PERAN KHALIFAH UMAR BIN KHATTAB DALAM PEMBENTUKAN HUKUM ISLAM

Abstract

This study analyzes the role of Caliph Umar ibn al-Khattab in the formation of Islamic law, particularly his use of ijtihad in responding to social, political, and economic changes during the early expansion of the Islamic state. As new legal challenges emerged beyond the scope of existing precedents, Umar adopted a contextual and purposive approach to legal interpretation while remaining grounded in the Qur’an and the Sunnah. This research employs qualitative library-based methods with a historical and analytical approach, drawing on classical Islamic sources and contemporary legal scholarship. The findings reveal that Umar’s legal reasoning was characterized by an emphasis on public welfare (maslahah), contextual interpretation of legal texts, and alignment with the objectives of Islamic law (maqāṣid al-sharī‘ah). His policies, including the suspension of hudud punishments during famine, the reallocation of zakat distribution, and the regulation of family law, demonstrate a commitment to substantive justice over rigid textualism. The study argues that Umar’s ijtihad represents an early model of adaptive legal reasoning that anticipates elements of modern progressive legal thought. This research contributes to contemporary Islamic legal discourse by highlighting the inherent dynamism of Islamic law and its capacity to respond constructively to changing social realities.