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

It is narrated from Zubayd bin al-Harith that when the time of death came to Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him), he sent a messenger to Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him). And Sayyiduna Abu Bakr appointed Sayyiduna Umar as caliph. At this the people said: "You are appointing as caliph over us a sour-tempered and harsh man, and if he becomes our ruler he will become even more sour-tempered and harsh. So when you appoint Sayyiduna Umar as caliph over us, what answer will you give your Lord when you meet Him?" Sayyiduna Abu Bakr said: "Are you frightening me with my Lord? I will give (Allah Almighty) this answer: 'O Allah! I appointed as caliph over the people the best person among Your creation.'" 2. Then Sayyiduna Abu Bakr sent a messenger to Sayyiduna Umar (and, having summoned him) said: "If you will keep it in mind, I give you a piece of advice. Indeed, there is a right of Allah Almighty during the day which He does not accept at night, and (likewise) there is a right of Allah Almighty at night which He does not accept during the day. And supererogatory acts are not accepted until the obligatory acts are performed. Those whose deeds will be heavy in the Balance on the Day of Resurrection, their deeds will be heavy only because they followed the truth in the world and the truth remained heavy upon them. And it is the due of the Balance that, (when) only truth is placed in it, it should become heavy. And those whose deeds will be light in the Balance on the Day of Resurrection, the reason will only be that they followed falsehood and falsehood remained light upon them. And it is the due of the Balance that, when only falsehood is placed in it, it should become light. 3. Indeed, Allah Almighty has mentioned the people of Paradise by their best deeds and has pardoned their faults. So one may say: 'I cannot reach them.' And (likewise) Allah Almighty has mentioned the people of Hell with their evil deeds, and has also stated that Allah Almighty rejected their righteous deeds. So one may say: 'I am better than they are.' And Allah Almighty has mentioned (both) the verse of mercy and the verse of punishment so that the believer may both long and fear, may not hold false hopes of Allah Almighty, and may not fall into destruction by his own hand. 4. So if you preserve my advice, nothing absent will be dearer to you than death. And if you neglect my advice, nothing absent will be more hateful to you than death. And you can never escape death."

It is narrated from Qays bin Abi Hazim: I saw Sayyiduna Umar bin al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) with a stripped palm branch in his hand, and he was seating the people and saying: "Listen to the words of the Caliph of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him)." The narrator says: Then a slave of Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him), who was called Shadid, came with a note and read it out to the people. He said: "Sayyiduna Abu Bakr says: 'Listen to and obey the man whose name is in this document. By Allah! I have spared no effort in bringing you to good.'" Qays, the narrator, says: Then after that I saw Sayyiduna Umar bin al-Khattab on the pulpit.

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Abdullah (may Allah be pleased with him) that the three most discerning of all people were: Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him), when he showed his discernment regarding Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) and made him caliph; (second) the woman who said: "Hire him; indeed, the best one you can hire is the strong, the trustworthy" [Al-Qasas: 26]; and (third) the Aziz of Egypt when he said to his wife: "Make his stay honourable" [Yusuf: 21].

