Hadith of Umar's assassination

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Umar

–The Sunni Rashidun Caliph

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Some famous recorded oral tradition among Muslims (Arabic: hadith) are regarding the killing and last days of Umar.

Although this narrations are quoted and referred to, they are not given any formal name, in contrast to other hadith such as the Hadith of the pond of Khumm or the Hadith of Qur'an and Sunnah

Contents

[edit] Introduction

Umar was the second Sunni Caliph, viewed by Sunnis as a righteous successor to the Islamic prophet Muhammad. Mughira ibn Shu'ba was one of the peoples in Umar's government, and had a slave named Abu-Lu'lu'ah. Abu-Lu'lu'ah ended up killing Umar and committing suicide.

[edit] Narration

A narration attributed to Az-Zuhri reports:

“ 'Umar would not permit a captive who had reached the age of puberty to enter Madinah until al-Mughirah ibn Shu'bah wrote to him and he was the governor of Al-Kufah mentioning to him a slave who had a number of crafts and asking permission that he enter Madinah, saying, 'He has many trades which are useful to people. He is a blacksmith, engraver and carpenter.' He gave permission to him to send him to Madinah. Al-Mughirah put a demand for revenue on him (the slave) of one hundred dirhams per month, so the slave came to 'Umar to complain of the severity of that imposition. He said, 'Your demand for revenue is not that much,' and he turned away in anger and threateningly. 'Umar waited some days and then he called him and said, 'Have I not been informed that you say, "If I wished, I could make a mill which will grind by means of the wind."' Then he turned his face to 'Umar with a frown and said, 'I will make for you a mill which people will talk about.' When he turned away, 'Umar said to his companions, 'The slave threatened me just now.' After a while Abu Lu'lu'ah wrapped his garments around a dagger with two heads (to the blade) whose handle was in the middle of it, hid in one of the corners of the mosque in the darkness of the last part of the night, and there he waited until 'Umar came out waking people up for the prayer. When he drew near to him, he stabbed him three times. [1] ”

A narration attributed to 'Amr ibn Maymun al-Ansari reports:

“ Abu Lu'lu'ah, the slave of al-Mughirah, stabbed 'Umar with a dagger which had two heads, and he stabbed, along with him, twelve other men of whom six died, then a man from Iraq threw over him a robe. When he became tangled up in it, he killed himself [1]. ”

A narration attributed to Umar reports:

“ If my term overtakes me, and Abu Ubaydah al-Jarrah is still alive, then I would appoint him as khalifah. If my Lord asked me, I would say, 'I heard the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, saying, "Every Prophet has a trustworthy (companion), and my trustworthy (companion) is Abu 'Ubaydah ibn al-Jarrah."' If my term overtakes me, and Abu 'Ubaydah al-Jarrah has died, I would appoint Mu'adh ibn Jabal as khalifah. If my Lord asked me, 'Why did you appoint him as khalifah?' I would say, 'I heard the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, saying, "He will be raised up on the Day of Resurrection a distance in front of the men of knowledge."' They had both died during his khilafah [1]. ”

A narration attributed to Abu Rafi' reports:

“ Abu Lu'lu'ah, the slave of al-Mughirah, used to make mills. Al-Mughirah used to demand as revenue from him four dirhams a day. He met 'Umar and said, 'Amir al-Muminin, al-Mughirah is being very heavy on me, so speak to him.' He said, 'Behave well towards your master,'and 'Umar's intention was to speak to al-Mughirah about it so he (the slave) became angry and said, 'His justice encompasses all of the people except for me,' and he secretly decided to kill him. He took a dagger, sharpened it and poisoned it. 'Umar used to say, 'Straighten your ranks,' before he pronounced the takbir. He came and stood opposite him in the rank, stabbed him in his shoulder and side, and 'Umar fell. Then he stabbed thirteen other men with him, of whom six died. 'Umar was carried to his family. The sun was about to rise so 'Abd ar-Rahman ibn 'Auf led the people in prayer with the two shortest surahs. 'Umar was brought some nabidh (a drink made from dates left to soak in water) and he drank it and it came out of his wound, but it wasn't yet distinct (from the blood). So they gave him some milk to drink, and it came out of his wound and they said, 'There's no great harm with you.' He said, 'If there is any harm in killing, then I have been killed.' People began to praise him, saying, 'You were such and such and you were such and such.' He said, 'By Allah, I wish that I had gone out of it, independent of others, with nothing against me and nothing for me, and that the companionship of the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and his family and grant them peace, was secure for me.' Ibn 'Abbas praised him, so he said, 'Even if I had that gold which would fill the earth, I would ransom myself by it from the terror of the rising. I have made it (the khilafah) a matter of consultation between 'Uthman, 'Ali, Talhah, az-Zubayr, 'Abd ar-Rahman ibn 'Auf and Sa'd.' He ordered Suhayb to lead people in prayer, and gave the six a period of three (days in which to decide)[1]. ”

A narration attributed to 'Amr ibn Maimun reports:

“ 'Umar said, "Praise be to Allah Who did not make my decree of death to be at the hands of a man who claimed Islam."

