WARS OF THE CALIPHS. 350 



In the midst of this career, and after the rapid acqui- 

 sition of a power which, had it never extended far- 

 ther, might deserve the name of a formidable empire, 

 the dagger of an assassin put an end to the hfe and 

 reign of Omar. This obscure individual was a Per- 

 sian slave, named Ferouz. Watching his opportu- 

 nity, while the caliph was engaged at morning 

 prayers in the mosque, the murderer rushed forward 

 to the pulpit, and with a small dagger or khunjer 

 mflicted six wounds on his person, one of which, 

 below the navel, was pronounced mortal. The 

 assembly were thrown into the greatest consterna- 

 tion, and immediately surrounded the villain who 

 had imbrued his hands in the blood of their sove- 

 reign. He made a desperate resistance, having 

 wounded thirteen of his assailants, seven of them 

 mortally. At length he was seized by one of the 

 caliph's attendants, who threw a mantle over him ; 

 but he avoided the torture that awaited him, by 

 stabbing himself on the spot. 



The piety, justice, abstinence, and simplicity of 

 Omar procured him more reverence than his suc- 

 cessors with all their grandeur could command. 

 " His walking-stick," says Alwakidi, " struck more 

 terror into those who were present than another 

 man's sword." His diet was dates, or coarse barley 

 bread dipped in salt; his drink, water; and sometimes, 

 by way of penance, he would eat his bread without 

 salt Of religious duties he was a punctual observer, 

 and^ during his brief caliphate, had performed nine 

 pilgrimages to Mecca. He preached m a tattered 

 cotton gown, torn in twelve places ; and a Persian 

 satrap, when he paid homage to the conqueror of 

 his nation, found him lying asleep among the beg- 

 gars on the steps of the mosque at Mednia. Durmg 

 the ten years of his administration, 4000 churches 

 were destroyed, and 1400 mosqes erected on their 

 ruins. , ^ 



Omar had devolved on six companions the ardo- 



