Theme Five: One of the outstanding qualities of Sayyidina ‘Umar radiya Llahu ‘anhu is that Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala favoured him with a perfect degree of enthusiasm and drive to support the truth and truthfulness.
Theme Four: According to Sayyidina ‘Ali, Sayyidina ‘Umar’s radiya Llahu ‘anhuma behaviour, actions, and the administrative matters of his khilafah were correct.
February 6, 2019Theme Six: According to Sayyidina ‘Ali, Sayyidina ‘Umar radiya Llahu ‘anhuma was the rightful successor of Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam and held a position just after Sayyidina Abu Bakr radiya Llahu ‘anhu.
February 6, 2019BACK⇒ Return to Table of contents
Theme Five
One of the outstanding qualities of Sayyidina ‘Umar radiya Llahu ‘anhu is that Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala favoured him with a perfect degree of enthusiasm and drive to support the truth. Supporting the truth was part of his temperament. Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam says accordingly:
إن الله جعل الحق على لسان عمر و قلبه
Undoubtedly, Allah has placed the truth on ‘Umar’s tongue and heart.[1]
After presenting these words, we return to our previous discussion. Sayyidina ‘Ali would say in favour of Sayyidina ‘Umar radiya Llahu ‘anhuma that we never doubted at all that sakinah (truth and wisdom) descended on ‘Umar’s tongue and calmness was inspired in his heart. Owing to this, he supported the truth in all instances and never tolerated anything besides the truth.
This statement of Sayyidina ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu is captured by the senior ‘Ulama’ with the following wording:
ما كنا نبعد أن السكينة تنطق على لسان عمر
We never doubted that ‘Umar was the voice of wisdom.[2][3]
عن عمرو بن ميمون عن علي بن أبي طالب كرم الله وجهه قال إذا ذكر الصالحون فحي هلا بعمر ما كنا ننكر و نحن أصحاب رسول الله متوافرون أن السكينة تنطق على لسان عمر
‘Amr ibn Maymun reports from ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib radiya Llahu ‘anhu:
When the pious are mentioned, then begin with ‘Umar. We never rejected―and we are all the companions of Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam―that the truth flowed on ‘Umar’s tongue.[4]
عن زهير عن إسماعيل بن أبي خالد عن الشعبي عن علي بن أبي طالب كرم الله وجهه قال ما كنا نشك إلا أن السكينة تنطق على لسان عمر رواه الثوري و ابن عيينة و شريك و هريم و أسباط و ابن السماك و سعيد بن الصلت في آخرين عن إسماعيل مثله
From Zuhair — from Ismail ibn Abi Khalid — from al Sha’bi — from ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib radiya Llahu ‘anhu who declared:
We had no doubt that wisdom flowed on ‘Umar’s tongue.
Al Thawri, Ibn ‘Uyaynah, Sharik, Huraym, Asbat, Ibn al Sammak, and Sa’id ibn al Salt among other reported it from Ismail with the same wording.[5]
عن علي قال إن ذكر الصالحون فحي هلا بعمر ما كنا نبعد أصحاب محمد أن السكينة تنطق على لسان عمر
‘Ali stated:
If the righteous are mentioned, then start with ‘Umar. We the companions of Muhammad had no doubt that ‘Umar was the voice of wisdom.[6]
أخرج ابن منيع في مسنده عن علي قال كنا أصحاب محمد صلى الله عليه و سلم لا نشك أن السكينة تنطق على لسان عمر
Ibn Mani’ documents in his Musnad that ‘Ali announced: We the companions of Muhammad salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam had no doubt that wisdom descended on ‘Umar’s tongue.[7]
عن وهب السوائي قال خطب علي الناس فقال من خير هذه الأمة بعد نبيها قالوا أنت يا أمير المؤمنين قال لا بل أبو بكر ثم عمر إنا كنا نظن أن السكينة لتنطق على لسان عمر
Wahb al Sawa’i reports:
‘Ali delivered a sermon to the people and asked, “Who is the best of this ummah after its Nabi?”
They replied, “You are, O Amir al Mu’minin.”
He retorted, “No, rather it is Abu Bakr then ‘Umar. We believed that ‘Umar was the voice of wisdom.”[8]
This is further supported by Sayyidina ‘Ali’s radiya Llahu ‘anhu transmission of the declaration of Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam in favour of Sayyidina ‘Umar radiya Llahu ‘anhu:
رحم الله عمر يقول الحق و إن كان مرا تركه الحق و ما له من صديق
May Allah shower mercy upon ‘Umar. He speaks the truth even though it is bitter (to people). Speaking the truth has left him without any friend.[9]
Deductions
- Sayyidina ‘Umar’s radiya Llahu ‘anhu truthfulness and honesty has been attested to on the tongue of Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam and Sayyidina ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu.
