Bab fi Khilafat Umar
The Caliphate of Umar bin al-Khattab (RA)
بَابٌ فِي خِلَافَةِ عُمَرَ بْنِ الْخَطَّابِ This chapter is regarding the caliphate of Hazrat Umar (RA), may Allah the Exalted be pleased with him.
أَبُوْبَكْرٍ وَ عُمَرُ خَيْرُ الْأَوَّلِيْنَ وَخَيْرُ الْآخِرِيْنَ وَخَيْرُ أَهْلِ السَّمٰوَاتِ وَخَيْرُ أَهْلِ الْأَرَضِيْنَ إِلَّا النَّبِيِّيْنَ وَالْمُرْسَلِيْنَ - (الحاكم في غير الكنى ، ابن عدى فى الكامل ، خطيب عن ابي هريرة - كنز جلد ۶) Translation :- Abu Bakr and Umar are the best among the first and the last, and are better than the heavenly creation and earthly creation, except the prophets and messengers.
اِقْتَدُوْا بِاللَّذَيْنِ مِنْ بَعْدِيْ أَبِيْ بَكْرٍ وَ عُمَرَ - (احمد ، الترمذی ، ابن ماجه عن حذيفة - كنز ج ۶) Translation :- After me, you people should follow and emulate Abu Bakr and Umar. *(This hadith is narrated from Hazrat Hudhayfah in Musnad Ahmad, Tirmidhi and Ibn Majah, and is also in the second volume of Kanz al-'Ummal)*
خَيْرُ أُمَّتِي بَعْدِي أَبُوْبَكْرٍ وَ عُمَرُ - (ابن عساکر عن على و الزبير معاً - كنز العمال) Translation :- The decree of the Noble Prophet is that "In my Ummah, the best after me are Abu Bakr and Umar." *(This hadith is narrated by Ibn Asakir from Hazrat Ali and Zubair, and it is also in Kanz al-'Ummal)*
مَا قَدَّمْتُ أَبَابَكْرٍ وَ عُمَرَ وَلٰكِنَّ اللّٰهَ قَدَّمَهُمَا وَمَنَّ بِهِمَا عَلَيَّ فَأَطِيْعُوْهُمَا وَابْدَءُوْا بِذِكْرِهِمَا - مَنْ آذَاهُمَا بِسُوْءٍ فَإِنَّمَا يُرِيْدُنِيْ وَالْإِسْلَامَ - (ابن النجار عن انس) Translation :- The statement of Mustafa ﷺ is that "I did not give precedence to Abu Bakr and Umar by myself, but Allah the Exalted gave them precedence and bestowed a favor upon me by creating them both. Therefore, you people obey them both, begin with their mention (keep their mention first). Whoever thought evil regarding them both, then he has indeed committed evil against me and Islam." *(The narrators of this hadith via Hazrat Anas bin Malik (RA) are Hazrat Muhammad bin Mahmud Baghdadi, Hafiz Imam Ibn al-Najjar (RH), whose year of passing is 643 AH)*
إِنَّ اللّٰهَ تَعَالٰى جَعَلَ الْحَقَّ عَلٰى لِسَانِ عُمَرَ وَ قَلْبِهِ * وَهُوَ الْفَارُوْقُ فَرَّقَ اللّٰهُ بِهِ بَيْنَ الْحَقِّ وَالْبَاطِلِ - (ابن سعد عن ايوب بن موسى مرسلا) Translation :- Indeed, Allah the Exalted has placed the truth upon the tongue and heart of Umar, and he is the Faruq (the Distinguisher). Allah the Exalted has...
