Narrated `Amr bin Maimun:I saw `Umar bin Al-Khattab a few days before he was stabbed in Medina. He was standing with Hudhaifa bin Al-Yaman and `Uthman bin Hunaif to whom he said, "What have you done? Do you think that you have imposed more taxation on the land (of As-Swad i.e. 'Iraq) than it can bear?" They replied, "We have imposed on it what it can bear because of its great yield." `Umar again said, "Check whether you have imposed on the land what it can not bear." They said, "No, (we haven't)." `Umar added, "If Allah should keep me alive I will let the widows of Iraq need no men to support them after me." But only four days had elapsed when he was stabbed (to death ). The day he was stabbed, I was standing and there was nobody between me and him (i.e. `Umar) except `Abdullah bin `Abbas. Whenever `Umar passed between the two rows, he would say, "Stand in straight lines." When he saw no defect (in the rows), he would go forward and start the prayer with Takbir. He would recite Surat Yusuf or An-Nahl or the like in the first rak`a so that the people may have the time to Join the prayer. As soon as he said Takbir, I heard him saying, "The dog has killed or eaten me," at the time he (i.e. the murderer) stabbed him. A non-Arab infidel proceeded on carrying a double-edged knife and stabbing all the persons he passed by on the right and left (till) he stabbed thirteen persons out of whom seven died. When one of the Muslims saw that, he threw a cloak on him. Realizing that he had been captured, the non-Arab infidel killed himself, `Umar held the hand of `Abdur-Rahman bin `Auf and let him lead the prayer. Those who were standing by the side of `Umar saw what I saw, but the people who were in the other parts of the Mosque did not see anything, but they lost the voice of `Umar and they were saying, "Subhan Allah! Subhan Allah! (i.e. Glorified be Allah)." `Abdur-Rahman bin `Auf led the people a short prayer. When they finished the prayer, `Umar said, "O Ibn `Abbas! Find out who attacked me." Ibn `Abbas kept on looking here and there for a short time and came to say. "The slave of Al Mughira." On that `Umar said, "The craftsman?" Ibn `Abbas said, "Yes." `Umar said, "May Allah curse him. I did not treat him unjustly. All the Praises are for Allah Who has not caused me to die at the hand of a man who claims himself to be a Muslim. No doubt, you and your father (Abbas) used to love to have more non-Arab infidels in Medina." Al-Abbas had the greatest number of slaves. Ibn `Abbas said to `Umar. "If you wish, we will do." He meant, "If you wish we will kill them." `Umar said, "You are mistaken (for you can't kill them) after they have spoken your language, prayed towards your Qibla, and performed Hajj like yours." Then `Umar was carried to his house, and we went along with him, and the people were as if they had never suffered a calamity before. Some said, "Do not worry (he will be Alright soon)." Some said, "We are afraid (that he will die)." Then an infusion of dates was brought to him and he drank it but it came out (of the wound) of his belly. Then milk was brought to him and he drank it, and it also came out of his belly. The people realized that he would die. We went to him, and the people came, praising him. A young man came saying, "O chief of the believers! Receive the glad tidings from Allah to you due to your company with Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) and your superiority in Islam which you know. Then you became the ruler (i.e. Caliph) and you ruled with justice and finally you have been martyred." `Umar said, "I wish that all these privileges will counterbalance (my shortcomings) so that I will neither lose nor gain anything." When the young man turned back to leave, his clothes seemed to be touching the ground. `Umar said, "Call the young man back to me." (When he came back) `Umar said, "O son of my brother! Lift your clothes, for this will keep your clothes clean and save you from the Punishment of your Lord." `Umar further said, "O `Abdullah bin `Umar! See how much I am in debt to others." When the debt was checked, it amounted to approximately eighty-six thousand. `Umar said, "If the property of `Umar's family covers the debt, then pay the debt thereof; otherwise request it from Bani `Adi bin Ka`b, and if that too is not sufficient, ask for it from Quraish tribe, and do not ask for it from any one else, and pay this debt on my behalf." `Umar then said (to `Abdullah), "Go to `Aisha (the mother of the believers) and say: "`Umar is paying his salutation to you. But don't say: 'The chief of the believers,' because today I am not the chief of the believers. And say: "`Umar bin Al-Khattab asks the permission to be buried with his two companions (i.e. the