- Sayyidina ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu coupled with all the Sahabah radiya Llahu ‘anhum acknowledge his truthful speech and believed him.
- We learn from Sayyidina ‘Ali’s radiya Llahu ‘anhu statements that Sayyidina ‘Umar’s radiya Llahu ‘anhu heart was divinely inspired, which he termed sakinah.
- This proves that they appreciated, respected, and admired each other.
[1] Mishkat al Masabih, pg. 557, chapter on the virtues of ‘Umar, section 2, with reference to Jami’ al Tirmidhi and Sunan Abi Dawood, Nur Muhammadi print, Delhi.
[2] Al Sakinah: Something soothing to the souls and comforting to the hearts.
[3] Musannaf ‘Abdul Razzaq, vol. 11 pg. 222; Kitab al Amwal, pg. 543, Egypt print; Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah, book on virtues, under the virtues of ‘Umar ibn al Khattab.
[4] Hilyat al Auliya’, vol. 4 pg. 152, discussion on ‘Amr ibn Maymun al Awadi.
[5] Ibid, vol. 4 pg. 328, discussion on ‘Amir al Sha’bi.
[6] Majma’ al Zawa’id, vol. 9 pg. 67, chapter on the virtues of ‘Umar ibn al Khattab, with reference to al Tabarani: al Awsat whose isnad is Hassan, Egypt print; Mishkat al Masabih, chapter on the virtues of ‘Umar ibn al Khattab, section 2, with reference to al Baihaqi: Dala’il al Nubuwwah, pg. 557.
[7] Jalal al Din al Suyuti: Tarikh al Khulafa’, pg. 84, section on the ahadith transmitted in his favour besides those past regarding al Siddiq, Delhi print; al Riyad al Nadirah fi Manaqib al ‘Asharah, vol. 1 pg. 270, chapter on the virtues and merits of ‘Umar; Kanz al ‘Ummal, vol. 6 pg. 340, with reference to al Tabarani, vol. 6 pg. 337, 370 and to Ibn ‘Asakir, first edition, Hyderabad, Dakkan.
[8] Kanz al ‘Ummal, vol. 6 pg. 340, with reference to Ibn ‘Asakir, first edition, Hyderabad, Dakkan.
[9] Usd al Ghabah, vol. 4 pg. 65, discussion on ‘Umar ibn al Khattab.
BACK⇒ Return to Table of contents
Theme Five
One of the outstanding qualities of Sayyidina ‘Umar radiya Llahu ‘anhu is that Allah subhanahu wa ta ‘ala favoured him with a perfect degree of enthusiasm and drive to support the truth. Supporting the truth was part of his temperament. Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam says accordingly:
إن الله جعل الحق على لسان عمر و قلبه
Undoubtedly, Allah has placed the truth on ‘Umar’s tongue and heart.[1]
After presenting these words, we return to our previous discussion. Sayyidina ‘Ali would say in favour of Sayyidina ‘Umar radiya Llahu ‘anhuma that we never doubted at all that sakinah (truth and wisdom) descended on ‘Umar’s tongue and calmness was inspired in his heart. Owing to this, he supported the truth in all instances and never tolerated anything besides the truth.
This statement of Sayyidina ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu is captured by the senior ‘Ulama’ with the following wording:
ما كنا نبعد أن السكينة تنطق على لسان عمر
We never doubted that ‘Umar was the voice of wisdom.[2][3]
عن عمرو بن ميمون عن علي بن أبي طالب كرم الله وجهه قال إذا ذكر الصالحون فحي هلا بعمر ما كنا ننكر و نحن أصحاب رسول الله متوافرون أن السكينة تنطق على لسان عمر
‘Amr ibn Maymun reports from ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib radiya Llahu ‘anhu:
When the pious are mentioned, then begin with ‘Umar. We never rejected―and we are all the companions of Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam―that the truth flowed on ‘Umar’s tongue.[4]
عن زهير عن إسماعيل بن أبي خالد عن الشعبي عن علي بن أبي طالب كرم الله وجهه قال ما كنا نشك إلا أن السكينة تنطق على لسان عمر رواه الثوري و ابن عيينة و شريك و هريم و أسباط و ابن السماك و سعيد بن الصلت في آخرين عن إسماعيل مثله
From Zuhair — from Ismail ibn Abi Khalid — from al Sha’bi — from ‘Ali ibn Abi Talib radiya Llahu ‘anhu who declared:
We had no doubt that wisdom flowed on ‘Umar’s tongue.
