Fath al-Rabbani

Benefits: … The meaning of “hadhyan” is to speak irrationally due to illness. Sayyiduna Umar radi Allahu anhu intended to ask about the condition of the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, whether, due to the severity of the fever, the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam was muttering (as is the case with a sick person). He meant: understand well (what the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam means, inquire about it). It cannot be assumed about Sayyiduna Umar radi Allahu anhu that he attributed “hadhyan” to the Prophet; rather, his purpose was to ask whether the Prophet’s speech had become mixed up, that sometimes he would say one thing and sometimes another, as happens in illness.

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas radi Allahu anhuma that the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said: “Bring me writing material so that I may write for you a document after which you will never go astray.” Umar said: “The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam is overcome by pain, and we have the Book of Allah, that is sufficient for us.” So the companions differed and there was much talk. The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said: “Get up from me.” (Sahih Bukhari: 114)

At this point, it is also necessary to understand the love and passion of Sayyiduna Umar radi Allahu anhu. This is the same Umar who was not ready to accept the death of the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, and due to the great calamity, he was so overcome by terror that even the verses indicating the Prophet’s death did not come to his mind.

The important point is that the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam remained alive for three days after this incident; if this matter had been blameworthy, the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam would have corrected it.

In summary, to understand the words of Sayyiduna Umar radi Allahu anhu, it is necessary to understand his relationship with the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam and the circumstances faced by the companions.

If a person reflects on this incident, he can actually derive the virtue of Sayyiduna Umar radi Allahu anhu from it, in that the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam agreed with him and abandoned the intention to write. Consider the following narration:

It is narrated from Sayyidah Aisha radi Allahu anha, she says: The Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam came to me on the day his illness began, and I said: “Oh, my head!” The Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said: “I wish that happened while I was alive, so I could prepare you (for burial), pray for your forgiveness, and bury you.” I, out of jealousy, said: “It is as if on that day you would be alone with one of your other wives.” The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said: “Rather, I myself am saying, ‘Oh, my head!’ due to the pain. Call your father and your brother to me so that I may write a document for Abu Bakr, for I fear that someone will say (something), and someone who desires (leadership) will wish for it, saying, ‘I am more deserving,’ but Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, and the believers will refuse anyone except Abu Bakr.” (Sahih Bukhari: 5666, 7217; Sahih Muslim: 2387; wording from Ahmad)

From this hadith, it is known that the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam wanted to have something written regarding the caliphate of Sayyiduna Abu Bakr radi Allahu anhu, but then the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam approved of the advice of Sayyiduna Umar radi Allahu anhu and did not have anything written, leaving the matter of appointing the caliph to hints, allusions, and the consultation of the companions. Then those blessed souls also, in exact accordance with the wish of the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, chose Sayyiduna Abu Bakr radi Allahu anhu, and at the forefront of this selection was Umar, who had advised not to prepare the written document.