Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah

Aqra’ bin Habis narrates that Hazrat Umar called a priest. Hazrat Umar was questioning him and I was shading both of them. Hazrat Umar asked him, “Do you find mention of us in your books?” He replied, “Yes, there is mention of your qualities and deeds.” Hazrat Umar asked, “What is that?” He said, “I find you as the horn of iron.” Hazrat Umar was a bit disturbed by this and then asked, “What is ‘Qarn Hadeed’ (horn of iron)?” The priest replied, “A strict trustee.” At this, Umar was pleased. Then he asked, “Whom do you find after me?” He replied, “A truthful caliph who will give preference to his relatives.” Hazrat Umar said, “May Allah have mercy on Ibn Affan.” Then Hazrat Umar asked, “What do you find after him?” He said, “A crack in the iron.” There was something in Hazrat Umar’s hand which he was turning over; Hazrat Umar threw it and said two or three times, “Ya Dafra” (O disgraced one). The priest said, “Do not say this, O Commander of the Faithful! Because he will be a Muslim caliph and a good man, but he will become caliph at a time when the sword will be unsheathed and blood will be flowing.” Then Hazrat Umar turned to me and said, “Let us go for prayer.”