Prophet, and Abu Bakr)." `Abdullah greeted `Aisha and asked for the permission for entering, and then entered to her and found her sitting and weeping. He said to her, "`Umar bin Al-Khattab is paying his salutations to you, and asks the permission to be buried with his two companions." She said, "I had the idea of having this place for myself, but today I prefer `Umar to myself." When he returned it was said (to `Umar), "`Abdullah bin `Umar has come." `Umar said, "Make me sit up." Somebody supported him against his body and `Umar asked (`Abdullah), "What news do you have?" He said, "O chief of the believers! It is as you wish. She has given the permission." `Umar said, "Praise be to Allah, there was nothing more important to me than this. So when I die, take me, and greet `Aisha and say: "`Umar bin Al-Khattab asks the permission (to be buried with the Prophet (ﷺ) ), and if she gives the permission, bury me there, and if she refuses, then take me to the grave-yard of the Muslims." Then Hafsa (the mother of the believers) came with many other women walking with her. When we saw her, we went away. She went in (to `Umar) and wept there for sometime. When the men asked for permission to enter, she went into another place, and we heard her weeping inside. The people said (to `Umar), "O chief of the believers! Appoint a successor." `Umar said, "I do not find anyone more suitable for the job than the following persons or group whom Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) had been pleased with before he died." Then `Umar mentioned `Ali, `Uthman, AzZubair, Talha, Sa`d and `Abdur-Rahman (bin `Auf) and said, "Abdullah bin `Umar will be a witness to you, but he will have no share in the rule. His being a witness will compensate him for not sharing the right of ruling. If Sa`d becomes the ruler, it will be alright: otherwise, whoever becomes the ruler should seek his help, as I have not dismissed him because of disability or dishonesty." `Umar added, "I recommend that my successor takes care of the early emigrants; to know their rights and protect their honor and sacred things. I also recommend that he be kind to the Ansar who had lived in Medina before the emigrants and Belief had entered their hearts before them. I recommend that the (ruler) should accept the good of the righteous among them and excuse their wrong-doers, and I recommend that he should do good to all the people of the towns (Al-Ansar), as they are the protectors of Islam and the source of wealth and the source of annoyance to the enemy. I also recommend that nothing be taken from them except from their surplus with their consent. I also recommend that he do good to the 'Arab bedouin, as they are the origin of the 'Arabs and the material of Islam. He should take from what is inferior, amongst their properties and distribute that to the poor amongst them. I also recommend him concerning Allah's and His Apostle's protectees (i.e. Dhimmis) to fulfill their contracts and to fight for them and not to overburden them with what is beyond their ability." So when `Umar expired, we carried him out and set out walking. `Abdullah bin `Umar greeted (`Aisha) and said, "`Umar bin Al-Khattab asks for the permission." `Aisha said, "Bring him in." He was brought in and buried beside his two companions. When he was buried, the group (recommended by `Umar) held a meeting. Then `Abdur-Rahman said, " Reduce the candidates for rulership to three of you." Az-Zubair said, "I give up my right to `Ali." Talha said, "I give up my right to `Uthman," Sa`d, 'I give up my right to `Abdur-Rahman bin `Auf." `Abdur-Rahman then said (to `Uthman and `Ali), "Now which of you is willing to give up his right of candidacy to that he may choose the better of the (remaining) two, bearing in mind that Allah and Islam will be his witnesses." So both the sheiks (i.e. `Uthman and `Ali) kept silent. `Abdur-Rahman said, "Will you both leave this matter to me, and I take Allah as my Witness that I will not choose but the better of you?" They said, "Yes." So `Abdur-Rahman took the hand of one of them (i.e. `Ali) and said, "You are related to Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) and one of the earliest Muslims as you know well. So I ask you by Allah to promise that if I select you as a ruler you will do justice, and if I select `Uthman as a ruler you will listen to him and obey him." Then he took the other (i.e. `Uthman) aside and said the same to him. When `Abdur-Rahman secured (their agreement to) this covenant, he said, "O `Uthman! Raise your hand." So he (i.e. `Abdur-Rahman) gave him (i.e. `Uthman) the solemn pledge, and then `Ali gave him the pledge of allegiance and then all the (Medina) people gave him the pledge of allegiance.
