Reports on the virtue of Umar bin al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him)

Sayyiduna Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him) said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) say: "Indeed, Allah Almighty has made the truth flow upon the tongue of Umar."

Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "I was shown in a dream as though I were drawing a bucket from a well with a pulley. Then Abu Bakr came and drew out one or two buckets, and he drew very weakly; may Allah forgive him. Then Umar bin al-Khattab came and drew water, and the bucket turned into a huge leather bucket. I have not seen any mighty man perform such astonishing work as Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) did, until the people had drunk their fill and settled their camels by the water."

Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "While I was drawing water at a well, Ibn Abi Quhafah came and drew out one or two buckets with great weakness; may Allah forgive him. Then Umar bin al-Khattab came and drew until it turned into a huge leather bucket in his hand, and the people settled by the water. I have not seen any mighty man perform such astonishing work as he did."

Al-Aswad bin Hilal (may Allah have mercy on him) said that a Bedouin related to them: I was present one day with the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) at the dawn prayer. He (peace and blessings be upon him) turned his face toward the people and said: "Last night I saw people of my Ummah being weighed. Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) was weighed and his pan was heavier. Then Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) was weighed and his pan was heavier."

Abu Salamah said: The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Indeed, among those who have passed there were men whose presumption would be correct, and they were not prophets. If there is any of them in my Ummah, it is Umar (may Allah be pleased with him)."

Qays (may Allah have mercy on him) said that Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "When Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) accepted Islam, we became honored for good."

Imam al-Sha'bi (may Allah have mercy on him) said that Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "We did not consider it unlikely that tranquility and mercy spoke through the tongue of Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him)."

Al-Aswad (may Allah have mercy on him) said: When the righteous were mentioned before Sayyiduna Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him), he would immediately call out the name of Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him).

Tariq bin Shihab (may Allah have mercy on him) said: When the righteous and the virtuous were mentioned before Sayyiduna Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him), he would immediately call out the name of Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him).

Zayd bin Wahb (may Allah have mercy on him) said that Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "Indeed, Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) was a strong fortress for Islam, which Islam entered and from which Islam did not leave. When Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) was killed, a breach opened in that fortress. Then Islam went out of it and did not enter it again."

Tariq bin Shihab (may Allah have mercy on him) said: On the day Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) was killed, Sayyidah Umm Ayman (may Allah be pleased with her) said: "Today a breach has opened in Islam."

Zirr (may Allah have mercy on him) reports that Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) said: A man met a devil in one of the streets of Madinah. The two seized each other, and then the devil was thrown down. Sayyiduna Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) was asked who that man was. He said: "Whom do you suppose it could be other than Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him)?"

Ibrahim bin Muhajir (may Allah have mercy on him) reports that Mujahid (may Allah have mercy on him) said: Whatever opinion Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) held, the Qur'an would be revealed accordingly.

Al-Musayyib (may Allah have mercy on him) reports that Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) said: We, the companions of Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him), did not speak only in hints of the fact that an angel surely speaks on the tongue of Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him).

Wasil (may Allah have mercy on him) reports that Mujahid (may Allah have mercy on him) said: We used to say among ourselves that the devils were surely bound in shackles in the time of Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him). Then, when he passed away, they scattered.

Abu Wa'il (may Allah have mercy on him) reports that Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) said: I held no other view about Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) than that it was as though an angel was between his two eyes, guiding him and keeping him on the straight path.

Zayd bin Wahb (may Allah have mercy on him) reports that Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) said: Surely any household of the Arabs upon whom the calamity of the death of Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) did not enter is an evil household.

Sayyiduna Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) reports that on the day Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) died, Sayyiduna Abu Talhah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: There is no household, whether settled or nomadic, but that it has suffered a loss.

Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reports that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "Indeed, Allah Almighty has placed the truth on the tongue and in the heart of Umar."

