Episode 5: Life of Umar ibn al-Khattab
Umar’s Opinions Affirmed by Revelations:
One of the many virtues of Umar ibn al-Khattab was that many times, when he would give his advice on a certain matter, what he said would later be confirmed with revelation from Allah in the Quran.
Veiling of the Prophet’s Wives:
One example of this was when he advised the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ: Ya Rasoolullah, your wives should be behind a screen/curtain when men come and ask them questions.
Many people would come to the wives of the Prophet to ask them questions about him and Umar suggested that there should be a barrier between the people and the ‘Mothers of the Believers’.
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ did not want to make this obligation without receiving revelation from Allah SWT.
Allah SWT revealed the verse: ‘But Allah is not shy of the truth. And when you ask (his wives) for something, ask them from behind a partition. That is purer for your hearts and their hearts. And it is not (conceivable or lawful) for you to harm the Messenger of Allāh or to marry his wives after him, ever. Indeed, that would be in the sight of Allāh an enormity’. (Quran, 33:53)
Maqam-e-Ibrahim:
Another example was when Umar ibn al-Khattab suggested that the Maqam-e-Ibrahim should be taken as a place of prayer.
Allah SWT then revealed after this: ‘And take, (O believers), from the standing place of Abraham a place of prayer. (Quran, 2:125)
Umar’s Willingness to Accept Correction:
However, whenever Umar ibn al-Khattab was mistaken in something and it was shown to him by the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, he would go back on what he said and would accept the truth.
One example of this, when the Muslims were victorious at the Battle of Banu Mustaliq, the Muslims would stop at certain points to rest.
At one of these rest stops on the way back from Muraysi, the Muslims were collecting water from the wells.
On one of those wells, a companion from both the Muhajirin and the Ansar went to the same well to get water, and they both arrived at the same time which led to an argument over who could take water from the well first.
This argument became heated and it reached such a level that the man from the Muhajirin called out for assistance from his group, and the man from the Ansar called his group for support.
The dispute continued to the point where it was feared that a physical altercation would break out between the Muhajirin and the Ansar.
One companion went running to the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, who was out of the area at that time, and he informed him of what was happening.
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ got very upset and quickly went to the location of the well. He addressed the people and said: Are you calling out with the call of the Jahiliyyah? While I am still here alive, you are doing this. Leave this type of tribalistic call. Leave this call of Jahiliyyah, this call of disunity. Because this is something that stinks.
With the words of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, the situation calmed down and both sides realised their mistake and apologised to each other.
The Case of Abdullah ibn Ubayy ibn Salul:
When this news reached Abdullah ibn Ubayy ibn Salul, the leader of the Munafiqin, he said: the Muhajirin (people of Makkah) have the nerve to treat us like this? They are the ones who came to our city (Madinah). They come and take refuge in our city, they overcrowd our city, take our resources and take advantage of our generosity. And now they treat us like this?
Abdullah ibn Ubayy ibn Salul said to some of the people around him: This is your fault. You accepted these refugees coming in from Makkah to stay in our city. now look at what is happening. You shared your resources and wealth with them. They came into your city and overcrowded your city and now they are making problems with you. This is your fault.
Abdullah ibn Ubayy ibn Salul then gave an example that the Arabs used to say: If you make your dog fat, then eventually it is going to eat you. He gave this example to describe the situation between the Muhajirin and the Ansar.
Abdullah ibn Ubayy advised his people: We should stop spending on the Muhajirin. If we stop helping them out, eventually they will leave Madinah. He also said: when we return to Madinah, the honourable ones will expel the disgraceful ones. (Meaning We, the people of Madinah will expel the Prophet ﷺ and the Muhajirin out of the City).
He described the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and the people of Makkah as the disgraceful ones.
Zayd ibn Arqam (a young boy) heard what Abdullah ibn Ubayy had said and told his uncle, who went and informed the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ about this.
Umar’s Idea to Kill Abdullah ibn Ubayy:
When Umar ibn al-Khattab heard this, he said: Ya Rasoolullah, order Abbad ibn Bishr (a relative of Abdullah ibn Ubayy) to kill Abdullah ibn Ubayy ibn Salul.
The Prophet ﷺ replied: Do you want the people to say that Muhammad kills his companions.
Revelation Regarding Zayd ibn Arqam:
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ ordered his companions to get up and leave immediately.
The reason why the Prophet did this was to distract his companions so the words of Abdullah ibn Ubayy wouldn’t spread and cause fitnah.
Abdullah ibn Ubayy realised that news had spread to the Prophet about what he had said, and to try and save himself, he went to the Prophet ﷺ and swore by Allah that he did not say this.
Some of the people got angry at Zayd ibn Arqam and thought he was spreading fitnah.
Allah SWT then revealed Surah Al-Munafiqun where Allah SWT made it clear that Abdullah ibn Ubayy did say these words and that Zayd ibn Arqam was telling the truth.
