did not establish any industries, nor did he initiate any developmental projects for the welfare of the local population in the regions he ruled. The so-called welfare system in Medina, including stipends to the Prophet’s wives or financial aid for the poor Muslims, was not funded through productivity or innovation, but through systematic plunder.
The wealth that filled the Bait al-Mal (public treasury) during Umar’s rule came from brutal military campaigns. Entire regions were invaded, their wealth looted, populations enslaved, and women taken as concubines. Even innocent children were not spared; they were enslaved and traded like property. On top of this, a heavy jizya (tax on non-Muslims) was imposed on the conquered populations to fund the Muslim community’s "welfare" in Medina.
And here’s a striking truth: Genghis Khan introduced far more administrative reforms in his empire than Umar ever did in his so-called Islamic state.
Genghis Khan, born as Temüjin, was a 13th-century Mongol leader who didn’t just conquer. He unified scattered nomadic tribes into the largest contiguous land empire in human history, one that was even larger than the Islamic Caliphate under Umar.
More importantly, Genghis Khan laid the groundwork for a robust administrative and legal framework that enabled the Mongol Empire to thrive. His reforms included establishing a merit-based promotion system, religious tolerance policies, postal communication networks (Yam system), and codified laws (Yassa). While his reign was indeed marked by military conquest, it was his grandson Kublai Khan who took this legacy forward and founded the Yuan Dynasty in China, carrying out significant developmental and construction projects in the region.
So if we are to glorify states based on welfare, justice, or development, then even Genghis Khan stands taller in many of those areas, despite both empires being built on the same foundation: conquest, bloodshed, and the plunder of others.
Genghis Khan's State: The Foundation of an Organized Empire
1. Military Reforms
Genghis Khan turned his tribal army into a disciplined war machine.
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Decimal System: Army units were organized in 10s, 100s, 1,000s, and 10,000s to improve structure and communication.
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Regular Training: Large-scale hunts (nerge) served as military drills.
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Logistics: A robust supply chain enabled long campaigns.
2. Administrative Reforms
Genghis Khan created a centralized and merit-based administration.
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Yassa Law: An unwritten but strict legal code that ensured discipline and order—more effective than Islamic punishments at eradicating corruption.
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Meritocracy: Officials were chosen based on ability and loyalty, unlike the nepotism seen under Caliph Uthman.
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Postal System (Yam): Fast relay stations enabled rapid communication across the empire.
3. Religious Tolerance
Though a Shamanist, Genghis promoted religious freedom.
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No Forced Conversions: He didn’t impose his beliefs or charge a jizya tax like Islamic states.
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Tax Exemptions: Religious figures of all faiths were given tax relief.
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Strategic Marriages: Helped integrate conquered elites.
4. Justice and Accountability
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High Judge (Shigi Qutuqu): Oversaw justice under Yassa law.
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Strict Discipline: Severe punishments for betrayal, corruption, and dereliction of duty ensured accountability.
5. Social Reforms and Slavery
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Abolished Tribal Slavery: Within Mongol society, tribal slavery was ended, fostering unity.
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Welfare Measures: Soldiers’ families, widows, orphans, and disabled were protected informally—early tribal social security.
Kublai Khan's Developmental Works: Stability and Prosperity in the Yuan Dynasty
After Genghis Khan's death, his empire was divided into several parts, and his grandson Kublai Khan founded the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368 CE) in China. Kublai Khan focused not only on military conquests but also deeply on administrative and developmental works.
1. Canal System and Agricultural Development
Kublai Khan emphasized the large-scale restoration and expansion of the canal system to strengthen China's economy.
- Restoration and Expansion of the Grand Canal: China's Grand Canal was an important waterway connecting the north and south. Kublai Khan invested heavily in its restoration and expansion, especially ensuring its access to Beijing. This facilitated the transport of grain and military supplies, playing a crucial role in providing food to the northern regions.
- Water Resource Management: He initiated new irrigation projects in various areas and improved existing systems to increase agricultural production. This work was also essential for flood control and mitigating the effects of drought.
2. Infrastructure and Trade
Kublai Khan also took steps to promote trade and infrastructure.
- Efficient Roads: He built an extensive network of roads across the empire to facilitate trade and communication.
- Paper Currency: He popularized the use of paper currency (Chao) in China, which further simplified commercial transactions and stabilized the economy.
