Part 45

“Umar then said (to ~Abdullaah): 'Go to * Aishah (the Mother of the Faithful) and say: '*Umar sends you his greetings. But don't say, the Commander of the Faithful, because today I am not the Commander of the Faithful. Say: "Umar Ibn Al-Khattaab asks the permission to be buried with his two companions (i.e. the Prophet, and Abu Bakr).' “Abdullaah greeted “Aishah and asked for the permission to come in. When he walked in on her, he found her weeping. He said to her, ‘Umar Ibn Al-Khattaab sends you his greetings, and asks for your permission to be buried with his two companions.’ She said: 'I was saving this place for myself, but I will prefer “Umar to myself." When he returned, it was said (to “Umar): "* Abdullaah Ibn “Umar has come.' * Umar said: ‘Help me sit up.’ Somebody supported him against his body and “Umar asked (* Abdullaah), ‘What news do you have?’ He said: ‘O Commander of the Faithful! It is as you wish. She has given the permission." “Umar said: 'Praise be to Allah, there was nothing more important to me than this. So when I die, take me, and greet “Aishah and say: '* Umar Ibn Al-Khattaab asks the permission (to be buried with the Prophet ), and if she gives the permission, bury me there. If she refuses, take me to the graveyard of Muslims."

I also advise him to be kind to the Ansar who had lived in Madinah before the Emigrants and faith had entered their hearts before them. I advise the ruler to accept the good of the righteous among them and excuse their wrong-doers, and I advise him to do good to all the people of the provinces, as they are the defenders of Islam and the source of wealth and the source of annoyance to the enemy. I also recommend that nothing be taken from them except from their surplus with their consent. I advise him to do good to the Arab bedouins, as they are the origin of the Arabs and those who lend linguistic support to Islam. He should take from their surplus properties and hand it to the poor amongst them. [ also advise him concerning Allah's and His Messenger's protectees (i.e. Dhimmis) to honor the promises he makes them and to fight for them and not to

overburden them with what is beyond their ability.' So when “Umar passed away, we carried him out and set out walking. *Abdullaah Ibn * Umar greeted (* Aishah) and said, '* Umar Ibn Al-Khattaab asks for your permission.” ~Aishah said, 'Bring him in.’ He was brought in and buried next to his two companions.

When he was buried, the group (recommended by *Uniar) held a meeting. Then ~ Abdur-Rahmaan said: ‘Reduce the candidates for rulership to three of you.' Az-Zubayr said, ‘I give up my right to ‘Ali.’ Talha said: 'I give up my right to *Uthmaan.' Sa*d_ said: 'I give up my right to ~ Abdur-Rahman Ibn ~ Awf.' ~ Abdur-Rahmaan then said (to ~ Uthmaan and ~ Ali): "Now which of you is willing to give up his right of candidacy to that he may choose the better of the (remaining) two, bearing in mind that Allah and Islam will be his witnesses.’ So both Sheiks (i.e. ~Uthmaan and ~ Ali) kept silent. ~ Abdur-Rahmaan said: 'Will you both leave this matter to me, and I take Allah as my Witness that I will not choose but the better of you?’ They said, 'Yes.' So ~ Abdur-Rahmaan took the hand of one of them (i.e. ~Ali) and said, 'You are related to Allah's Messenger and one of the earliest Muslims as you know well. So I ask you by Allah to promise that if I select you as a ruler you will maintain justice, and if I select “Uthmaan as a ruler you will listen to him and obey him.' Then he took the other (i.e. ~ Uthmaan) aside and said the same to him. When ~Abdur-Rahmaan secured {their agreement to) this covenant, he said, ‘O ~ Uthmaan! Raise your hand.’ So he (i.e. ‘Abdur-Rahmaan) gave him (i.e. ~Uthmaan) the solemn pledge; ~ Ali did the same, and then all people in Madinah gave him their pledge of allegiance." (Reported by Al-Buklhari.)

Ibn “Umar said: "*Umar's head was resting on my lap. So he said: ‘Place my cheek on the ground.' So I did. He then said: 'Woe unto me and woe unto my mother if Allah does not

have mercy on me.'" (Reported by Adh-Dhahabi.)

