Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah

It is narrated from Hazrat Umar’s (may Allah be pleased with him) servant Aslam, who says: When we went to Syria with Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him), he made his camel sit down and went away to relieve himself. I placed a leather garment between the two parts of the saddle. Then when Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) returned, he mounted the camel on that same leather. Thus, we met the people of Syria. They welcomed Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him). When they began to look around, I started pointing towards Hazrat Umar to show them. The narrator says Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said: Their eyes covet the mounts of those people who have no share in them. Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) meant the mounts of the non-Arabs.

It is narrated from Hazrat Qais that he says: When Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) came to Syria, the people welcomed him. Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) was on his camel. The people said: O Commander of the Faithful! If you would ride a non-Arab horse, as the leaders and chiefs of the people will meet you. The narrator says that upon this Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said: I will not show myself to you here. The real matter is there, and he (may Allah be pleased with him) pointed towards the sky with his hand. You people, clear the way for my camel.

It is narrated from Hazrat Tariq bin Shihab that he says: When Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) came to Syria, many groups came to meet him, and at that time he (may Allah be pleased with him) was wearing a waistcloth, two leather socks, and a turban. And he (may Allah be pleased with him) was holding the head of his camel and making it enter the water. The people said: O Commander of the Faithful! The army is meeting you and the Jewish scholars of Syria are coming to meet you, and you are in this condition. The narrator says that upon this Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said: Surely, we are those people whom Allah Almighty has honored with Islam. Therefore, we will never seek honor through anything other than it.

It is narrated from Hazrat Shaqiq that he says: Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) wrote in a letter: Surely, the world is sweet and green. So whoever takes it with its due right, he is worthy that it be blessed for him in it, and whoever takes it without its due right, his example is like that of an eater who is never satisfied.

It is narrated from Hazrat Ibrahim bin Abdur Rahman bin Auf that he says: When the treasures of the people of Kisra were brought to Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him), there was so much gold and silver in them that the eyes were dazzled. The narrator says that upon this, Hazrat Umar began to weep. The narrator says that Hazrat Abdur Rahman submitted: O Commander of the Faithful! What has made you weep? Surely today is a day of gratitude, happiness, and joy. Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) replied: Whenever these things become abundant among any people, Allah Almighty places enmity and hatred among them.

It is narrated from Hazrat Anas (may Allah be pleased with him) that he says: I saw four patches on the shirt of Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) between his two shoulders.

It is narrated from Hazrat Saeed bin Abi Burdah that he says: Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) wrote a letter to Hazrat Abu Musa: "Amma ba'd! Indeed, the most fortunate shepherd (leader) is the one because of whom his flock prospers, and surely, in the sight of Allah, the most unfortunate shepherd (leader) is the one because of whom his flock is in distress. Beware! Avoid that you start grazing (in the wrong place), then your workers also start grazing. Thus, your example in the sight of Allah will be like that animal which looks at the greenery of the earth and starts grazing in it, and its purpose is to become fat, while in its fatness is its death. Wassalam Alaik."

It is narrated from Hasan that he says: Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said: The subjects will give to the Imam that which the Imam gives to Allah. So when the Imam grazes, the subjects also graze.

It is narrated from Hazrat Muhammad bin Shihab that he says Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said: Do not involve yourselves in matters that do not concern you. And keep away from your enemy. And among your friends, choose only the trustworthy one as special. For among people, there is nothing like a trustworthy person. And do not keep the company of a wicked person, for he will teach you his wickedness. And do not disclose your secrets to him. And in your affairs, consult those who fear Allah Almighty.

It is narrated from Hazrat Muhammad bin Suqah, he says: I came to Hazrat Naeem bin Abi Hind, so he took out a scroll and showed it to me. In it was written: From Abu Ubaidah bin Jarrah (may Allah be pleased with him) and Muadh bin Jabal (may Allah be pleased with him) to Hazrat Umar bin Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him). Peace be upon you. To proceed! We advise you. The matter of your own self is very important for you. You are in such a state that you have been given authority over the red and white of this Ummah. The noble and the lowly sit before you, and friends and enemies sit before you. And everyone gets his share in justice. O Umar (may Allah be pleased with him)! So see how you are at this time? Because we warn you of that day when faces will be humbled and hearts will have dried up, and on that day arguments will be cut off. There will be a King who will prevail over people due to His might, and the creation will be humbled before Him. They will be hoping for the mercy of their Lord and fearing His punishment. And it used to be told to us that the matter of the end of this Ummah will return in such a way that they will be openly brothers and secretly enemies. And we seek refuge with Allah that this letter of ours to you descends anywhere other than the place from which it descended from our hearts. Because we have written to you only out of goodwill. And peace be upon you.

