Some Muslims believe that Umar was actually more evil than Abu Bakr. This is because of the actions Umar was directly involved in, such as raiding Ameerul Mo’meneen’s Ali Ibn Abi Talib’s (a.s.) home, putting fire to the door, crushing his wife Fatemah Zahra (s.a.w.a.) between the blazing door and the wall, causing the miscarriage of their son Mohsin, etc. and because Abu Bakr did not seem to be as violent and harsh as Umar.
But this opinion is dangerously wrong, as Abu Bakr was in fact the ring leader and the true brain in the party. He gave the instructions and made the policies. He told Umar when to be violent and when to be lenient. He ordered the party when to follow Rasul Allah (s.a.w.a.) as faithful Muslims and he ordered them when to be treacherous as Idolaters. Etc.
Interestingly, this fact was well known amongst the people of that day, as numerous Ahaadeeth illuminate this point, including:
Anas bin Maalik narrates:
“One day Ali became seriously ill, and his health deteriorated. Whilst I was sitting at his bedside, Rasul Allah (s.a.w.a.) came to his home with a number of Muslims to visit Ali, so I offered him my place, where he sat.
Later Abu Bakr winked at Umar, and he stood up and said: O Rasul Allah! You had indeed instructed us to follow Ali, but now we see him in poor health; so if something happens to him who should we follow?
Rasul Allah stayed silent and did not answer Umar. For a second time Abu Bakr winked at Umar, and he stood up and repeated his question; and Rasul Allah continued his silence.
For a third time Abu Bakr winked at Umar and he stood up and repeated his question.
This time, Rasul Allah raised his head and said: This man will not die from this illness; he will not die until you two fill him up with wrath, and encompass him with treachery, and you two will find him patient [1]
It has also been narrated that after usurping the Caliphate, Khaalid bin Sa’id was one of those faithful Muslims who publicly objected to Abu Bakr, when he reminded him about one of the instances where Rasul Allah had clearly appointed Imam Ali (a.s.) as his Caliph and prayed for those who followed him and prayed against those who opposed him.
After his exposing objection to Abu Bakr, Umar stood up and shouted at Khaalid bin Sa’id:
“Keep silent O Khaalid! You are not consultation worthy, and no one should accept your opinion.
Khaalid replied, “You keep silent O Son of Khattaab! You surely talk from someone else’s tongue. I swear by Allah that Quryash knows you are of its most ignoble ancestry, and lowest rank, and most vile position, and its most unknown member. And you are -surely- a coward on the battlefield, you are not mentioned at war, you have a villainous origin, you lack any honor amongst Qoraysh.
And in usurping the Caliphate with Abu Bakr, your example is the same as: “…Satan when he says to man: Disbelieve, but when he disbelieves, he says: I am surely clear of you; surely I fear Allah, the Lord of the worlds * Therefore the end of both of them is that they are both in the fire to abide therein, and that is the reward of the unjust.” 2
Umar then kept silent while he was greatly distressed 3
[1] Bihar ul Anwaar vol. 30, page 389.
[2] Surah 59: Aayat 16, 17.
[25] Biharul Anwaar vol. 28, page 193.