Abd al-Malik (may Allah have mercy on him) reports that Qabisah bin Jabir (may Allah have mercy on him) said: I have not seen any man who knew Allah better than Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him), or recited the Book of Allah more, or had a deeper understanding of the religion of Allah.

Zayd bin Wahb (may Allah have mercy on him) reports that Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) said: I do not suppose there is any household of the Muslims which the grief for Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) did not enter on the day of his death, except an evil household. Surely Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) was the one among us who knew Allah Almighty best, who recited the Book of Allah most, and who had the deepest understanding of the religion of Allah.

Zirr (may Allah have mercy on him) reports that Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) said: When the righteous are mentioned, then be quick to mention Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him). Surely his Islam was a help for the Muslims, and his caliphate was a victory for the Muslims. By Allah, I know of nothing on the earth but that it felt the loss of Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him), even the thorn trees. By Allah, I used to think that there was an angel between his two eyes, showing him the straight path and guiding him. And by Allah, I used to think that Satan feared to make any breach in Islam, because Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) would throw it back upon him. By Allah, if I were to learn that even a dog loves Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him), I would love it too.

Mus'ab bin Sa'd (may Allah have mercy on him) reports that Sayyiduna Mu'adh bin Jabal (may Allah be pleased with him) said: Surely Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) is in Paradise, and all that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) saw in sleep and in wakefulness is true. The Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "I was in Paradise when I saw a house in it, so I asked: 'For whom is this?' It was said: 'For Umar bin al-Khattab.'"

Sayyiduna Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) reports that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "I entered Paradise and saw a beautiful palace made of gold, so I asked: 'Whose house is this?' The angels said: 'It belongs to a young man of Quraysh.' I supposed that I myself must be he, so I asked: 'Which young man is that?' They said: 'Umar bin al-Khattab.'"

Sayyiduna Abu Hurayrah (may Allah be pleased with him) reports that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "I entered Paradise and saw in it a palace of gold whose beauty greatly pleased me. I asked: 'For whom is this?' I was told: 'For Umar bin al-Khattab.' Nothing kept me from entering it except that I recalled your sense of honour, O Abu Hafs." At this Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) began to weep and said: "O Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him)! Would I feel jealous concerning you (peace and blessings be upon him)?!"

Sayyiduna Jabir (may Allah be pleased with him) reports that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "I entered Paradise and saw in it a house or a palace. I heard a voice, so I asked: 'Whose is this?' The answer was given: 'It belongs to Umar bin al-Khattab.' Then I wanted to enter it, but I remembered your sense of honour." At this Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) began to weep and said: "O Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him)! Would I feel jealous concerning you (peace and blessings be upon him)?!"

Sayyiduna Buraydah (may Allah be pleased with him) reports that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "I passed by a square palace of gold which had upper chambers, so I asked: 'Whose palace is this?' The answer was given: 'It belongs to a man from among the Arabs.' I said: 'I too am an Arab. Whose palace is this?' They said: 'It belongs to a member of the nation of Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him).' I said: 'I am Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him). Whose palace is this?' They said: 'It belongs to Umar bin al-Khattab.'"

Sayyiduna Buraydah (may Allah be pleased with him) reports that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "I think, O Umar, that Satan is afraid of you."

Abu Hashim (may Allah have mercy on him) reports that Sa'id bin Jubayr (may Allah have mercy on him) said concerning this verse of the Qur'an, "and the righteous of the believers": It means Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him).

Abu al-Safar (may Allah have mercy on him) reports that Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) was often seen wearing a certain cloak. He was asked: "You wear this cloak very often, do you not?" He said: "My very close, sincere and special friend, Umar bin al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him), clothed me with it. Surely Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) dealt sincerely with Allah, so Allah dealt sincerely with him." Then he began to weep.

Sayyiduna Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) reports that from the time the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) passed away until he himself passed away, Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) never ceased to be earnest in his efforts and generous.

