Najm al-Dīn Umāra al-Ḥakamī al-Yamanī[a] (Arabic: نجم الدين عمارة الحكمي اليمني) was a Sunni historian, jurist and poet of Yemen of great repute who was closely associated with the late Fatimid Caliphate of Egypt.
[4][6] Arriving there in May 1155, he received favour and rich gifts by reciting a panegyric qasida in honour of Caliph al-Fa'iz bi-Nasr Allah and the vizier Tala'i ibn Ruzzik.
[9]Tala'i ibn Ruzzik—the de facto ruler of Egypt in place of the underage caliph[4]—who liked to surround himself with scholars, jurists, and secretaries,[10] favoured Umara with distinction.
[4] Ibn Ruzzik, a zealous Isma'ilite, failed to convert Umara, who remained steadfast to his Sunni orthodox faith and the Shafi'i school.
Upon al-Adil's assassination in 1162 the rival claimant Shawar was installed as vizier with the aid of the Sultan of Aleppo, atabeg Nur ad-Din Mahmud, whose Kurdish general Shirkuh led his army into Egypt.
Imad ad-Din al-Isfahani wrote in his Kharīdat al-Kasr:[12] [Umara’s] body was exposed on a cross with those of the other persons who had been accused of plotting against [Saladin] and of inviting the Franks [i.e., the Crusaders] by letter to come and assist in placing the son of al-Aḍid on the throne.
When they were brought before the prince, they did not deny their intentions.Evidence supporting the suspicion of Umara's involvement in the conspiracy had been his proposal for Turan Shah, Saladin’s brother, to lead an invasion force for the conquest of Yemen.
However, in one addressed to Saladin, entitled Shikāya tal-Mutazallim wa Nikāya tal-Mutaāllim ("Complaint of the oppressed and pains of the afflicted"), he describes his miserable situation.