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...distinguished between truth and falsehood through him. *(In Tabaqat Ibn Sa'd, this hadith is narrated as Mursal from Ayyub bin Musa)*
لَوْ كَانَ بَعْدِيْ نَبِيٌّ لَكَانَ عُمَرُ بْنُ الْخَطَّابِ - (احمد ،الترمذی والحاكم فى المستدرك عن عقبة بن عامر ، طبراني عن عصمة بن مالك) Translation :- The statement of Mustafa ﷺ is that "If there were to be a prophet after me, it would have been Umar bin al-Khattab." *(Ahmad narrated this hadith in his Musnad, Tirmidhi in his book, and Hakim in al-Mustadrak from Uqbah bin Amir, and Tabarani narrated it from Hazrat Ismah bin Malik)*
قَالَ لِيْ جِبْرَئِيْلُ أَقْرِءُ عُمَرَ السَّلَامَ وَأَعْلِمْهُ أَنَّ رِضَاهُ حُكْمٌ وَغَضَبُهُ عِزٌّ - (عد عن سعيد بن جبير عن ابن عباس - عد و ابن عساکر عن انس - ابن شاهين و ابن عساکر عن سعيد بن جبير مرسلا - كنز) Translation :- The decree of Mustafa ﷺ is that "Jibreel said to me to convey greetings to Umar and to let him know that his pleasure is a command, and his anger is honor." *(Ibn Adi narrated this hadith in al-Kamil from Sa'id bin Jubayr, who narrated from Abdullah bin Abbas, and Ibn Adi and Ibn Asakir from Anas bin Malik, and Ibn Shahin and Ibn Asakir narrated it as Mursal from Sa'id bin Jubayr. (Mursal means such a hadith in which the name of one of the final narrators is dropped and he is from among the Tabi'un, and the ruling on a Mursal hadith is "Tawaqquf" [suspension]). It is also in Kanz al-'Ummal)*
إِنَّ اللّٰهَ جَعَلَ السَّكِيْنَةَ عَلَى لِسَانِ عُمَرَ وَقَلْبِهِ يَقُوْلُ بِهَا - (كر عن ابی ذر - كنز جلد ۶) Translation :- Indeed, Allah the Exalted has descended Sakinah (mercy and tranquility) upon the tongue and heart of Umar, due to which he speaks with composure. *(Ibn Asakir narrated this hadith from Hazrat Abu Dharr (RA), and it is also in Kanz al-'Ummal)*
عَنْ سُوَيْدِ بْنِ غَفَلَةَ قَالَ مَرَرْتُ بِقَوْمٍ يَذْكُرُوْنَ أَبَابَكْرٍ وَ عُمَرَ يَنْتَقِصُوْنَهُمَا فَأَتَيْتُ عَلِيًّا وَذَكَرْتُ لَهُ ذٰلِكَ - فَقَالَ لَعَنَ اللّٰهُ مَنْ أَضْمَرَ لَهُمَا إِلَّا الْحُسْنَ الْجَمِيْلَ - أَخَوَا رَسُوْلِ اللّٰهِ صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَوَزِيْرَاهُ - ثُمَّ صَعِدَ الْمِنْبَرَ فَخَطَبَ خُطْبَةً بَلِيْغَةً - فَقَالَ مَا بَالُ أَقْوَامٍ يَذْكُرُوْنَ سَيِّدَيْ قُرَيْشٍ وَأَبَوَيِ الْمُسْلِمِيْنَ بِمَا أَنَا عَنْهُ مُنَزَّهٌ وَمِمَّا يَقُوْلُوْنَ بَرِيْئٌ وَعَلٰى مَايَقُوْلُوْنَ مُعَاقِبٌ - وَالَّذِيْ فَلَقَ الْحَبَّةَ وَبَرَءَ النَّسَمَةَ إِنَّهُ لَا يُحِبُّهُمَا إِلَّا مُؤْمِنٌ تَقِيٌّ وَلَا...
