Al-Farooq: The Life of Omar The Great is The biography of Umar (also spelled Omar) written by Islamic scholar Shibli Nomani. Its publication took the Muslim World by storm and was considered a great literary event in history of Islamic literature. By Extensive study of the subject, the author Nomani collected and collated facts which were lying buried in unpublished manuscripts in great libraries of Istanbul, Beirut, Alexandria, Paris, Berlin and London. The book inspired an unparalled enthusiasm and ran into several editions in a very short period. Umar is universally acknowledged as the first conqueror,founder and administrator of Muslim Empire.