- Protection of Trade Routes: Genghis Khan's Yam system was further strengthened, ensuring the safety of trade on the Silk Road and enabling connections from Europe to Asia, which led to the arrival of travelers like Marco Polo in China.
3. Scholarly and Cultural Development
Kublai Khan patronized arts and sciences; although he was a Mongol, he valued Chinese culture.
- Construction of Beijing: He built his new capital, Dadu (present-day Beijing), which was a magnificent city and became a great administrative center.
- Astronomy and Medicine: He established astronomical centers and also promoted development in the field of medicine.
Genghis Khan, through his strict legal, military, and administrative reforms, transformed a nomadic people into a united empire that became the largest land power in the world. He abolished tribal slavery among the Mongols and established a system that informally included the care of soldiers, widows, and the disabled. His grandson, Kublai Khan, built a stable and developed state, the Yuan Dynasty, on this foundation, where canal systems, trade, and administrative discipline were also promoted. Both leaders are remembered in Mongol history not only as conquerors but also as great reformers and builders.
Islamists: Umar Built Canal Systems for the Welfare of the Local Population in Egypt and Iraq
This claim is entirely misleading. The truth is that Umar ibn Khattab did not initiate these canal systems for the benefit of local populations. While he did promote the development or restoration of canals in regions like Egypt and the Iraqi cities of Kufa and Basra, the true purpose behind these projects was not public welfare, but something far more self-serving.
Canal System in Egypt: Designed to Feed Medina, Not Egyptians
Islamists often claim that Umar developed Egypt's canal network for the well-being of its people. In reality, the purpose was to ensure a reliable grain supply for Medina, the capital of the Islamic state.
Egypt, during Umar's time, was known as the "granary of the Islamic empire" due to its fertile lands nourished by the Nile River. Umar ordered the reopening and restoration of an ancient canal known as Khalij Amir al-Mu'minin (Canal of the Commander of the Faithful), which connected the Nile River to the Red Sea. However, this canal was originally dug during the time of the Pharaohs. The actual engineering achievement belongs to the Egyptians centuries earlier. Umar merely reused what already existed.
The canal was not meant to benefit the Egyptian locals. Its real purpose was to create a direct sea route for transporting grain from Egypt to the Arabian Peninsula. Grain would travel from the Nile through the canal to the Red Sea, and then be shipped to Jeddah, from where it was loaded onto camels and carried inland to Mecca and Medina.
This entire system was designed to serve the needs of the Muslim elite and military back in Arabia, not to develop Egypt or uplift its population.
Canal System in Iraq: Feeding Military Cantonments, Not Civilians
Similarly, the canal systems developed in Kufa and Basra in Iraq were built around the Tigris and other rivers. But again, the goal was not local welfare. These canals were primarily constructed to supply the Muslim military cantonments that had been set up in these newly conquered territories.
The food and water supply had to be reliable for the growing number of soldiers stationed in these garrison cities. Just like in Egypt, the needs of the conquerors were prioritized over those of the conquered.
The Myth of Divine Administration of Umar
So yes, Umar may have been a competent administrator, but that’s where it ends. His policies were designed to sustain an expanding military empire, not to foster local development. The claim that his administration was divinely guided or unmatched is not only exaggerated, but historically inaccurate.
Many non-Muslim rulers throughout history have managed vast empires, developed infrastructure, and introduced administrative reforms, without claiming divine support. They too maintained armies, built canals, and organized treasuries, often with more efficiency and a greater focus on public welfare than what we see during Umar’s time.
The glorification of Umar’s administration as some kind of divine miracle only reflects the success of ideological indoctrination, not an honest reading of history.
Ashoka the Great: A Secular, Ethical, and Liberal State Far Ahead of Umar’s Islamic Caliphate or Genghis Khan’s Empire
In the long march of history, where rulers are often remembered for their conquests, brutality, or religious zeal, Ashoka the Great stands out as a rare and enlightened exception. As the third ruler of the Mauryan Dynasty (reigned 268–232 BCE), Ashoka transformed from a ruthless conqueror into a visionary leader who laid the foundation for an ethical, inclusive, and welfare-based state that far surpassed the Islamic Caliphate of Umar ibn Khattab or the empire of Genghis Khan in terms of compassion, governance, and human values.
From Ashoka the Cruel to Ashoka the Great
Initially known as Ashoka Chanda (Ashoka the Cruel) due to his military brutality, especially in the devastating Kalinga War, Ashoka underwent a profound transformation. The bloodshed and suffering he witnessed filled him with remorse. He turned to Buddhism, not as a religious dogma, but as a guiding ethical philosophy. From this, he developed the concept of "Ashoka Dhamma", a moral framework designed to create a peaceful and just society.