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يُبْغِضُهُمَا إِلَّا فَاجِرٌ رَدِيٌّ - صَحِبَا رَسُوْلَ اللّٰهِ صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ بِالصِّدْقِ وَالْوَفَاءِ يَأْمُرَانِ وَيَنْهَيَانِ وَيُعَاقِبَانِ فَمَا يُجَاوِزَانِ فِيْمَا يَصْنَعَانِ رَأْيَ رَسُوْلِ اللّٰهِ صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ - وَلَا يَرٰى رَسُوْلُ اللّٰهِ صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ كَرَأْيِهِمَا رَأْيًا وَلَا يُحِبُّ كَحُبِّهِمَا حُبًّا - مَضَى رَسُوْلُ اللّٰهِ صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَهُوَ عَنْهُمَا رَاضٍ وَالنَّاسُ رَاضُوْنَ ثُمَّ وَلِيَ أَبُوْبَكْرٍ الصَّلٰوةَ فَلَمَّا قَبَضَ اللّٰهُ نَبِيَّهُ صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَوَلَّاهُ الْمُسْلِمُوْنَ ذٰلِكَ وَفَوَّضُوْا إِلَيْهِ الزَّكٰوةَ لِأَنَّهُمَا مَقْرُوْنَتَانِ وَكُنْتُ أَوَّلَ مَنْ يَسْعٰى لَهُ مِنْ بَنِيْ عَبْدِ الْمُطَّلِبِ وَهُوَ لِذٰلِكَ كَارِهٌ يَوَدُّ أَنَّ بَعْضَنَا كَفَاهُ - فَكَانَ وَاللّٰهِ خَيْرَ مَنْ بَقِيَ - أَرْأَفَهُ رَأْفَةً وَأَرْحَمَهُ رَحْمَةً وَأَكْيَسَهُ وَرَعًا أَقْدَمَهُ إِسْلَامًا - شَبَّهَهُ رَسُوْلُ اللّٰهِ صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ بِمِيْكَائِيْلَ رَأْفَةً وَرَحْمَةً وَبِإِبْرَاهِيْمَ عَفْوًا وَوَقَارًا - فَسَارَ بِسِيْرَةِ رَسُوْلِ اللّٰهِ صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ حَتّٰى قُبِضَ رَحْمَةُ اللّٰهِ عَلَيْهِ ثُمَّ وَلِيَ الْأَمْرَ مِنْ بَعْدِهِ عُمَرُ بْنُ الْخَطَّابِ وَاسْتَأْمَرَ فِيْ ذٰلِكَ النَّاسَ فَمِنْهُمْ مَنْ رَّضِيَ وَمِنْهُمْ مَنْ كَرِهَ فَكُنْتُ مِمَّنْ رَّضِيَ - فَوَاللّٰهِ مَا فَارَقَ عُمَرُ الدُّنْيَا حَتّٰى رَضِيَ مَنْ كَانَ لَهُ كَارِهًا فَأَقَامَ الْأَمْرَ عَلٰى مِنْهَاجِ النَّبِيِّ صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ وَصَاحِبِهِ - يَتْبَعُ آثَارَهُمَا كَمَا يَتْبَعُ الْفَصِيْلُ عَلٰى أَثَرِ أُمِّهِ كَانَ وَاللّٰهِ خَيْرَ مَنْ بَقِيَ رَفِيْقًا رَحِيْمًا - وَنَاصِرًا لِّلْمَظْلُوْمِ عَلَى الظَّالِمِ - ثُمَّ ضَرَبَ الْحَقُّ عَلٰى لِسَانِهِ حَتّٰى رَأَيْنَا أَنَّ مَلَكًا يَنْطِقُ عَلٰى لِسَانِهِ - أَعَزَّ اللّٰهُ بِإِسْلَامِهِ الْإِسْلَامَ وَجَعَلَ هِجْرَتَهُ لِلدِّيْنِ قَوَامًا وَقَذَفَ فِيْ قُلُوْبِ الْمُؤْمِنِيْنَ الْحُبَّ لَهُ وَفِيْ قُلُوْبِ الْمُنَافِقِيْنَ الرَّهْبَةَ - شَبَّهَهُ رَسُوْلُ اللّٰهِ صَلَّى اللّٰهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ بِجِبْرَئِيْلَ فَظًّا غَلِيْظًا عَلَى الْأَعْدَاءِ وَبِنُوْحٍ حَنَقًا وَمُغْتَاظًا عَلَى الْكَافِرِيْنَ - فَمَنْ لَّكُمْ بِمِثْلِهِمَا لَا يَبْلُغُ مَبْلَغَهُمَا إِلَّا لِحُبِّ لَهُمَا وَإِتِّبَاعِ آثَارِهِمَا - فَمَنْ أَحَبَّهُمَا فَقَدْ أَحَبَّنِيْ وَمَنْ أَبْغَضَهُمَا فَقَدْ أَبْغَضَنِيْ وَأَنَا مِنْهُ بَرِئٌ - وَلَوْ كُنْتُ تَقَدَّمْتُ فِيْ أَمْرِهِمَا لَعَاقَبْتُ أَشَدَّ الْعُقُوْبَةِ - فَمَنْ أُتِيْتُ بِهِ بَعْدَ مَقَامِيْ هٰذَا فَعَلَيْهِ مَا عَلَى الْمُفْتَرِيْ - أَلَا وَخَيْرُ هٰذِهِ الْأُمَّةِ بَعْدَ نَبِيِّهَا أَبُوْبَكْرٍ وَعُمَرُ ثُمَّ اللّٰهُ أَعْلَمُ بِالْخَيْرِ أَيْنَ هُوَ - أَقُوْلُ قَوْلِيْ هٰذَا وَيَغْفِرُ اللّٰهُ لِيْ وَلَكُمْ - (خيثمة ، والللكائي ، و ابوالحسن على بن احمد ابن اسحاق البغدادي في فضائل ابی بکر و عمر ، والشيرازي في الألقاب وابن منده في تاريخ اصبهان - كر - كنز ج ۶)