Reference
Sahih al-Bukhari 3700
In-book reference
Book 62, Hadith 50
USC-MSA web (English)
Vol. 5, Book 57, Hadith 50
Translation by Muhsin Khan · Language: EN
It is related that 'Amr ibn Ma'mun said, "I saw 'Umar ibn al-Khattab some days before he was struck down in Madina. He was standing with Hudhayfa ibn al-Yaman and 'Uthman ibn Hunayf to whom he said, 'What have you done? Do you fear that you have imposed on the land what it cannot bear?' They said, 'We have imposed on it something which it can bear. It is not a great increase.' He said, 'Investigate to see if you have imposed on the land what it cannot bear.' They said, 'No.' 'Umar said, 'If Allah preserves me, I will leave the widows of Iraq without need for any man after me ever.'" He said, 'Only four days passed until he was struck down." He said, "I was standing with only 'Abdullah ibn 'Abbas between me and him on the morning he was killed. He used to pass between the rows and said, 'Make it straight' until he did not see any gaps. Then he would go forward and say the takbir. He would usually recite Surat Yusuf or an-Nahl or something like that in the first rak'at so that the people could gather. He had just said the takbir when I heard him say, 'The dog has killed me - or eaten me,' when he stabbed him. The non-Arab unbeliever went around with a double-edged knife, stabbing everyone he passed on the right and left until he had stabbed thirteen men, of whom seven died. When one of the Muslim men saw that, he cast his cloak over him. When the non-Arab unbeliever realised that he had been taken, he killed himself. 'Umar took hold of the hand of 'Abdu'r-Rahman ibn 'Awf and had him lead the prayer. Those who were near 'Umar saw what I saw and those in the other areas of the mosque did not know, but they missed 'Umar's voice and were saying, 'Glory be to Allah! Glory be to Allah!' 'Abdu'r-Rahman led them in a quick prayer. When they finished, he said, 'Ibn 'Abbas! See who has murdered me.' He looked for a short time and then came back and said, 'Al-Mughira's slave.' He said, 'The craftsman?' He said, 'Yes.' He said, 'May Allah fight him. I treated him correctly. Praise be to Allah who did not make my death be at the hand of a man who claimed to be Muslim. You and your father used to want to have many non-Arab unbelievers in Madina.' Al-'Abbas had the greatest number of slaves. He said, 'If you wish something, we will do it.' He meant: if you wish, we will kill them.' He said, 'You are mistaken - after they have spoken your language, prayed towards your qibla and made your pilgrimage.' Then he was carried to his house and we went with him. It was as if people had never suffered an affliction before that day. Some said, 'It's all right,' and others said, 'I fear for him.' He was brought a date infusion and he drank it and it came out of his belly. Then he was brought some milk and drank it and it came out of his belly, so they knew that he was dying. "We went in to him and people came and began to praise him. A young man came and said, 'O Amir al-Mu'minin! Take the good news by the good news of Allah to you for having kept the company of the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and your precedence in Islam as you know. Then you were appointed ruler and you were just and now you have martyrdom.' He said, 'I wish that that could be a counterbalance so that there is nothing for or against me.' When he turned to go, his wrapper was touching the ground. He said, 'Bring the boy back to me.' He said, 'Nephew, raise your garment. It is purer for your garment and shows more fear of your Lord.' "He said, 'O 'Abdullah ibn 'Umar! See how great my debts are.' They calculated it and found that it was about eighty-six thousand. 'Umar said, 'If the property of 'Umar's family covers the debt, then pay it from their property. Otherwise ask the Banu 'Adi ibn Ka'b. If their property will not cover it, then ask Quraysh. Do not go beyond them to anyone else and pay this money for me. Go to 'A'isha, Umm al-Mu'minin and say, "'Umar sends you the greeting." Do not say, "Amir al-Mu'minin." Today I am not an amir for the believers. Say, "'Umar ibn al-Khattab asks for your permission to be buried with his two companions."' So 'Abdullag gave the greeting and asked for permission to enter and then entered where she was and found her sitting weeping. He said, ''Umar ibn al-Khattab sends you the greeting and asks for permission to be buried with his two companions.' She said, 'I had wanted it for myself, but today I will prefer him over myself.' When he entered, it was said, 'This is 'Abdullah