It is narrated from Amr bin Maymun: I came and saw that Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) was standing with Sayyiduna Hudhayfah (may Allah be pleased with him) and Uthman bin Hunayf (may Allah be pleased with him), saying: "Do you fear that you have assessed the land at a charge beyond its capacity?" Sayyiduna Hudhayfah said: "If I wished, I could double (the charge on) my land." And Sayyiduna Uthman said: "I have placed upon my land a charge that it can bear, and there is no great surplus in it." Sayyiduna Umar said: "Look to what you have, lest you have burdened the land beyond what it can bear." Then he said: "If Allah Almighty keeps me safe, I shall leave the widows of the people of Iraq in such a state that after me they will not be in need of anyone else." The narrator says: Then only four days had passed for Sayyiduna Umar when he was struck down in martyrdom. 2. The narrator says: When Sayyiduna Umar entered the mosque, he would stand between the rows and say: "Straighten (your rows)." When the people had straightened, he would step forward and say the takbir. The narrator says: Then (one morning) when he began the prayer, he was struck right there in his place. The narrator says: I heard him saying: "The dog has killed me," or "The dog has devoured me." Amr, the narrator, says: I do not know which he said. There was no one between him and me except Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both). Then Sayyiduna Umar took Abd al-Rahman bin Awf (may Allah be pleased with him) by the hand and put him forward. The killer began to run with a two-edged knife in his hand, and he kept striking every man he passed on the right and the left until he had wounded thirteen people. Then nine of those wounded also died. The narrator says: When a Muslim saw this scene, he threw a large cloak over him in order to catch him. When the killer became certain that he would be caught, he slit his own throat. 3. The narrator says: We then offered a short Fajr prayer. The narrator says: The people at the edges of the mosque did not realise what had happened at all. But when they no longer found (the voice of) Sayyiduna Umar, they began saying: "Subhan Allah! Subhan Allah!" Then when the people had left, the first person who came to Sayyiduna Umar was Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas. Sayyiduna Umar said (to him): "Look (find out) who has killed me." The narrator says: Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas went around for a short while and came back and reported: "The skilled slave of Sayyiduna al-Mughirah (may Allah be pleased with him)." This slave was a carpenter. The narrator says: At this Sayyiduna Umar said: "All praise belongs to the One who did not make my death occur at the hand of a man who claims Islam. May Allah Almighty destroy him. Indeed, I had ordered him to do good." The narrator says: Then Sayyiduna Umar said to Ibn Abbas: "Indeed, you and your father used to like the non-Arab foreigners ('uluj) to become many in Madinah." The narrator says: Ibn Abbas said: "If you wish, we will do it." He said: "After they have spoken your language, prayed your prayer and performed your rites?" 4. The narrator says: The people said to Sayyiduna Umar: "There is no (serious) problem with you." The narrator says: Then Sayyiduna Umar called for nabidh and drank it, but it came out of his wounds. Then Sayyiduna Umar called for milk and drank it, but that too came out of his wounds. So he became certain of death, and he said to Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both): "Look into the debt that is upon me and calculate it." Ibn Umar said: "It is eighty-six thousand." Sayyiduna Umar said: "If this debt can be met from the wealth of the family of Umar, pay this debt from their wealth on my behalf. Otherwise, ask Banu Adi bin Ka'b. If the debt can be met from their wealth, then well and good; otherwise, ask Quraysh, and do not ask anyone besides them. And pay this debt on my behalf. 5. Go to the Mother of the Believers, Sayyidah Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her), greet (her) with salam and say: 'Umar bin al-Khattab (do not use the words Commander of the Believers, for at this time I am not the leader of the people) asks permission to be buried with his two companions (peace and blessings be upon him, and Abu Bakr).'" The narrator says: So Abdullah bin Umar came to Sayyidah Aishah and found her sitting and weeping. Ibn Umar greeted her with salam and then said: "Umar bin al-Khattab asks permission to be buried with his companions." Sayyidah Aishah said: "By Allah! I wanted this for myself (that is, to be buried in the chamber), but today I give Umar al-Faruq preference over myself in this (burial in the chamber)." Then when Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Umar came back, it was said: "This is Abdullah bin Umar (he has returned)." The narrator says: Sayyiduna Umar said: "Raise me up." So a man propped him up against himself, and he asked: "What do you have (to report)?" He said: "She has given you permission." The narrator says: Sayyiduna Umar said: "Nothing was of greater concern to me than this." Then he said: "When I die, carry me on my bier, then ask permission and say: 'Umar bin al-Khattab asks permission.' If she gives you permission, take me in, and if she does not give permission, return me to the graveyard of the Muslims." The narrator says: When he was carried, it was as though the people had never been struck by a calamity until that day. The narrator says: Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Umar greeted with salam and said: "Umar bin al-Khattab asks permission." So she gave him permission (to be buried) where Allah honoured him, with the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) and with Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him). 6. When death came to him, they said to him: "Appoint a successor." He said: "I do not find anyone more deserving of this matter than this group, with whom the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) was pleased when he passed away. Whichever of them they appoint, he is the caliph after me." So he named Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him), Sayyiduna Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him), Sayyiduna Talhah (may Allah be pleased with him), Sayyiduna al-Zubayr (may Allah be pleased with him), Sayyiduna Abd al-Rahman bin Awf and Sayyiduna Sa'd (may Allah be pleased with him). "If it falls to Sa'd, so be it; otherwise, whichever of them is appointed, let him seek his help, for I did not remove him for any incapacity or betrayal." The narrator says: And Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Umar was made to take part in consultation with them, but he had no share in the matter. 7. The narrator says: When they gathered, Sayyiduna Abd al-Rahman bin Awf said: "Entrust your matter to three of you." So Sayyiduna al-Zubayr entrusted his matter to Sayyiduna Ali, Sayyiduna Talhah entrusted his matter to Sayyiduna Uthman, and Sayyiduna Sa'd entrusted his matter to Sayyiduna Abd al-Rahman. Those three conferred together when the matter had been entrusted to them. Sayyiduna Abd al-Rahman said: "Which of you will withdraw from the matter and entrust it to me? And I give you Allah as my guarantee that I will spare no effort to choose the best and most excellent of you for the Muslims." They said: "Yes." So he went aside with Sayyiduna Ali and said: "You have kinship with the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) and priority (in Islam). I take Allah as witness over you: if you are made caliph, you will be just, and if Uthman is made caliph, you will listen and obey." He said: "Yes." And he went aside with Sayyiduna Uthman and said the same thing to him, and Sayyiduna Uthman said to him: "Yes." Then he said: "O Uthman! Stretch out your hand." So he stretched out his hand, and he pledged allegiance to him, and Sayyiduna Ali and the people pledged allegiance to him. 8. Then Sayyiduna Umar said: "I enjoin the caliph after me to fear Allah, and (I enjoin him regarding) the first Muhajirun, that he recognise their right and recognise their sanctity. I enjoin him to treat the people of the garrison cities well, for they are the support of Islam, the anger of the enemy and the collectors of wealth, and that their fay' not be taken from them except with their consent. I enjoin him to treat the Ansar well, those who settled in the abode and in faith, that he accept from those of them who do good. I enjoin him to treat the Bedouin well, for they are the root of the Arabs and the substance of Islam, that (zakah) be taken from the lesser part of their wealth and returned to their poor. And I enjoin him regarding the covenant of Allah and the covenant of His Messenger, that their pledges to them be fulfilled and that they be burdened only with what they can bear."

It is narrated from Amr bin Maymun al-Awdi that when the time of death drew near for Sayyiduna Umar bin al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him), he said: "Call to me Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him), Sayyiduna Talhah, Sayyiduna al-Zubayr, Sayyiduna Uthman, Sayyiduna Abd al-Rahman bin Awf and Sayyiduna Sa'd (may Allah be pleased with them)." The narrator said: Then Sayyiduna Umar spoke (from among them) only with Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) and Sayyiduna Uthman. He said: "O Ali (may Allah be pleased with him)! Perhaps these people will recognize your kinship (with the Prophet) and the knowledge and understanding of the religion that Allah Almighty has given you. So fear Allah. And if this matter (the caliphate) is entrusted to you, do not raise Banu so-and-so above the necks of the other people (that is, do not give them superiority)." And Sayyiduna Umar said to Sayyiduna Uthman: "O Uthman! Perhaps these people will recognize your relationship by marriage with the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), your age and your nobility. So if you are put in charge of this matter (the caliphate), fear Allah and do not raise Banu so-and-so above the necks of the other people." Then Sayyiduna Umar said: "Call Sayyiduna Suhayb to me." And he said (to him): "Lead the people in prayer for three days. These (above-mentioned) people should gather and (decide the matter) in private. Then if they agree on one man, strike the head of whoever opposes him."

It is narrated from Isa bin Talhah and Urwah bin al-Zubayr that Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said: "Let Suhayb lead you in prayer for three days. And look (into the matter): if that (the choosing of a caliph) comes about, then well and good; otherwise, the affair of the Ummah of Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him) shall not be left neglected for more than three days."

It is narrated from Ma'dan bin Abi Talhah al-Ya'mari that Sayyiduna Umar bin al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) stood to deliver a sermon on a Friday, or he delivered the Friday sermon. He praised and glorified Allah Almighty, then he mentioned the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him). Then Sayyiduna Umar said: "O people! I have seen a dream, as if a red rooster pecked me twice, and I see this dream as nothing other than an indication of the end of my life. The people are telling me to appoint a caliph. Be certain that Allah Almighty will not let His religion and caliphate be lost, nor will He let be lost that with which Allah Almighty sent His Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him). So if death overtakes me soon, the caliphate will be (settled) by mutual consultation among these six people, with whom the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was pleased when he departed. Whichever of them you give allegiance to, listen to him and obey. I certainly know that some men will soon attack this matter, and I have fought them with this hand of mine for the sake of Islam. If they do that, they will be the enemies of Allah, disbelievers and misguided. 2. I am not leaving behind me a more important matter than that of al-Kalalah. I asked the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) about it too, and he (peace and blessings be upon him) was not as stern with me in anything as he (peace and blessings be upon him) was with me in this (al-Kalalah), until he poked his finger into my side or my chest. Then he (peace and blessings be upon him) said: 'O Umar! The verse of summer, which was revealed at the end of Surah al-Nisa, is sufficient for you.' And if I live on, I will soon give a ruling on al-Kalalah about which no one will differ, whether he reads the Qur'an or does not read it." 3. Then Sayyiduna Umar said: "O Allah! I make You witness over the governors of the cities. For I sent them only to teach the people their religion and the Sunnah of their Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), to distribute their fay' (spoils) among them, and to act justly among them, and to bring to me anything that they find difficult." 4. Then Sayyiduna Umar said: "O people! You eat two plants (produce) which I consider nothing other than foul (disliked): this garlic and this onion. In the time of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) I would see a man from whom this smell was noticed, and he would be taken by the hand and led out until he was put out towards al-Baqi'. So whoever must eat them, let him kill their smell by cooking." 5. The narrator said: Sayyiduna Umar delivered this sermon on Friday and he was wounded on Wednesday, when four days of Dhu al-Hijjah remained.