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ called for Zayd ibn Arqam and recited Surah Al-Munafiqun to him.
Allah SWT had confirmed that Zayd ibn Arqam was telling the truth.
Usayd ibn Hudayr Explains Abdullah ibn Ubayy’s Hatred:
Usayd ibn Hudayr, who was from the tribe of Aws, said to the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ: Rather you are the honourable one and Abdullah ibn Ubayy is the disgraceful one.
Usayd told the Prophet: the reason why Abdullah ibn Ubayy has so much hatred for you is because, before you came to Madinah, the people of Madinah were ready to make him the leader of Madinah.
The Son of Abdullah ibn Ubayy Confronts his Father:
The son of Abdullah ibn Ubayy, Abdullah was a good Muslim and he went to the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and said: you know there is nobody who is more respectful and dutiful to their father than me, but I will kill my father for disrespecting you.
The Prophet ﷺ said: Leave him and we will continue to be nice to him as long as he is with us.
The son of Abdullah ibn Ubayy then went towards the entrance of Madinah and pulled out his sword.
Eventually, Abdullah ibn Ubayy ibn Salul now came face to face with his son, who told his father: you will not be allowed to enter Madinah until you admit that Muhammad is the honourable one and you are the disgraceful one.
The Prophet’s Wisdom in Allowing Abdullah ibn Ubayy to Enter into Madinah:
When the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ heard this, he granted permission for Abdullah ibn Ubayy to enter Madinah.
The son said to his father: I am only letting you through because the Prophet gave his permission.
Abdullah ibn Ubayy tried to speak up and praise the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ on the day of Jummah.
When he got up and tried to sweet-talk the Prophet, the Muslims that were gathered said: Sit down, O enemy of Allah. Ya Munafiq, sit down.
Umar ibn al-Khattab Learns the Wisdom of the Prophet:
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said to Umar ibn al-Khattab: Look now. If I had killed him when you told me to kill him, then there would be people who would actually have defended him. But now, look how everyone is against him now. If I order anyone to kill, they will be happy to do so.
Umar ibn al-Khattab realised that he was hasty when he suggested killing Abdullah ibn Ubayy ibn Salul and he said: Wallahi, I know for sure that the decision of Rasoolullah has more blessing and is greater in Barakah, than my decision and what I say.
Umar’s Lesson in Patience and Trust During the Treaty of Al-Hudaybiyyah:
Another example of Umar ibn al-Khattab giving his view and humbly accepting that he was mistaken was at the treaty of Al-Hudaybiyyah.
Abu Jandal escaped from Makkah and went to Al-Hudaybiyyah, and he was the son of Suhayl ibn Amr.
Abu Jandal asked the Muslims for protection, but his father Suhayl ibn Amr said: O Muhammad, we had a deal. Our agreement is that anyone that escapes from Makkah and takes refuge from you, you have to send him back.
Umar ibn al-Khattab, when he heard this said: We did not write anything down yet.
Suhayl ibn Amr replied: It doesn’t matter if we didn’t write it down, we already agreed upon it orally and that’s binding.
The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ then said to Suhayl: Yes, you are right.
The Prophet ordered for Abu Jandal to be sent back with his father Suhayl, and on his way back, Abu Jandal said: Don’t leave me, don’t send me back to them, they will torture me!
This was something that was painful for the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and the Muslims but the Prophet knew this was the decree of Allah SWT.
The Prophet ﷺ said to Abu Jandal: Be patient and seek reward from Allah for what you are going through, perhaps Allah will make a way out for you.
The companions of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ were crying when witnessing Abu Jandal being sent back to Makkah.
Umar ibn al-Khattab did not cry but he went close to Abu Jandal with his sword and told him: surely the Mushriqin are impure and the blood of one of them is the blood of a dog.
Umar was trying to tell Abu Jandal to take the sword and kill his own father but Abu Jandal could not do this.
Umar ibn al-Khattab went to the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and asked: aren’t we Muslims on the truth and the enemies are on falsehood? The Prophet replied: Yes.
Umar then said: why are we taking this humiliation? Why are we allowing them to have the upper hand? The Prophet Muhammad ﷺ replied: Surely I am the Messenger of Allah and I do not disobey Allah. Surely Allah is my helper.
Umar asked the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ: Didn’t you tell us that we will come to the Kabah and make tawaf ? The Prophet replied: Yes, I did say that but did I say it will be this year?
The Prophet ﷺ informed Umar ibn al-Khattab: you will come back and you will make tawaf.
Umar ibn al-Khattab went to Abu Bakr and asked him the same questions but he replied in the same way as the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ did.
Abu Bakr said: Surely he is the Messenger of Allah and he does not disobey his Lord. And Allah is his helper. So cling firm to whatever he does. Follow his footsteps, because Wallahi he is upon the truth.
Umar ibn al-Khattab felt guilty about asking these questions and for the rest of his life, he would do good deeds in order to make up for the questions he asked that day.