Sayyiduna Umar bin al-Khattab bin Nufayl bin Abd al-Uzza bin Riyah bin Abdullah bin Qurt bin Razah bin Adi bin Ka'b bin Lu'ayy bin Ghalib bin Fihr. His mother was Hantamah bint Hashim bin al-Mughirah bin Abdullah bin Umar bin Makhzum, and his maternal grandmother was al-Shifa' bint Abd Qays bin Adi bin Sa'd bin Sahm. His kunyah is Abu Hafs. He was made caliph on the very day Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) passed away, and that was Tuesday, with eight days remaining in the month of Jumada al-Akhirah (the 22nd).

It is narrated from Muhammad bin Ishaq that Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) passed away, and he appointed Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) as caliph, two years, three months and twenty-two days after the passing of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him).

It is narrated from Zirr; he said: I went out with the people of Madinah on the day of Eid, and I saw Sayyiduna Umar bin al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) walking barefoot. He was an elderly man, bald, of wheat-brown complexion, able to work equally well with both hands (a'sar yasar), and tall, standing out among the people as though he were on a mount. He was wrapped in a Qatari cloak and was saying: "O servants of Allah, emigrate and do not abandon (the religion). And let none of you eat a rabbit that he has struck with pebbles or stones (by which it was not slaughtered); rather, let spears and arrows be the means of slaughter for you." Imam al-Hakim said: The reason for his being given the title "Commander of the Believers" was this: