Authored by: Hafiz Muhammad Anwar Zahid (Hafizahullah)
The two men went to Abu Bakr (رضي الله عنه), where the rightful party explained, "We have already presented this matter to the Prophet (ﷺ), and he ruled in my favor." Upon hearing this, Abu Bakr (رضي الله عنه) said, "You must accept the decision given by the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)." Despite this, the man still refused and insisted on taking the matter to Umar (رضي الله عنه).
The two then approached Umar (رضي الله عنه). The rightful party again stated, "The Prophet (ﷺ) ruled in my favor, but this man rejected the decision." Umar (رضي الله عنه) asked the man to confirm if this was true, and he affirmed it. Umar (رضي الله عنه) then went into his house, came back with a sword, and immediately executed the man who had refused the decision of the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ).
At this moment, the following verse was revealed:
"But no, by your Lord, they will not [truly] believe until they make you, [O Muhammad], judge concerning that over which they dispute among themselves and then find within themselves no discomfort from what you have judged and submit in [full, willing] submission."
[Surah An-Nisa: 65]
May Allah guide us to rely on authentic sources and protect us from misinterpretation.
And Allah knows best.
The Incident:
It is narrated from Dumrah that two men brought their dispute to the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ), who ruled in favor of the rightful party. However, the one against whom the decision was made said, "I do not accept this decision." His companion asked, "What do you want then?" He replied, "I want us to take the matter to Abu Bakr (رضي الله عنه)."The two men went to Abu Bakr (رضي الله عنه), where the rightful party explained, "We have already presented this matter to the Prophet (ﷺ), and he ruled in my favor." Upon hearing this, Abu Bakr (رضي الله عنه) said, "You must accept the decision given by the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ)." Despite this, the man still refused and insisted on taking the matter to Umar (رضي الله عنه).
The two then approached Umar (رضي الله عنه). The rightful party again stated, "The Prophet (ﷺ) ruled in my favor, but this man rejected the decision." Umar (رضي الله عنه) asked the man to confirm if this was true, and he affirmed it. Umar (رضي الله عنه) then went into his house, came back with a sword, and immediately executed the man who had refused the decision of the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ).
At this moment, the following verse was revealed:
"But no, by your Lord, they will not [truly] believe until they make you, [O Muhammad], judge concerning that over which they dispute among themselves and then find within themselves no discomfort from what you have judged and submit in [full, willing] submission."
[Surah An-Nisa: 65]
Analysis of the Narration:
This narration and its associated story are weak (ضعيف) based on the chains of transmission (اسانيد).- Sources Citing the Incident:
- Ad-Durr al-Manthur (2/322)
- Tafsir Ibn Abi Hatim (3/994)
- Weakness in Chains of Transmission:
- In the First Chain:
The narrator Abdullah ibn Lahi’ah is weak. Additionally, the narration is Mursal (missing a direct link between the narrator and the event). - In the Second Chain:
This is also Mursal, as Dumrah did not meet Umar (رضي الله عنه). - In the Third Chain (from Ibn Abbas):
This chain includes Al-Kalbi, who is a known unreliable narrator (matruk). Additionally, Bazdham Abu Salih narrates from Ibn Abbas, but his direct hearing from Ibn Abbas (رضي الله عنهما) is not established.
- In the First Chain:
Conclusion:
The story of Umar (رضي الله عنه) executing a man for rejecting the decision of the Prophet (ﷺ) has no authentic basis. While the concept of full submission to the rulings of the Prophet Muhammad (ﷺ) is indeed mandated in Islam, as supported by [Surah An-Nisa: 65], this specific incident is built on weak and unreliable narrations.May Allah guide us to rely on authentic sources and protect us from misinterpretation.
And Allah knows best.