Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah 37170 — The words of Umar bin al-Khattab

It is narrated from Muhammad bin Suqah, who said: I came to Nu'aym bin Abi Hind and he brought out a document to show me. In it was written: This letter is from Abu Ubaydah bin al-Jarrah (may Allah be pleased with him) and Mu'adh bin Jabal (may Allah be pleased with him) to Sayyiduna Umar bin al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him). Peace be upon you. To proceed: We knew you when the matter of your own self was of great importance to you. You are now in such a state that you have been given authority over the red and the black of this Ummah. The noble and the lowly sit before you, and friend and enemy sit before you, and each receives his share of justice. O Umar (may Allah be pleased with him)! So look to how you will be at that point. For we warn you of a day on which faces will be humbled, hearts will have dried up, and arguments will be cut off on that day. There will be a King who will prevail over the people by His might, and creation will be abased before Him, hoping for the mercy of their Lord and fearing His punishment. And it used to be related to us that the matter of this Ummah would, in its last days, return to this: that they would be brothers in public and enemies in private. And we seek refuge with Allah from this letter of ours to you settling anywhere other than the place from which it has come down from our hearts. For we have written to you only out of sincere goodwill. Peace be upon you. Then Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) wrote to the two of them: From Umar bin al-Khattab to Sayyiduna Abu Ubaydah bin al-Jarrah (may Allah be pleased with him) and Sayyiduna Mu'adh bin Jabal (may Allah be pleased with him). Peace be upon you both. To proceed: You have written to me, reminding me that you knew me when the matter of my own self was of great importance to me, and that I am now in such a state that I have been given authority over the red and the black of this Ummah. The noble and the lowly sit before me, and friend and enemy sit before me, and each has his share of that. And you also wrote to me: O Umar, take care how you will be at that point. At such a time Umar has no support except the might and power of Allah. And you wrote to me warning me of what the nations before us were warned of. It has been the way since ancient times that the alternation of night and day, along with the terms of people, brings every distant thing near, wears out every new thing and brings forth everything promised, until people return to their abodes in Paradise or Hell. And you also wrote to remind me that it used to be related to you that the matter of this Ummah would, in the last days, return to this: that they would be brothers outwardly and enemies in private. But you are not such people, and this is not that time. That will be a time in which fear and longing appear openly. The longing of some people towards others will be for the improvement of their worldly life, and some people will fear others. You wrote this letter to me, exhorting me in the name of Allah that this letter should settle in the same place from which it has come down from your hearts. You have written this letter as sincere advice, exhorting me by Allah, and you have spoken the truth. So do not stop writing to me, for I cannot do without you. Peace be upon you both.