'Umar ibn al-Khattab was at first a fierce opponent of Islam. But once he believed, that same firmness became a strength for the truth.
❝ HadithThe Messenger of Allah ﷺ said to 'Umar: by Him in whose hand is my soul, O son of al-Khattab, whenever Shaytan sees you taking a path, he takes a path other than yours.Sahih al-Bukhari 3683 · Sahih
Even as caliph he lived simply. Justice was the heart of his rule — the weak were strong before him until their right was secured, and the strong were weak before him until the right of others was taken from them.
ⓘ Many stories of 'Umar's justice circulate, and many have weak chains. Only the sahih hadith above is quoted; his principle of rule is described generally from the histories.