...nor hate them except a wretched transgressor. They both accompanied the Messenger of Allah ﷺ with truthfulness and loyalty, commanding, forbidding, and punishing, and they did not exceed the view of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ in what they did. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ did not see any view like theirs, nor did he love anyone like he loved them. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ passed away while he was pleased with them both, and the people were pleased. Then Abu Bakr was given charge of the prayer, so when Allah took His Prophet ﷺ, the Muslims gave him that charge and entrusted the Zakat to him, because the two are paired. And I was the first to strive for him from Banu Abdul Muttalib, while he disliked it, wishing that one of us had sufficed him. By Allah, he was the best of those who remained—the most compassionate, the most merciful, the wisest in piety, and the foremost in Islam. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ likened him to Mika'il in compassion and mercy, and to Ibrahim in forgiveness and dignity. He proceeded upon the conduct of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ until he passed away, may Allah's mercy be upon him. Then Umar bin al-Khattab took charge of the matter after him, and he consulted the people about that; some were pleased and some disliked it. I was among those who were pleased. By Allah, Umar did not leave the world until whoever disliked him became pleased with him. He established the matter upon the path of the Prophet ﷺ and his companion, following their footsteps just as a weanling camel follows the footsteps of its mother. By Allah, he was the best of those who remained, a merciful companion, and a helper of the oppressed against the oppressor. Then truth struck upon his tongue, until we thought an angel was speaking upon his tongue. Allah strengthened Islam through his Islam, made his migration a support for the Deen, and cast love for him in the hearts of the believers, and awe in the hearts of the hypocrites. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ likened him to Jibreel, being harsh and severe against the enemies, and to Nuh, being wrathful and enraged against the disbelievers. So who do you have like them both? No one can reach their station except by loving them and following their footsteps. So whoever loves them has loved me, and whoever hates them has hated me, and I am free of him. If I had preceded in their matter, I would have punished severely. So whoever is brought to me after this station of mine, upon him is the punishment of a fabricator. Behold! The best of this Ummah after its Prophet are Abu Bakr and Umar, then Allah knows best where goodness lies. I say this word of mine, and may Allah forgive me and you.* *(Khaythamah, and al-Lalika'i, and Abu al-Hasan Ali bin Ahmad bin Ishaq al-Baghdadi in Fada'il Abi Bakr wa Umar, and al-Shirazi in al-Alqab, and Ibn Mandah in Tarikh Asbahan - Kar - Kanz vol 6)
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Vocabulary :- `يَنْتَقِصُوْنَ` : They are reducing, they are pointing out flaws. `أَضْمَرَ` : Concealed/harbored. `صَعِدَ` : Ascended/climbed. `مُنَزَّهٌ` : Pure/exempt. `بَرِئٌ` : Free/absolved, disconnected. `مُعَاقِبٌ` : Avenger, one who punishes. `فَلَقَ` : Cleft/split. `حَبَّةٌ` : Grain/seed. `اَلنَّسَمَةُ` : Living soul, animate being. `فَاجِرٌ` : Sinner. `يَأْمُرَانِ` : Both of them commanding. `يَنْهَيَانِ` : Both of them forbidding, preventing. `مَضٰى` : Passed away. `فَوَّضُوْا` : They delegated/entrusted. `رَأْفَةٌ` : Compassion/mercy. `أَكْيَسَ` : Very pure/wise. `وَرَعٌ` : Piety. `صَارَ` : Walked/proceeded. `اِسْتَأْمَرَ` : Sought consultation. `فَارَقَ` : Left/departed. `كَارِهًا` : Those who disliked. `مِنْهَاج` : Path. `يَتْبَعُ` : He follows, obeys. `اَلْفَصِيْلُ` : A weaned camel calf. `يَنْطِقُ` : He speaks. `أَعَزَّ` : Gave honor, elevated rank. `قَوَامًا` : Pillar/support. `قَذَفَ` : Cast/instilled. `رَهْبَةٌ` : Awe/fear. `شَبَّهَهُ` : Likened him. `فَظًّا` : Harsh-tempered. `غَلِيْظًا` : Severe anger. `حَنَقٌ` : Malice, enmity / wrath. `مُغْتَاظًا` : Full of rage.
