❖ Statement of ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb رضي الله عنه Regarding Abu ʿUbaydah ibn al-Jarrāḥ رضي الله عنه
Authored by: Hafiz Muhammad Anwar Zahid حفظه الله
✿ The Reported Statement:
Thābit ibn al-Ḥajjāj narrates:
*"It has reached me that when ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb رضي الله عنه was severely wounded (before his death), he said:
‘If Abu ʿUbaydah ibn al-Jarrāḥ were alive today, I would have appointed him as the caliph.’"*
This statement reflects the great trust and admiration ʿUmar رضي الله عنه had for Abu ʿUbaydah رضي الله عنه, who was among the Ten Promised Paradise and known for his leadership and integrity.
❖ Authentication of the Narration:
Status of the Chain: Its chain is weak (ḍaʿīf).
- Reported by:
- al-Ḥākim in al-Mustadrak (3/268, Hadith no. 5165)
- Referenced in Kanz al-ʿUmmāl (13/216)
✿ Reason for Weakness:
① The chain suffers from inqiṭāʿ (disconnection) — meaning there is a break in the chain of narrators, so the transmission is not continuous and hence not reliable.
② There is no established proof that Thābit ibn al-Ḥajjāj heard this directly from ʿUmar رضي الله عنه or from an authentic intermediary.
❖ Conclusion:
Though the statement attributed to ʿUmar رضي الله عنه about his desire to appoint Abu ʿUbaydah رضي الله عنه as caliph is widely quoted for its historical and moral value, its chain of transmission is weak due to disconnection.Hence, it cannot be considered authentic and must be presented with caution, clearly indicating its weak status.