ibn 'Umar who has come.' He said, 'Make me sit up.' A man supported him against him and he said, 'What news have you got?' He said, 'That which you wish, Amir al-Mu'minin. She has given permission.' He said, 'Praise be to Allah. There was nothing more important to me than that. When I die, then carry me and then give the greeting and say, "'Umar ibn al-Khattab asks for permission to enter. If she gives permission, then take me in. If she refuses me, then take me to the graves of the Muslims.'" "The Umm al-Mu'minin Hafsa came and the women came with her. When we saw her, we got up and she went in to him and wept with him for a time. The men asked for permission to enter and she went into another place for them and we heard her weeping inside. They said, 'Command a successor for us, Amir al-Mu'minin.' He said, 'I do not find anyone more entitled to this authority than this group - or party - with whom the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, was pleased when he died.' He named 'Ali, 'Uthman, az-Zubayr, Talha, Sa'd and 'Abdu'r-Rahman.' He said, ''Abdullah ibn 'Umar should be present with them, but he has nothing of authority,' as if it was say a way of consoling him. 'If Sa'd becomes ruler, then it is that. If not, then whoever of you becomes ruler should seek his help. I did not dismiss him on account of incompetence or betrayal.' "He said, 'I advise the Khalif after me to attend to the first Muhajirun and acknowledge their due and preserve their honour. I advise him to treat the Ansar well, those who lived in the Abode and belief before them. Accept those of them who do good and excuse thoseof them who do evil. I advise him to treat the people of the various towns well as they are the support of Islam and the collectors of wealth and the thorn of the enemy. Nothing should be taken from them except from their surplus with their consent. I advise him to treat the desert Arabs well. They are the root of the Arabs and the material support of Islam. He should take from the middle sort of their property and distribute it to their poor. I advise him to maintain the dhimma of Allah Almighty and the dhimma of His Messenger and to fulfil their contracts for them and fight to defend them and he should not burden them beyond their capacity.' "When he died, we brought him out and set out walking. 'Abdullah ibn 'Umar gave the greeting and said, ''Umar ibn al-Khattab asks permission to enter.' She said, 'Bring him in,' and he was brought it and placed there with his two companions. When his burial was finished, that group met and 'Abdu'r-Rahman said, 'Reduce your business to three of you.' Az-Zubayr said, 'I give my business to 'Ali.' Talha said, 'I give my business to 'Uthman. Sa'd said, 'I give my business to 'Abdu'r-Rahman ibn 'Awf.' 'Abdu'r-Rahman said, 'Which of you will free himself of this command and then we will give it to him to decide which of them he thinks is the better, and Allah and Islam will be his judge?' The two shaykhs were silent. 'Abdu'r-Rahman said, 'So will you designate it to me and by Allah, I swear that I will only choose the better of you?' They said, 'Yes.' He took the hand of one of them and said, 'You have kinship to the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, and precedence in Islam as you know. I ask you by Allah that if I give you command, you will be just, and if I give command to 'Uthman, you will hear and obey.' Then he took the other and said the like of that to him. When the took the agreement, he said, 'Raise your hand, 'Uthman,' and he gave him allegiance and 'Ali gave him allegiance and the people of the abode (i.e. Madina) entered and gave him allegiance."
Reference
Sahih al-Bukhari 3700
In-book reference
Book 62, Hadith 50
USC-MSA web (English)
Vol. 5, Book 57, Hadith 50
Translation by Aisha Bewley · Language: EN
Musa ibn Isma‘il related to us: Abu Awanah related to us, on the authority of Husayn,
On the authority of ‘Amr ibn Maymun, who said: I saw ‘Umar ibn al-Khattab at Madinah some days before he was killed. Speaking to Hudhayfah ibn al-Yaman and ‘Uthman ibn Hunayf, he said: How did ye act? Do ye perchance fear that ye have assessed the land beyond it’s capacity?— They said: We have only assessed it according to its capacity; there is no excess in it. —[‘Umar] said: Beware that ye assess not the land beyond it’s capacity!—Thereupon ‘Umar said: Indeed, if God, exalted be He, keep me alive, I shall leave the widows of ‘Iraq so [well provided for] that after me they will never have to look to anyone for help.—[Ibn Maymun] added: But he was killed before four days passed.