Translation :- Hazrat Suwayd bin Ghaflah narrates, "I passed by a group of people who were discussing Abu Bakr and Umar, belittling them. So, I came to Hazrat Ali and mentioned this to him. He said, 'May God curse the one who harbors anything but beautiful goodness for them both! They were the two brothers and two viziers of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.' Then Hazrat Ali ascended the pulpit and delivered an eloquent sermon. He then said, 'What is the matter with people who mention the two leaders of the Quraysh and the two fathers of the Muslims with that from which I am pure, and I am free from what they say, and I am a punisher for what they say? By Him Who split the grain and created the living soul, no one loves them both except a pious believer, and no one hates them both except a wicked sinner. They accompanied the Messenger of Allah ﷺ with truthfulness and purity, forbidding, commanding, and punishing; they did not exceed the view of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ in whatever they did. In comparison to their view, the accepted Messenger did not accept anyone else's view. And he did not love anyone as much as he loved them. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ passed away, and he was pleased with them both, and all the Muslims were also pleased. Then Abu Bakr was given the charge of prayer. When Allah took His Prophet from this world, the Muslims made him the executor of prayer and also assigned the collection of Zakat to him. Because these two (prayer and Zakat) are together in the Qur'an. From Banu Abdul Muttalib, for his Imamate and government, I was the first to strive. He was disinclined...
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...that someone else would work in his place. But he was certainly better than all those who remained. The most compassionate, the most merciful, the highly sensible and pious. He brought Islam before anyone else. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ likened him to Mika'il in affection and mercy, and to Hazrat Ibrahim (AS) in forgiveness and dignity. Abu Bakr followed the conduct of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ until Allah the Exalted took him from this world. May Allah's mercy be upon him. Then Umar bin al-Khattab became the ruler of the Muslims. He consulted the people in this matter (i.e. the matter of governance). Some people became pleased with him, and some expressed dislike (i.e. opposition). I was among those who were pleased. Thus, by God's oath, he did not leave this world until those who were displeased with him also became pleased. Then he established the method of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ and Abu Bakr Siddiq. Hazrat Umar walked on the footsteps of both gentlemen just as a camel's calf walks on the footsteps of its mother. By God's oath, Hazrat Umar was better than all who remained. Highly affectionate, a friend taking the right of the oppressed against the oppressor. Then the truth spoke upon his tongue. So much so that we used to think some angel was speaking from his tongue. Due to his becoming a Muslim, Allah the Exalted gave honor to Islam, and made his migration a support for the Deen. Allah instilled love for him in the hearts of Muslims, and cast his awe and fear in the hearts of the hypocrites. The Messenger of Allah ﷺ likened him to Jibreel in being harsh and strong against the enemies, and likened him to Nuh (AS) in being wrathful and furious against the disbelievers. So now tell me, who among you is like them both? No one can reach their station. However, only loving them and following their footsteps can [elevate one]. Whoever keeps love for them both, he has kept love for me, and whoever is displeased with them is displeased with me. I am free from such a person. Had I been informed about them before, I would have given severe punishment to those people. For this reason, whoever is brought to me after this station (meaning after making this claim), I will give him the punishment of a fabricator (one who makes false accusations). O people! After its Prophet ﷺ, the best in this Ummah are Abu Bakr and Umar. Then Allah the Exalted knows well who is good? I say this...
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