It is narrated from Sayyiduna Jariyah bin Qudamah al-Sa'di (may Allah be pleased with him), who said: I performed Hajj in the year in which Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) was wounded. He related that Sayyiduna Umar delivered a sermon and said (in it): "I have seen (in a dream) that a rooster pecked me two or three times." Then only a Friday or about that much time had passed when Sayyiduna Umar was attacked. The narrator said: (First) the Companions of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) were given permission, then the people of Madinah were given permission, then the people of Sham were given permission, then the people of Iraq were given permission. We were the last people to come into the presence of Sayyiduna Umar. His belly was bound with a black cloak and blood was flowing. Whenever any people came into the presence of Sayyiduna Umar, they wept and praised him. We said to him: "Give us your counsel," and no one other than us asked him for counsel. So Sayyiduna Umar said: "Hold fast to the Book of Allah, for as long as you follow it you will never go astray. I counsel you concerning the Muhajirun, for the other people will increase and they will decrease. I counsel you concerning the Ansar, for they are a ravine of faith in which faith took refuge. I counsel you concerning the Bedouins, for they are your root and your substance. I counsel you concerning your dhimmis (protected non-Muslims), for they are under the protection of your Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) and they are the livelihood of your families. Get up and leave me." Sayyiduna Umar said nothing more to us than this.

It is narrated from Amr bin Maymun that when Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) was struck with the spear, all the people were thrown into agitation, until the sun was about to rise. Then a caller called out: "The prayer!" So the people put Sayyiduna Abd al-Rahman bin Awf (may Allah be pleased with him) forward and he led the people in prayer, reciting two short surahs of the Holy Qur'an, that is: "Indeed, We have granted you al-Kawthar" [Al-Kawthar: 1] and "When the help of Allah comes" [Al-Nasr: 1]. When day had come, a physician came into the presence of Sayyiduna Umar while blood was flowing from his wounds. The physician asked: "Which drink do you like?" He said: "Nabidh." So nabidh was sent for and Sayyiduna Umar drank it, but it came out of his wounds. He said: "This is pus mixed with blood. Bring me milk." So milk was brought and he drank it, and it too came out of his wounds. At this the physician said to him: "Make your will, for I think that you will die within a day or two."

It is narrated from Amir that he swore by Allah and said: Indeed, Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) was struck with the spear while he was reciting Surah al-Nahl at that time.

It is narrated from Sayyiduna al-Miswar bin Makhramah (may Allah be pleased with him), who said: I heard Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) say, while one of my fingers was inside his wound, this one or this one or this one: "O people of Quraysh! I do not fear the people against you; rather, I fear only you against the people. I am leaving two things among you: as long as you hold fast to them you will remain upon good: justice in judging and justice in distributing. And I am leaving you perfectly straight, except that if any people take a crooked path, they will go along the crooked path."

It is narrated from Sayyiduna al-Miswar bin Makhramah (may Allah be pleased with him), who said: Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) and I entered upon Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) after the attack on him, while he was unconscious. We said: "He cannot be roused by anything that alarms him more than prayer." So we said: "O Commander of the Faithful! Prayer!" Sayyiduna Umar woke and said: "Prayer! A man who abandons prayer has no share in Islam." Then Sayyiduna Umar prayed in this state, while blood was flowing from his wounds.