[He further] said: On the morning when he was killed I was standing [in the mosque ready for prayer], and between me and him there was but ‘Abd Allah ibn ‘Abbas. While passing between the rows [‘Umar] said: Adjust your ranks!—Then, when he saw that there was no empty space in them, he advanced and recited the takbir. He usually recited during the first rak‘ah the surah “Yusuf” or “The Bee” or such like, so that the people might [have time to] assemble.
But [this time] he only recited the takbir when I heard him cry out, on his being stabbed: The dog hath killed me!—or: bitten me!—Thereupon the foreign infidel fled, with a double-bladed dagger [in his hand], and did not pass anyone on his right or left without stabbing him, until he stabbed thirteen men, seven of whom died. On seeing this, a man of the Muslims threw his burnus over him; and when the infidel knew that he was caught, he killed himself.
And ‘Umar took the hand of ‘Abd ar-Rahman ibn ‘Awf and made him advance [as imam] And whose was nigh unto ‘Umar saw what I had seen; but [the people in] the remote parts of the mosque perceived naught save that they missed ‘Umar’s voice; and they were saying: Glory be unto Allah! Glory be unto Allah!—Then ‘Abd ar-Rahman ibn ‘Awf led the prayer, making it short. And when [the congregation] had dispersed, [‘Umar] said: O Ibn ‘Abbas, see who it was that hath killed me.—So [Ibn ‘Abbas] went round, and then came back and said: The slave of al-Mughirah.—
[‘Umar] said: That skilled craftsman?—[Ibn ‘Abbas] answered: Yea.—[And ‘Umar] said: May Allah punish him! Verily, I had enjoined the right thing regarding him! Praise be unto Allah, Who hath not caused me to die at the hand of a man who professeth Islam! [O Ibn ‘Abbas!] It was thou and thy father who have desired that there should be many foreign infidels in Madinah. —(Al-‘Abbas had possessed more slaves than any of them.) And [Ibn ‘Abbas ] said: if thou will, I shall act (—or, [perhaps he said:] If thou will, we shall kill them).—
[‘Umar] said: Thou art wrong! [Wouldst thou kill them now,] after they have begun to speak your language, and to pray toward your qiblah, and to perform the same pilgrimage as ye perform?—Thereafter he was borne to his home, and we went with him.
And the people had never before that day suffered [such] a calamity. One said: It is nothing serious.—And another said: I fear for him.
Some must of dates was brought to him, and he drank it: and it came out from his belly. Then milk was brought unto him, and he drank it: and it came out through his wound. Thus they knew that he would die. We went in unto him, and the people came in, extolling him. And a young man came and said: Rejoice, O Commander of the Faithful, about the announcement which Allah—as thou well knowest —gave thee on account of thy companionship with the Messenger of Allah and thy merit with regard to Islam. Then thou becamest Caliph, and wert just.
And [now there is thy] martyrdom. —[‘Umar] said: Would that such were the balance: naught against me, and naught in my favour. —When [the youth] was leaving his loincloth was touching the ground. [‘Umar] said: Bring the boy back to me! —[Then] he said: My brother’s son! Lift thy loincloth: for, indeed, this is better for thy garment, and is more reverential toward thy Sustainer.— [Then he said:] O ‘Abd Allah ibn ‘Umar! Find out how much debt there is upon me.—They counted it and found that it was eighth-six thousand [dirhams] or so.
[‘Umar] said: If the property of ‘Umar’s family suffice, repay it from their possessions; if not, demand it from Banu ‘Adi ibn Ka‘b; and if their possessions suffice not, demand it from the Quraysh; and appeal not to others beside them. Thus thou shalt repay this debt on my behalf. And go to ‘A’ishah, Mother of the Faithful, and say: ‘Umar offereth thee his greeting,—and do not say, “the Commander of the Faithful”, for, behold, to-day I am no more Commander of the Faithful; and say: ‘Umar ibn al-Khattab asketh leave to be buried beside his two companions.