Then he said to his son, "Abdullah, look and see what debts I have." They calculated it and found it to be 86'000 or thereabouts. He said, "If the wealth of the family of 'Umar is enough, then pay it. If it is not, then ask among Banu Adi, and if their wealth is not enough, then ask among Quraysh. Go to the Mother of the Believers, Aishah, and say, 'Umar asks permission to be buried with his two companions.'"

He went to her and she said, "I wanted it (meaning the burial plot for myself), but I will definitely prefer him over myself, today." 'Abdullah came and said, "She has given permission" so he praised Allah.

Someone said to him, "Make bequest, Amir al-Muminin, and appoint a successor." He said, "I see no-one with more right to this command than these six with whom the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, was pleased when he died" and he named the six, and said, "Abd-Allah ibn Umar will be present with them but he has no part in the command. If the office should fall to Sa'd, then he it is, and if not, then let whoever of you is appointed seek help from him, for I did not remove him (from his office) because of any incapacity or treachery."

Then he said, "I counsel the khalifah after me to have fearful obedience of God (Arabic: الله); I counsel him to pay particular care to the Muhajirun and the Ansar, and I counsel him to treat the people of the provinces well,' and other similar counsels.

When he died, we went walking with him, 'Abdullah ibn 'Umar called out the greeting and said, "Umar seeks permission to enter." A'ishah said, "Bring him in." He was brought in and placed there with his two companions.

When they finished burying him and had returned, that group gathered and 'Abd ar-Rahman ibn 'Auf said, 'Delegate your authority to three among you... (...see The election of Uthman) [1].

 ”

A narration attributed to Abu Rafi reports:

“ someone spoke to 'Umar at his death about the appointment of a khalifah, so he said, 'I have seen among my companions an unfortunate eagerness. If one of two men had reached me, and then I had entrusted this command to him, I would have been sure of him: Salim the freed slave of Abu Hudhayfah and Abu 'Ubaydah ibn al-Jarrah.' 'Umar was struck on the Wednesday, four days before the end of Dhu'l-Hijjah, and he was buried on Sunday, the day of the new moon of al-Muharram, the Sacred (month). He was sixty-three years old. It has also been said that he was sixty-six, sixty-one, sixty (which al-Waqidi preferred). It has been said that he was fifty-nine, fifty-five and fifty-four. Suhayb performed the (funeral) prayer over him in the mosque.[1]. ”

Ali Asgher Razwy, a 20th century Shi'a twelver Islamic scholar writes:

“ ...(Abu-Lu'lu'ah) mortally wounded him.

A physician was called. He gave Umar some medicine to drink but all of it came out of the gaping wound in his navel. When the physician noticed this, he told Umar that there was no hope of his recovery, and advised him to make his will since little time was left for him in this world.

Word rapidly spread that the khalifa was mortally wounded, and the news caused much commotion in the city.

Many companions called on Umar to enquire after his health. Some of them suggested that he designate someone as his successor. Umar said:

"If I designate someone as my successor, nothing would be amiss with it since Abu Bakr designated me as his successor, and he was better than me. But if I do not designate anyone as my successor, nothing would be amiss with that either since the Apostle of God did not designate his own successor, and he was better than both of us (Abu Bakr and Umar)."

Ayesha also sent word to Umar urging him to appoint someone as khalifa before his own death, or else, she warned, "anarchy and chaos may spread in the land."

Umar asked Ayesha's messenger to tell her as follows... [2].

 ”

[edit] Muslim view

Muslims view this hadith as notable and important since they portray the motives and events that preceded the killing of Umar, and also describe how the assassination occurred. It also describes what Umar did his last days, events that resulted in The election of Uthman.

[edit] Sunni view

Suyuti, a 16th century Sunni Islamic scholar

“ In the Tahdhib of al-Mazini, there is that the engraving on the seal-ring of 'Umar was, 'Death is enough of an admonisher, 'Umar.'

Tariq ibn Shihab said: Umm Ayman said, on the day 'Umar was killed, 'Today Islam has been rent.'

'Abd ar-Rahman ibn Yasar said, 'I witnessed the death of 'Umar ibn al-Khattab and the sun was eclipsed on that day.' The men who transmitted (this hadith) were trustworthy [1].

 ”

[edit] Shi'a view

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[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g History of the Caliphs by Suyuti [1]
  2. ^ A Restatement of the History of Islam and Muslims on Al-Islam.org [2]

[edit] See also

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