It is narrated from Amr bin Maymun, who said: I used to leave the first row out of awe of Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him). On the day Sayyiduna Umar was attacked, I was in the second row. Sayyiduna Umar came and said: "O servants of Allah! The prayer; straighten (your rows)." The narrator said: He began leading us in prayer when Abu Lu'lu'ah struck him two or three blows. The narrator said: Sayyiduna Umar was wearing a yellow garment. The narrator said: He gathered this garment to his chest, then he fell down, saying: "And the command of Allah is a decree determined" [Al-Ahzab: 38]. Then he (the attacker) killed and struck twelve or thirteen more people. The narrator said: The people rushed towards the killer, and he leaned on his dagger and killed himself.

It is narrated from Abdullah bin al-Harith al-Khuza'i, who said: I heard Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) say in his sermon: "Last night I saw (in a dream) a rooster pecking me, and I saw the people driving it away from me. I swear by Allah, if I remain, I will certainly give even the ordinary Muhajirun a stipend of two thousand each." But only three days had passed when he was killed by Abu Lu'lu'ah, the slave of Sayyiduna al-Mughirah bin Shu'bah (may Allah be pleased with him).

It is narrated from Ibn Abi Mulaykah that Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) did not single out any of the people of the Shura, except that he spoke in private with Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) and Sayyiduna Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him), taking each of them apart from the other. He said: "O so-and-so! Fear Allah, and if Allah Almighty tests you with this matter, do not raise Banu so-and-so above the necks of the other people." And he said the same (likewise) to the other (of Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) and Sayyiduna Uthman).

It is narrated from Hasan bin Muhammad that Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said to Sayyiduna Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him): "Fear Allah, and if you are given authority over any of the affairs of the people, do not raise the people of Banu Abi Mu'ayt above the necks of the other people." And Sayyiduna Umar said to Sayyiduna Ali (may Allah be pleased with him): "Fear Allah, and if you are given authority over any of the affairs of the people, do not raise Banu Hashim above the necks of the other people."

Abd al-Aziz bin Umar reports from Ibrahim bin Zur'ah, a scholar from among the scholars of the people of Sham, that he said: I asked Ibn Zur'ah: "Who led the funeral prayer for Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him)?" He replied: "Suhayb (may Allah be pleased with him) did."

It is narrated from al-Qasim that when Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) was struck with the spear, the people came (to him) and began to praise him and pray for him. Sayyiduna Umar said to them: "Do you consider me pure on account of the caliphate? I kept the company of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), and he (peace and blessings be upon him) departed from this world while he (peace and blessings be upon him) was pleased with me. Then I kept the company of Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him), and I heard and obeyed his command, and he too passed away while I was listening to him and obeying him. And I fear nothing for myself except your leadership."