Al Thawri, Ibn ‘Uyaynah, Sharik, Huraym, Asbat, Ibn al Sammak, and Sa’id ibn al Salt among other reported it from Ismail with the same wording.[5]
عن علي قال إن ذكر الصالحون فحي هلا بعمر ما كنا نبعد أصحاب محمد أن السكينة تنطق على لسان عمر
‘Ali stated:
If the righteous are mentioned, then start with ‘Umar. We the companions of Muhammad had no doubt that ‘Umar was the voice of wisdom.[6]
أخرج ابن منيع في مسنده عن علي قال كنا أصحاب محمد صلى الله عليه و سلم لا نشك أن السكينة تنطق على لسان عمر
Ibn Mani’ documents in his Musnad that ‘Ali announced: We the companions of Muhammad salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam had no doubt that wisdom descended on ‘Umar’s tongue.[7]
عن وهب السوائي قال خطب علي الناس فقال من خير هذه الأمة بعد نبيها قالوا أنت يا أمير المؤمنين قال لا بل أبو بكر ثم عمر إنا كنا نظن أن السكينة لتنطق على لسان عمر
Wahb al Sawa’i reports:
‘Ali delivered a sermon to the people and asked, “Who is the best of this ummah after its Nabi?”
They replied, “You are, O Amir al Mu’minin.”
He retorted, “No, rather it is Abu Bakr then ‘Umar. We believed that ‘Umar was the voice of wisdom.”[8]
This is further supported by Sayyidina ‘Ali’s radiya Llahu ‘anhu transmission of the declaration of Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam in favour of Sayyidina ‘Umar radiya Llahu ‘anhu:
رحم الله عمر يقول الحق و إن كان مرا تركه الحق و ما له من صديق
May Allah shower mercy upon ‘Umar. He speaks the truth even though it is bitter (to people). Speaking the truth has left him without any friend.[9]
Deductions
- Sayyidina ‘Umar’s radiya Llahu ‘anhu truthfulness and honesty has been attested to on the tongue of Rasulullah salla Llahu ‘alayhi wa sallam and Sayyidina ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu.
- Sayyidina ‘Ali radiya Llahu ‘anhu coupled with all the Sahabah radiya Llahu ‘anhum acknowledge his truthful speech and believed him.
- We learn from Sayyidina ‘Ali’s radiya Llahu ‘anhu statements that Sayyidina ‘Umar’s radiya Llahu ‘anhu heart was divinely inspired, which he termed sakinah.
- This proves that they appreciated, respected, and admired each other.
[1] Mishkat al Masabih, pg. 557, chapter on the virtues of ‘Umar, section 2, with reference to Jami’ al Tirmidhi and Sunan Abi Dawood, Nur Muhammadi print, Delhi.
[2] Al Sakinah: Something soothing to the souls and comforting to the hearts.
[3] Musannaf ‘Abdul Razzaq, vol. 11 pg. 222; Kitab al Amwal, pg. 543, Egypt print; Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah, book on virtues, under the virtues of ‘Umar ibn al Khattab.
[4] Hilyat al Auliya’, vol. 4 pg. 152, discussion on ‘Amr ibn Maymun al Awadi.
[5] Ibid, vol. 4 pg. 328, discussion on ‘Amir al Sha’bi.
[6] Majma’ al Zawa’id, vol. 9 pg. 67, chapter on the virtues of ‘Umar ibn al Khattab, with reference to al Tabarani: al Awsat whose isnad is Hassan, Egypt print; Mishkat al Masabih, chapter on the virtues of ‘Umar ibn al Khattab, section 2, with reference to al Baihaqi: Dala’il al Nubuwwah, pg. 557.
[7] Jalal al Din al Suyuti: Tarikh al Khulafa’, pg. 84, section on the ahadith transmitted in his favour besides those past regarding al Siddiq, Delhi print; al Riyad al Nadirah fi Manaqib al ‘Asharah, vol. 1 pg. 270, chapter on the virtues and merits of ‘Umar; Kanz al ‘Ummal, vol. 6 pg. 340, with reference to al Tabarani, vol. 6 pg. 337, 370 and to Ibn ‘Asakir, first edition, Hyderabad, Dakkan.
[8] Kanz al ‘Ummal, vol. 6 pg. 340, with reference to Ibn ‘Asakir, first edition, Hyderabad, Dakkan.
[9] Usd al Ghabah, vol. 4 pg. 65, discussion on ‘Umar ibn al Khattab.