Muhammad’s estates on Ali, exactly as Fatima had
wanted.
Omar had now doubled his kinship to the Prophet:
both father-in-law and grandson-in-law. His position as
Caliph was secure. Ali could still have been a powerful
rival, but Omar followed the ancient political dictum of
keeping your friends close and your enemies closer. As
son-in-law and father-in-law, the two men would work
well together, so much so that every time Omar left
Medina on one of his many military campaigns, Ali
stood in as his deputy. It was a clear sign, understood by
all to mean that when the time came, Ali would succeed
Omar as Caliph.
The Arab conquest now began in earnest. Omar had
taken Abu Bakr’s title of Deputy to Muhammad but
added another one: Com mander of the Faithful. And a
superb commander he was. He lived rough and ready
with his troops on campaign, sleeping wrapped in his
cloak on the desert ɻoor and leading his men into battle
instead of ordering them from the rear, thus earning
their absolute loyalty and respect. If he had a reputation
for strictness and discipline, it was balanced by his
insistence on justice. As part of his commitment to
Islam, he would tolerate no favoritism, least of all for his
own family. When one of his own sons appeared drunk
in public, Omar ordered that the young man be given