Just as “Umar's life was an example of justice and asceticism, his death was, too, His dying request to his son, *Abdullaah was: "Be economic when shrouding me, for if I have earned myself Allah's good reward, He will grant me what is far better than it, and if not, He will immediately take it away from me. Be economic when digging my grave, for if I have earned myself Allah's good reward, He will then expand it for me for as far as my eyes can see, and if not, He will shrink it till my ribs are squeezed. No woman is to attend my funeral. Do not praise me for what is not in me, for Allah knows best all about me. Hurry as you carry me to my grave, for if I have earned myself Allah's good reward, you will have brought me to what is far better for me, and if not, you will have taken off your shoulders an evil you were carrying." (Reported by Ibn Sa‘ d.)

The Prophet's Companions Commend * Umar:

Abu Wa’'il, may Allah rest his soul in peace, narrates: "Abdullaah Ibn Mas*ood informed us of *Umar's death. Never have I seen him weeping more or looking sadder than that day. He then said: ' 1 swear by Allah should I know that *Umar loved a dog, I would love it.'"

*Abdullaah Ibn * Abbaas was asked: "What have you got to say about Umar?" He answered: "May Allah have mercy on Abu Hafs (i.e. “Umar). I swear that he was an ally of Islam, a shelter for the orphans, a residence for faith, an example of benevolence, a resort for the weak, a defender of the truth, a source of help for people. Armed with patience and seeking Allah's reward, he strove till Islam was victorious, provinces conquered, and the name of Allah, Exalted be He, mentioned on hills and landscapes. He glorified Allah in times of plenty and hardships, and was grateful to Him all the time. Whoever

hates him shall be doomed till Judgment Day. (Quoted from ArRiyad An-Nadirah.)

Al--Abbaas Ibn ~Abdul-Mutalib, may Allah be pleased with him, said: "I was “Umar Ibn Al-Khattaab's neighbour. Never have I seen anyone better than “Umar; he would spend all night praying, and all day fasting and fulfilling people's needs." (Reported by As-Siyooti.)

Hudhayfah stated: "While ~ Umar lived, Islam was like an approaching man who only gets closer. When “Umar, may Allah rest his soul in peace, was killed, it became like a leaving man who only gets further." (Reported by Ibn Sa*d.)

Ibn ~Abbaas, may Allah be pleased with him and his father, said: "“Umar was on his bed and was surrounded by people praying and supplicating before he was carried to his grave. I was among them, and I was startled by a man who placed his hand on my shoulder. It was ~ Ali Ibn Abu Taalib. He prayed that Allah would have mercy on “Umar and said: "I have never wished to meet the Lord having done deeds better than yours. I swear by Allah that 1 think you will join your companion. I thought I often heard the Prophet, peace and blessing be upon him, say: 'Abu Bakr, ~ Umar and I went; Abu Bakr, ~Umar and I came in; Abu Bakr, ~ Umar and I stepped out.'" (Reported by Al-Bukhari.)

Ibn ~Abbaas, may Allah be pleased with him and his father, said: "Always mention ~ Umar, for if you mention him, you mention justice; and if you mention justice, you mention Allah, Glorified be He." (Quoted from Asadul-Ghaabah.)

Among “Umar's Memorable Words:

“Take account of yourselves before you are brought to

Jabir said that he heard ~Umar Ibn Al-Khattaab say on the pulpit when he married Umm Kulthoom, the daughter of “Ali and Faatimah: "Do not disparage me (for marrying a. young girl), for I heard the Prophet say: 'On Judgment Day every means will be cut off and every lineage severed except my lineage.'" He desired to place himself in the Prophet's lineage through this marriage due to the precedence of Afi AlBayt (i.e. the Prophet's household) in the Prophet's intercession. Umm Kulthoom bore him two children, Zayd and Ruqayyah.

From Malik Ad-Darr: “The people suffered a draught in “Umar's caliphate, whereupon aman came to the grave of the Prophet and said: 'O Messenger of Allah! Ask for rain for your nation, for verily they have but perished.' After this the Prophet appeared to him in a dream and told him: 'Go to ~Umar and give him my greeting, then tell him that they will be watered. Tell him, Be clever!’ The man went to ~ Umar and repeated to him those words. The latter said: 'My lord, I spare no effort except in what escapes my power.'"

From Mujahid: "We found that the goodness of our lives was patience.”

From *Urwah Ibn Az-Zubayr: "I swear by Allah that my heart has softened for Allah's sake until it became softer than butter, and it has hardened for Allah's sake until it became harder than stone."