lol, now u will defend Khalifa Umar. Keep an eye on the Khalifa as he might decide to take off on u too:
(Battle of Hunayn) "The Muslims took to flight. I was also among them. Suddenly I saw Umar ibn Khattab among those who were running away. I asked him: 'What has happened?' He said: 'It is the order of Allah.'" Sahih Bukhari Vol. 3, p. 45.
There is plenty more but lets not go there. I will keep u busy with this1 for this weekend :)
The life of Hz. Umar (ra) is an open book. There were mistakes in his life. He is Human. This incidence is one of few. But just like everyone else, he should be evaluated on the basis of his totality, not individual incidents. To deny such incidents of error or mistake is not Islamic.
To use few incidents to malign him is more “unIslamic”.
The Muslim Army was ambushed by the Hawazin and Thaqif tribes in the valleys of Taif area. The shock of initial attack took those who were in the front to run away.
But you must agree army did re-group after the initial shock and then subdued the formidable Hawazin and Thaqif tribes and overcame them and took all them as prisoners.
Refer to the Ayah dealing with the Battle of Hunayn.
Assuredly Allah did help you in many battle-fields and on the day of Hunain: Behold! your great numbers elated you, but they availed you naught: the land, for all that it is wide, did constrain you, and ye turned back in retreat. 9:25
**But Allah did pour His calm on the Messenger and on the Believers, and sent down forces which ye saw not: He punished the Unbelievers; thus doth He reward those without Faith.9:26
Again will Allah, after this, turn (in mercy) to whom He will: for Allah is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful. 9:27
The unbelievers were punished and Believers were forgiven.