Thereupon [‘Abd Allah ibn ‘Umar] greeted [‘A’ishah] and asked leave to enter; then he went in unto her and found her sitting and weeping. And he said: ‘Umar ibn al-Khattab offereth thee his greeting and asketh leave to be buried beside his two companions.— And she said: I had desired it for myself, but to-day, indeed, I shall give him preference over myself.
When he returned, someone announced: Here is ‘Abd Allah ibn ‘Umar; he hath come back.—[‘Umar] said: Raise me up!—And a man propped him up. Then he asked: What bringest thou?—[His son] answered: That which thou lovest [to hear], O Commander of the Faithful: she hath given leave. —He said: Praise be unto Allah! There was naught which caused me more anxiety than this! Thus, when my end hath come, bear me [to ‘A’ishah house]; then give thy greetings and say: ‘Umar ibn al-Khattab asketh leave to enter. If she give leave, bear me inside; and if she refuse me, bring me back to the graveyard of the Muslims.
And there came the Mother of the Faithful, Hafsah, and [other] women were following her; and when he saw her, we rose. And she went in unto him and wept for a time by his side; then the men asked leave to enter, and she went inside; and we heard her weeping from the inner room.
Then [the men] said: Make thy will, O Commander of the Faithful, and appoint thy successor.—He said: I do not see anyone worthier of this office than these persons —or: people— with whom the Messenger of Allah remained pleased unto his death.—And he mentioned ‘Ali, ‘Uthman, az-Zubayr, Talhah, Sa‘d and ‘Abd ar-Rahman, and said: ‘Abd Allah ibn ‘Umar, who hath no share in government, shall be your witness: [this] as a consolation for him. And should the authority devolve upon Sa‘d, be it so; otherwise, he from among you who will become invested with the authority shall avail himself of his aid; for, behold, I did not dismiss him on account of any incapacity or faithlessness [on his part]
Then he said: To him who will be Caliph after me, I commend the early Muhajirs; he shall remember what is due to them and assure them of their [place of] honour. And I commend to him kindness toward the Ansar, who have taken their abode in the city [of the Prophet] and in the faith before them; [the deeds of] those from among them who do good shall be welcomed, and those from among them who do wrong shall be pardoned.
And I commend to him kindness toward the dwellers of the towns, for, behold, they are the mainstay of Islam, the accumulators of wealth and the terror of the enemy; and naught shall be taken from them save what they can well spare. And I commend to him kindness toward the Bedouins, for, behold, they are the mainspring of the Arabs and the substance of Islam; and only a part of their less valuable cattle shall be taken from them, and [that] shall be returned unto the poor among them. And I commend to him those who are under the protection of Allah and His Messenger; the covenant made with them shall be fulfilled, and [the Caliph] shall fight for them; and they shall not be burdened with more than they can afford.
When [‘Umar] expired we bore him away [to ‘A’ishah] And ‘Abd Allah ibn ‘Umar greeted [her] and said: ‘Umar ibn al-Khattab asketh leave to enter.—She said: Bring him in.—Then he was brought in and laid there to rest beside his two companions.
When the burial was over, those people assembled, and ‘Abd ar-Rahman said: Give up your claims in favour of three from among you.—Thereupon az-Zubayr said: I give up my claims in favour of ‘Ali.—And Talhah said: I give up my claim in favour of ‘Uthman.—And Sa‘d said: I give up my claim in favour of ‘Abd ar-Rahman ibn ‘Awf.— Then ‘Abd ar-Rahman said: If one of you two renounce his claim, we shall leave it unto him to choose by himself the best of them; and Allah and Islam be his witness.—
But the two elders remained silent. —Thereupon ‘Abd ar-Rahman said: Will ye, then, leave it unto me? And Allah be my witness that I shall not fail to choose the best of you.—The two said: Yea.— Thereupon he took one of them by the hand and said: Thou art related to the Messenger of Allah and art the earliest Muslim, as thou well knowest. So Allah be thy witness: if I confer the power upon thee, be just; and if I confer it upon ‘Uthman, heed him and obey him.— Then he took the other aside and spake likewise unto him. And after he had made this covenant [with them], he said: Raise thy hand, O ‘Uthman!—and swore allegiance to him, and ‘Ali swore allegiance to him. Then the people of the city [of the Prophet] came in and swore allegiance to him.