Abu Salamah, Yahya bin Abd al-Rahman bin Hatib and other elders said: Sayyiduna Umar bin al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) saw a dream and said: "I saw a red rooster peck me three times between the navel and the lower abdomen." Sayyidah Asma bint Umays (may Allah be pleased with her), the mother of Abdullah bin Ja'far, who was skilled in interpreting dreams, said: "Tell him to make his will." I do not know whether this reached him or not. Then Abu Lu'lu'ah, the Magian disbeliever, the slave of al-Mughirah bin Shu'bah, came to Sayyiduna Umar and said: "Al-Mughirah has imposed a levy (kharaj) of some money on me." He asked: "How much has he imposed on you?" He said: "So much and so much." Sayyiduna Umar asked: "What is your work?" He said: "I make millstones." Sayyiduna Umar said: "Then that is not much for you, for no one here does this work besides you. Will you not make me a millstone?" He said: "Indeed, by Allah, I will make you such a millstone that it will be heard of throughout the world." 2. Then Sayyiduna Umar set out for Hajj, and when he was returning he lay down at al-Muhassab and placed his cloak under his head. He looked at the moon and its beauty and evenness greatly pleased him, so he said: "It appears weak at first, then Allah Almighty keeps adding to it and increasing it until it becomes even, and then it reaches the perfection of its beauty. Then it begins to wane until it becomes again as it was (before). Such is the state of all creation." Then he raised his hands and said: "O Allah! My subjects have become very many and have spread far, so take me back to You, without my being incapable or negligent." 3. Then Sayyiduna Umar returned to Madinah, and it was mentioned to him that a Muslim woman had died at al-Bayda and was lying on the ground while people kept passing by her. No one shrouded her or buried her, until Kulayb bin al-Bukayr al-Laythi passed by that woman, and he stayed by her until he shrouded and buried her. This was mentioned to Sayyiduna Umar and he asked: "Which of the Muslims passed by her?" The people replied: "Among those who passed by her was Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both)." So he summoned Ibn Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) and said: "Woe to you! You passed by a Muslim woman who was lying on the ground on the road, and why did you not shroud and bury her?" He replied: "By Allah, I did not even know of her, and no one mentioned her to me." Sayyiduna Umar said: "I fear that there may be no good in you." Then Sayyiduna Umar asked: "Who shrouded and buried this woman?" The people replied: "Kulayb bin Bukayr al-Laythi." He said: "By Allah, Kulayb deserves to attain good." 4. Then Sayyiduna Umar had gone out to wake the people with his whip for the morning prayer when the disbeliever Abu Lu'lu'ah met him and struck him three blows between the navel and the lower abdomen. And he struck Kulayb bin Bukayr and finished him off. The people raised their voices, and a man threw a large hooded cloak over his head, then pinned him to himself. Sayyiduna Umar was carried to the house, and Sayyiduna Abd al-Rahman bin Awf (may Allah be pleased with him) led the people in prayer. It was said to Sayyiduna Umar: "The prayer!" So he prayed in this state, while blood was flowing from his wounds, and he said: "One who has no prayer has no share in Islam." So he offered the prayer in this state, while his blood was flowing. Then the people came into the presence of Sayyiduna Umar and said: "O Commander of the Faithful! There is no harm to you, and we certainly hope that Allah Almighty will extend your life and will grant you respite for a time, or until (some) good." 5. Then Sayyiduna Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) came into the presence of Sayyiduna Umar, and Sayyiduna Umar was fond of him. Sayyiduna Umar said: "Go and see who it is that has killed me." So Ibn Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) went out, then came back and said: "O Commander of the Faithful! Glad tidings to you! Your killer is Abu Lu'lu'ah the Magian, the slave of al-Mughirah bin Shu'bah." At this Sayyiduna Umar said "Allahu Akbar" so (loudly) that his voice went out of the door. Then Sayyiduna Umar said: "All praise is for Allah, who did not make my killer a Muslim man who could dispute with me on the Day of Resurrection on account of a prostration he had made for Allah alone." Then Sayyiduna Umar turned to the people and said: "Was this done with the consent of a group among you?" They said: "We seek refuge with Allah! By Allah, we would love to ransom you with our fathers and to add to your life from our own lives. There is no harm to you." He said: "O Yarfa', woe to you, give me something to drink." So he brought him a cup containing sweet nabidh, and he drank it and pressed his cloak against his belly. The narrator said: When the drink reached his belly, it came out of the wounds. They said: "All praise is for Allah! This is blood that had collected inside you, and Allah has brought it out from inside you." He said: "O Yarfa', woe to you, give me milk to drink." So he brought milk and he drank it, and when it reached his belly, it came out of the wounds. When they saw that, they knew that he was dying. They said: "May Allah reward you with good. You used to act among us according to the Book of Allah and to follow the Sunnah of your two companions, not turning aside from it to anything else. May Allah give you the best of rewards." He said: "Do you envy me on account of the leadership? By Allah, I wish that I could escape from it evenly, with nothing against me and nothing for me. Get up and consult one another about your affair. Appoint a man among you as your leader, and whoever opposes him, strike his head." The narrator said: So they got up, while Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) was supporting him against his chest. Abdullah said: "Are you appointing a leader while the Commander of the Faithful is alive?" Sayyiduna Umar said: "No. Let Suhayb lead the prayer for three days, wait for Talhah, and consult one another about your affair. Then appoint a man among you as your leader, and if anyone opposes you, strike his head." He said: "Go to Sayyidah Aishah (may Allah be pleased with her), convey my greetings of peace to her and say: Umar says: If it is possible, and it does not harm you or cause you hardship, I would love to be buried with my two companions. And if it would harm you or cause you hardship, then by my life, there have been buried in this Baqi' some of the Companions of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) and Mothers of the Believers who are better than Umar." The messenger came to her and she said: "That does not harm me or cause me hardship." He said: "Then bury me with them both." Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) said: Death began to overcome him while I held him against my chest. He said: "Woe to you, place my head on the ground." The narrator said: A faint seized him and I felt grief at that. Then he recovered and said: "Woe to you, place my head on the ground." So I placed his head on the ground, and he rubbed it in the dust and said: "Woe to Umar and woe to his mother, if Allah does not forgive him." Muhammad bin Amr said: The people of the Shura were Ali, Uthman, Talhah, al-Zubayr, Sa'd and Abd al-Rahman bin Awf.