Unlike Umar or Genghis Khan, Ashoka’s transformation led him away from conquest toward ethical governance, nonviolence, and public welfare.
A Vast and Diverse Empire
Ashoka ruled over a massive empire that covered approximately 4 million square kilometers, with an estimated population of 100 million, nearly four times the population of Umar’s Islamic Caliphate. Yet, instead of using force or religious imposition, Ashoka governed through a secular and inclusive approach.
Importantly, Ashoka and Gautam Buddha were agnostics. They did not rely on any divine revelations or religious scriptures. Their teachings were grounded in human reason, empathy, and ethical reflection, showing that moral systems do not need divine authority to flourish.
1. Ashoka’s "Dhamma": An Ethical Code, Not a Religion
Ashoka’s concept of Dhamma was not a religion, but a universal ethical code. Its principles included:
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Non-violence (Ahimsa)
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Truthfulness and compassion
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Generosity and self-control
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Respect for parents, teachers, slaves, and elders
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Religious tolerance and interfaith respect
The aim of Dhamma was to build a harmonious, ethical, and inclusive society where people could live together peacefully regardless of caste, religion, or social status.
2. Welfare State Reforms
Ashoka believed that the ruler’s duty was to serve his people, not dominate them. His welfare reforms were revolutionary for his time:
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Hospitals for both humans and animals were established
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Medicinal herbs were cultivated and even imported from foreign lands
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Wells, rest houses (dharamshalas), and shade trees were planted for travelers
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Special attention was given to orphans, widows, and the poor
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Free education was promoted, and discrimination based on caste, race, or religion was discouraged
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Prisoners were granted humane treatment, including permission to leave prison once a year
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Slaves and servants were protected from cruelty, with Ashoka's edicts emphasizing dignity and kindness toward them
These efforts show a ruler who prioritized compassion over conquest, and justice over power.
3. Ethical Administration and Governance
Ashoka's administration focused on justice, transparency, and moral responsibility, unlike Umar’s military-driven system or Genghis Khan’s conquest-centric governance.
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He appointed officials called Dhamma Mahamatras who acted as moral overseers, social workers, and public welfare officers
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Judges and government officials were ordered to be patient, fair, and gentle in dealing with the people
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Massive investments were made in roads and infrastructure to improve communication across the empire and bring government services to the remotest areas
4. Animal Rights and Environmental Ethics
Centuries before modern human rights and environmental movements, Ashoka promoted the protection of animals and nature:
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Cruelty to animals and unnecessary slaughter were banned
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Sport hunting and branding animals were made punishable offenses
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Tree planting and environmental preservation were actively encouraged
This was an advanced level of consciousness, unheard of in other empires of the time, including Umar’s Islamic Caliphate or the Mongol Empire.
5. Religious Tolerance and Coexistence
One of Ashoka’s most remarkable qualities was his deep commitment to religious tolerance (unlike Umar Ibn Khattab, who was commited to religious dominance).
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He promoted interfaith respect, whether for Buddhists, Jains, Brahmins, or followers of other philosophies. He didn't imposed any Jizya tax upon them, enslaved them due to their religion, or looted them.
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He declared in his edicts that praising one’s own religion while criticizing others weakens one’s own faith. It is completely opposite to Islam which kills anyone who dare to criticize Islam and Muhammad.
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He made it clear that spiritual arrogance and religious superiority were toxic to social harmony
This is in sharp contrast to Umar’s Islamic Caliphate, where non-Muslims had to pay jizya and were often treated as second-class citizens, and to Genghis Khan’s reign, which although relatively tolerant, but still revolved around conquest and submission.
Conclusion: Ashoka’s Humanist Legacy
Ashoka the Great left behind not just an empire, but a legacy of ethical governance and secular humanism. He proved that a state can be powerful without being oppressive, moral without being religious, and prosperous without shedding blood.
While Umar ibn Khattab is hailed by Islamists as the symbol of divine governance and Genghis Khan is remembered for his strategic brilliance, Ashoka’s model stands apart, a vision of leadership built on compassion, equality, tolerance, and wisdom, centuries ahead of its time.
His rule reminds us that true greatness lies not in how many lands you conquer, but in how well you serve humanity.
Hassan Radwan