Sayyiduna Sa'd (may Allah be pleased with him) reports that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) said: "By the One in Whose hand is my soul, you (Umar) do not travel on any path but that Satan moves off that path and takes another."

Abdullah bin Shaqiq (may Allah have mercy on him) reports that al-Aqra' (may Allah have mercy on him) said (Kahmas (may Allah have mercy on him) was in doubt and said: I do not know whether by al-Aqra' the muezzin is meant or someone else): Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) sent a messenger to summon the bishop and questioned him, while I stood by the two of them, shading them from the sunlight. He asked: "Do you find mention of me in your Book?" The bishop said: "There is mention of your qualities and your deeds." He asked: "What do you find about me?" He said: "I find about you the mention of a horn of iron." The narrator says: Signs of anger appeared on the face of Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him), and he said: "A horn of iron?" He said: "It means that you will be trustworthy and strong." This greatly pleased him. He asked: "What is mentioned about the one after me?" He said: "He will be a truthful caliph who gives preference to his close relatives." The narrator says: Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "May Allah have mercy on Ibn Affan." He asked: "What is mentioned about the one after him?" He said: "A very severe rift." The narrator says: There was something in the hand of Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) which he was turning over, and he threw it down and said two or three times: "Alas for the abased man!" He said: "Do not say that, O Commander of the Faithful, for he will be a Muslim caliph or a righteous man. But he will be made caliph while the sword is drawn and blood has been shed." The narrator says: Then he turned to me and said: "It is time for the prayer."

Sayyiduna Samurah bin Jundub (may Allah be pleased with him) reports that a man said: "O Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him)! Last night I saw in a dream that a bucket came down from the sky. Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) came, took hold of it by its two edges and drank water, and there was weakness in him. Then Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) came, took hold of it by its two edges and drank until he was fully quenched. Then Sayyiduna Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him) came, also took hold of its two edges and drank until he was fully quenched."

Malik al-Dar (may Allah have mercy on him), who was the treasurer of Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) over the food department, reports that the people were afflicted by drought in the time of Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him). A man came to the grave of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and said: "O Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him)! Ask for rain for your nation, for it has perished!" Then someone came to the man in a dream, and he was told: "Go to Umar (may Allah be pleased with him), convey the greeting of peace to him, and tell him that you people will be given rain, and say to him: 'Upon you is prudence! Upon you is prudence!'" The man came to Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) and informed him of this dream. Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) began to weep and then said: "O my Lord! I fall short in nothing except what I am unable to do."

Shaqiq (may Allah have mercy on him) reports that Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) said: If the knowledge of the living people of the Arabs were placed in one pan of the scales, and the knowledge of Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) in the other, the knowledge of Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) would outweigh them all.

Salim (may Allah have mercy on him) reports that the people of Najran came to Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) and requested: "O Commander of the Faithful! Your writing an order with your own hand and your interceding with your own tongue would be a favour. Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) expelled us from our land. Send us back there." Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) said to them: "Woe to you! Surely Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) was upon sound judgment in the matter, and I shall never change anything that Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) decided."

Al-A'mash said: They used to say: If Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) had held anything in his heart against Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him), he would surely have seized this opportunity.

Imam al-Sha'bi (may Allah have mercy on him) reports that when Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) came to Kufah, he said: I have not come to untie any knot that Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) has tied.

Urwah bin al-Zubayr reports that Sayyidah Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her) said: Surely the jinn also wept over Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) three days before he was martyred, and they recited these verses: The earth, with its 'idah trees, trembles at the parting of the one martyred in Madinah. May Allah Almighty grant the Commander of the Faithful, Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him), a good reward and put blessing in his body. Whoever would mount a ride to repeat your achievements cannot do so. You settled many affairs, then left behind you calamities still in their sheaths, not yet burst open. I never feared that his death would come at the hands of a green-eyed, head-lowered beast (Abu Lu'lu'ah).