Then Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) wrote to both of them: From Umar bin Khattab to Abu Ubaidah bin Jarrah (may Allah be pleased with him) and Muadh bin Jabal (may Allah be pleased with him). Peace be upon you both. To proceed! You have written a letter to me and reminded me that you are advising me and that the matter of my own self is very important for me, and that I am in such a state that I have been given authority over the red and black of this Ummah. The noble and the lowly sit before me, and friends and enemies sit before me. And everyone has a share in it. And you have also written to me: O Umar! Take care of how you are at this time? At such a time, Umar has no support except the power and strength of Allah. And you have written to me warning me of that which the previous nations were warned of. And from ancient times it has been the custom that the alternation of night and day brings every era near and wears out every new thing, and brings every promised thing to presence, until people return to their abodes in Paradise or Hell. And you have also reminded me by writing that it used to be told to you that the matter of this Ummah in the end times will return to such a state that they will be outwardly brothers and secretly enemies, but you are not like that, and this is not that time. That will be the time in which fear and desire will be apparent. Some people’s desire for others will be for the improvement of their worldly affairs, and some people will fear others. You have written this letter to me and advised me in the name of Allah that this letter descends in the same place from which it descended from your hearts. You have written this letter, and you have written the truth. So do not stop writing letters to me, because I have no recourse without your letters. And peace be upon you both.

It is narrated about Hazrat Umar bin Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) that he used to say: O Allah! I seek refuge with You from being deceived, or from remaining in heedlessness, or that You include me among the heedless.

It is narrated from Hazrat Yasar bin Numair that he says: I never sifted flour for Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) except that I disobeyed him in this matter.

It is narrated from Hazrat Abu Lais Ansari that he says Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said: Knead the flour thoroughly, for this too is a kind of grinding.

It is narrated from Yunus, he says that whenever Hasan mentioned Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him), he would say: By Allah! He was not the first among the companions to accept Islam. And among the rest of the companions (may Allah be pleased with them), he was not superior in spending in the way of Allah either. But still, among the companions (may Allah be pleased with them), he excelled all in detachment from the world and steadfastness in obeying Allah's command. And in matters concerning Allah, he did not fear the blame of any blamer.

It is narrated from Hasan that he says: Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) did not apply any oil except ghee, fat, and mixed olive oil until he was martyred.

It is narrated from Hasan that he says: Whenever Umar bin Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) would come across a verse during his recitation, he would begin to sob. He would weep so much that he would collapse. To the extent that he would remain at home, and people would visit him to inquire about his health. People began to consider him ill.

It is narrated from Hasan that he says: Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) was walking on the road and Hazrat Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) was with him. Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) saw a weak little girl who would sometimes stand up and sometimes fall down. Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said: Alas, her misery. Alas! Who knows her? Hazrat Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) said: By God! She is one of your own daughters. Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said: From among my daughters? Hazrat Abdullah said: Yes! Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) asked: Who is she? Hazrat Abdullah said: She is the daughter of Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with him). Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said: O Abdullah bin Umar! You will destroy her with weakness. Abdullah said: What can we do? Whatever you have, you have withheld from us. Upon this, Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) looked at Hazrat Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) and said: What do I have? Does it displease you that just as other people earn for their daughters, you should also earn for your daughters? No, by God! What I have for you is only an equal share with the rest of the Muslims.

It is narrated about Hazrat Umar bin Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) that he said in one of his sermons: Take account of yourselves before you are called to account, and weigh your deeds before they are weighed for you. And adorn yourselves for the Grand Presentation. On the day you will be presented, nothing of yours will remain hidden.

Hazrat Abu Salamah narrates, he says that Hazrat Sa’d said: By Allah! He was not among us from the earliest Muslims, nor was he among us from the earliest emigrants. But I know by what thing he gained superiority over us. He was the most abstinent among us regarding worldly matters. By Hazrat Sa’d’s reference, he meant Hazrat Umar bin Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him).

It is narrated from Hazrat Ubaidullah bin Adi that he says Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said: Indeed, when a servant humbles himself for the sake of Allah, Allah Almighty elevates his status and says: Stand up, Allah has raised you. Thus, this person considers himself small, but he is great in the eyes of the people. And indeed, when a servant adopts arrogance and exceeds his limits, Allah Almighty throws him down to the earth and says: Be humiliated. Allah has humiliated you. Thus, this person considers himself great, but he is small in the eyes of the people, to the extent that he becomes more despicable than a pig in the eyes of the people.

It is narrated from Hazrat Saeed bin Musayyib that he said: When Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) used to travel, he would gather a heap of soil, spread his cloth over it, and lie down on it.

A man from the tribe of Ghifar narrates from his father, who says: I was bringing food loaded on the camels of charity from the place of Jaar. Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) looked closely at those camels, and among them, a young camel pleased Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him). I said: O Commander of the Faithful! Take this one. So Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) struck his hand on my shoulder and said: I am not more deserving of it than a man from Banu Ghifar.

