Bukhari

Hadith Commentary:
The kunyah of Sayyiduna Umar ibn al-Khattab radi Allahu anhu is Abu Hafs. He was from the ‘Adawi clan of the Quraysh. He entered Islam in the sixth year of Prophethood; some have said it was in the fifth year. Before him, forty men and eleven women had already embraced Islam, and it is said that Umar radi Allahu anhu was the fortieth man. From the very day he accepted Islam, Islam began to be openly proclaimed. For this reason, his title became "al-Farooq" (the one who distinguishes between truth and falsehood).

Ibn Abbas radi Allahu anhu says: I asked Umar radi Allahu anhu how he received the title "al-Farooq." He replied: Hamzah radi Allahu anhu had accepted Islam three days before me. After that, Allah Almighty opened my heart to Islam, so I said: "Allah! There is no deity except Him; to Him belong the most beautiful names." After that, no soul was dearer to me than the soul of the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam. Then I inquired where the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam was residing, and my sister informed me that he was at the house of Arqam ibn Abi Arqam, which is near Mount Safa. I went to the house of Abu Arqam, where Hamzah radi Allahu anhu and other companions were present, and the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam was also inside.

I knocked on the door, and the people wanted to go out. Hamzah radi Allahu anhu said: "What is the matter with you people?" They all said: "Umar ibn al-Khattab radi Allahu anhu has come." Then the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam came out and grabbed me by my clothes. He pulled me so forcefully towards himself that I could not resist and fell to my knees. Then the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said: "Umar, how long will you refrain from abandoning this disbelief?" Spontaneously, I uttered: "I bear witness that there is no deity except Allah, alone, without partner, and I bear witness that Muhammad is His servant and Messenger." At this, all the people in the house of Arqam raised the slogan of takbir so loudly that its sound was heard in the Sacred Sanctuary (Haram).

After that, I said: "O Messenger of Allah! Are we not upon the true religion in life and in death?" He replied: "Why not? By the One in Whose hand is my soul, you are all upon the truth, in your life and in your death." I then said: "Then what is the meaning of hiding this truth? By the One Who has sent you with the truth, we will surely go out with this truth." Thus, we brought the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam out between two rows. In one row was Hamzah radi Allahu anhu, and in the other was myself, and due to the fervor of faith within me, there was a grinding sound like that of a millstone. When we reached Masjid al-Haram, the Quraysh saw me and Hamzah radi Allahu anhu, and they were so grieved that they had never experienced such grief before. On that very day, the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam named me "al-Farooq," for Allah, through me, distinguished between truth and falsehood.

It is narrated that when he accepted Islam, Jibril Amin alayhis salam came and said: "O Messenger of Allah! Today, with Umar's acceptance of Islam, all the inhabitants of the heavens have become exceedingly happy."

Abdullah ibn Mas‘ud radi Allahu anhu says: "By Allah, I am certain that if the knowledge of Umar radi Allahu anhu were placed on one side of the scale and the knowledge of all living people on the other, the side with Umar's knowledge would surely outweigh the other."

He participated in all the battles alongside the Noble Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, and he was the first caliph to be addressed as "Amir al-Mu’minin" (Commander of the Faithful).

Umar radi Allahu anhu was fair-skinned and tall. Most of the hair on his head had fallen out. There was a reddish tinge in his eyes. During his caliphate, he managed all affairs of governance in the best manner.

Finally, in Madinah, on Wednesday, the 26th of Dhu al-Hijjah, 23 AH, he was wounded with a dagger by Abu Lu’lu’ah, the slave of Mughirah ibn Shu‘bah, and on the 1st of Muharram al-Haram, he drank from the cup of martyrdom. He lived to the age of sixty-three. The duration of his caliphate was ten years and six months. His funeral prayer was led by Suhayb al-Rumi. Before his death, he formally obtained permission from Aisha radi Allahu anha to be buried in the chamber of the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam.

Hafiz Ibn Hajar says:
"Wa fihi al-hirs ‘ala mujawarat al-salihin fi al-qubur tama‘an fi isabat al-rahmah idha nazalat ‘alayhim wa fi du‘a’ man yazuruhum min ahl al-khayr."
That is, in this incident, there is also the aspect that it is permissible to be eager to be buried near the righteous servants (salihin), in the hope that when Allah’s mercy descends upon them, one may also partake in it, and that those people of goodness who come to pray for them will also pray at one’s grave. In this way, one will also share in the supplications.

Subhan Allah, what a status! Every year, millions of Muslims reach Madinah al-Sharif and send blessings and peace upon the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam. Along with this, they also have the opportunity to send salutations upon his devoted companions, Abu Bakr al-Siddiq radi Allahu anhu and al-Farooq al-A‘zam radi Allahu anhu. Truly, "the gaze of favor, when it makes one acquainted with the secret, why should he not be proud of his good fortune?" Among the ten given glad tidings of Paradise (asharah mubashsharah), these were the people whose names Umar radi Allahu anhu mentioned for the committee to appoint the next caliph. Abu ‘Ubaydah ibn al-Jarrah had passed away, and Sa‘id ibn Zayd was alive, but he was a relative of Umar radi Allahu anhu, i.e., his paternal cousin, so his name was not included.

In another narration, it is stated that he emphatically said: "See, my son Abdullah has no right to the caliphate." This is that achievement of his for which today’s so-called democracies could be sacrificed thousands of times over.

Such was the humility of Umar radi Allahu anhu that, having governed with perfect justice throughout his caliphate, even at the end he considered it a blessing if he neither received reward nor punishment for the caliphate, but simply broke even.

In the end, he gave the best advice to the Muhajirun and Ansar, and his greatest achievement was that for those non-Muslims who lived under the protection of the Islamic caliphate, he gave special instructions that they should never be betrayed, nor should any burden be placed upon them beyond their capacity.

Hadith Commentary:
(1)
Imam al-Bukhari rahimahullah seeks to establish, through this lengthy hadith, the significance of the final resting place of Umar radi Allahu anhu and its importance in his eyes. Although this hadith does not mention his burial, Imam al-Bukhari rahimahullah has narrated it at another place. Thus, Abdullah ibn Umar radi Allahu anhu reports that when Umar radi Allahu anhu passed away, we carried his funeral towards the Prophet’s Mosque. Upon arrival, I conveyed Umar’s salam and said to Aisha radi Allahu anha, “Umar ibn al-Khattab radi Allahu anhu seeks permission.” After she granted permission, he was buried alongside the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam and Abu Bakr radi Allahu anhu. (Sahih al-Bukhari, The Virtues of the Companions of the Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, Hadith: 3700)

(2)
Since his martyrdom occurred suddenly, there were three matters of great importance to him:
• The issue of the caliphate.
• The repayment of debts.
• The desire to be buried in the proximity of the Messenger sallallahu alayhi wa sallam.
Among these, the last was of the utmost significance. Thus, he said that nothing was more important to him than attaining that resting place. His greatest concern, longing, and wish was to obtain that blessed and sacred spot. For its attainment, he made a very humble request to Aisha radi Allahu anha. He instructed his beloved son to mention his name instead of saying “Amir al-Mu’minin.” In short, he fully reassured Aisha radi Allahu anha so that she would not feel any discomfort or pressure regarding this matter. (Fath al-Bari: 7/85)

Subhan Allah! What a status this is! Every year, millions of Muslims arrive in Madinah al-Tayyibah to send blessings and salutations upon the Messenger of Allah sallallahu alayhi wa sallam, and at the same time, they also have the opportunity to send salutations upon his devoted companions, Abu Bakr al-Siddiq and Umar al-Faruq radi Allahu anhuma.