It is narrated from Hazrat Muhammad bin Yahya that he says: There was a plate in front of Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) in which there was bread, crumbled in ghee, when a man of rural appearance came. The narrator says that Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said: Eat. The narrator says: So he began to take morsels from the greasy edge of the plate. Upon this, Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) asked: It seems you are hungry? He said: By Allah! I have neither tasted ghee nor have I seen anyone eating it. Upon this, Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said: By Allah! I will not taste ghee until __YAHYA AL-NASU MIN AWWALI MA YAHYAWN__

It is narrated from Abdullah bin Utbah that he said: Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said: Sit in the company of those who repent, for this is the thing that softens the heart the most.

It is narrated from Hazrat Yahya bin Ja'dah that he says: Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said: If it were not for the fact that I walk in the path of Allah, or place my forehead in the dust for Allah, or sit among people who select fine speech as dates are selected, then meeting Allah would be more beloved to me.

It is narrated from an old man who says that Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said: Whoever intends the truth should keep his matter open.

It is narrated from Hazrat Abu Uthman that he says Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said: Winter is a bounty for the worshipper.

Hazrat Ata Khurasani narrates, he says that Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) ibn Khattab kept his companions waiting, then he (may Allah be pleased with him) came to them in the evening. The people asked: What kept you? He replied: I had washed my clothes, and when they dried, I came to you.

It is narrated from Hazrat Sufyan that he says Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) wrote a letter to Hazrat Abu Musa (may Allah be pleased with him): Surely, you cannot attain the Hereafter with anything better than adopting indifference towards the world.

It is narrated from Hazrat Abdur Rahman bin Abi Laila that he says some people from Iraq came to Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him). Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) saw them as if they were eating little food. Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said: O people of Iraq! What is this? If I wished, I could have food prepared for myself as fine as it is prepared for you. But we save from our worldly life what we will find in the Hereafter. Have you not heard the command of Allah the Exalted: { أَذْہَبْتُمْ طَیِّبَاتِکُمْ فِی حَیَاتِکُمُ الدُّنْیَا وَاسْتَمْتَعْتُمْ بِہَا }.

Hazrat Hisham bin Urwah narrates from his father, who says that when Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) arrived in Syria, his shirt was torn at the place where he sat. It was a thick and coarse shirt. So, he (may Allah be pleased with him) sent that shirt to the owner of Azraat or Aylah. The narrator says that he washed the shirt, patched it, and a Coptic shirt was sewn for Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him). Then a man brought both shirts to him (may Allah be pleased with him) and gave him the Coptic shirt. Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) took the shirt and touched it, then said: "This is soft." Then he threw that shirt back to the man and said: "Give me my shirt, because it absorbs sweat better than both of these shirts."

It is narrated from Hazrat Asim bin Umar that he says Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) used to say: Allah Almighty protects the believer. Hazrat Asim bin Thabit bin Aflah had vowed that he would not touch any polytheist, nor would any polytheist touch him. Thus, just as he avoided this during his life, in the same way Allah Almighty protected him from it after his death as well.

It is narrated from Hazrat Rabee’ bin Qazee’ that he says: I heard Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them) say that bread, meat, milk, olives, vegetables, and vinegar used to be brought to Hazrat Umar bin Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him). He would eat the food and then lick his fingers. Then he would gesture in this manner. Then he would wipe one hand with the other and say: These are the napkins of the family of Umar (may Allah be pleased with him).

It is narrated from Hazrat Abu Mulaīh that he said: In comparison to the Hereafter, the status of this world is like a single leap of a rabbit.

Hazrat Wadi’ah Ansari narrates that he says Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said: Do not concern yourself with matters that do not pertain to your purpose. And keep away from your enemy. Among people, fear everyone except your trustworthy friends, and a trustworthy person is one who fears Allah. Do not associate with a wicked person, lest you learn his wickedness. And do not disclose your secrets to him, and in your affairs, consult those who fear Allah Almighty.

It is narrated from Hazrat Ismail bin Umayyah that he says Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "There is comfort in solitude from bad friends."

It is narrated from Hazrat Habib that he says some people came to Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) from Iraq. Among them was Hazrat Jarir bin Abdullah. The narrator says then someone brought a large vessel to them in which bread and olive oil had been prepared. The narrator says Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said to those people, "Take it." The narrator says they took it gently and lightly. The narrator says upon this Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said to them, "Indeed, I see in you a strong desire for meat. What do you want? Sour and sweet, cold and hot, to fill your bellies?"

It is narrated about Hazrat Umar that he was invited to a feast, so whenever they brought something different, he would combine it with his companion's portion.

It is narrated from Abdullah bin Amir who says: I saw Umar bin Khattab pick up a straw from the ground (and said: Alas! I wish I were this straw. I wish I were nothing. I wish my mother had not given birth to me. I wish I had been forgotten and lost.

It is narrated from Hazrat Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) that he said: The blessed head of Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) was in my lap, so Hazrat Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said: May your mother be bereft of you. Put it (on the ground). Then he said: My destruction! If my Lord does not forgive me, then may my mother be destroyed.