Hadith of Umar and foretelling
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The Hadith of Umar and foretelling is a famous recorded oral tradition among Muslims about Umar (a famous contemporary of the prophet Muhammad). Although this narration is prominently quoted and referred to, it is 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
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[edit] Narration
The hadith is narrated in first hand by Abu Huraira, who said that Muhammad said:
- Among the people preceding you there used to be "muhaddithun". If there are any such persons among my followers, it is 'Umar ibn al-Khattab.
In another version, it is reported that Muhammad said:
- Among the children of Israel who went before you there were such people who had communication with God (Arabic: yukallamun), even though they were not prophets. If there is any such person from among my people it is 'Umar
[edit] Muslim view
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In the Muslim view, the most notable thing about this hadith is that a well known person (Abu Huraira) is narrating it, and that it is Umar who is receiving the merit. Umar would later become the second Sunni Caliph, whilst the Shi'a regard him as a usurper of Ali's rights, who was the first Shi'a Imam.
[edit] Sunni view
Sunni Muslims view this hadith as an evidence of Umar's extraordinary qualities, and are known to quote it to that effect. In fact, they regard this hadith as so strong that it is included in their collection of most trusted hadith, the Sahih Bukhari. The author of that collection had a student who also agreed and included it in his collection named the Sahih Muslim, the second most trusted Sunni Hadith collection. Thus was this hadith included in both the collections nicknamed "The Two Authentic (collections)"
[edit] Shi'a view
Shia Muslims dismiss the narration as a unauthentic (Arabic: Maudu') late fabrication by the Banu Umayyad Sunni Caliph dynasty, fabricated only in order to give honour to the people that helped them establish their dynasty, and to diminish and trivialize honours given to people that fought their dynasty.
Shi'a also note that the hadith contains reference to Israel, a hallmark[citation needed] of the Jewish Sahaba Abu Huraira, whom the Shi'a view as a serial fabricator of hadith, contracted by the Banu Umayyad for that purpose.
However, Shi'a still use it in argumentations against Sunnis, specially in the subject of Imamah. In those discussion, when Shi'a get accused of attributing to many merits to the Shi'a Imams, to the point of giving them prophetic virtues, Shi'a counter with this hadith and the Hadith of Umar and prophecy, in order to remind Sunis that they do the same for Umar, and hence should not falsely accuse shias of such things[citation needed].
More specific, this hadith shows that according to Sunni Islam, people are indeed able to communicate with God without being a prophet. Sunnis, Salafis in particula have been known to accuse Shi'a of breaching the doctoring of the finality of prophethood by stating that Shi'a give the Shi'a Imams prophetical attributes which the shias refute as they clearly distinguish between the status of A prophet in comparison to an imam (imams in the shia tradition are maintainers of the Prophetic teachings, never prophets). Salafis however are known for propagating such things especially against twelver shias, in an effort to spread hatred against them. it should be noted that most Muslims consider salafis heretical and deviant, and give their narrations little credibility.
Lastly, Shi'a view it as notable that the hadith is included in Sahih Bukhari, making it impossible for Sunnis to dismiss the narration during a debate.
[edit] See also
[edit] References
^ 1) muhaddithun is:
- those who spoke under some form of divine inspiration, other than a prophetic revelation [4]
- i.e. persons who can guess things that come true later on, as if those persons have been inspired by a divine power [5]
^ 2)
- Sahih Bukhari, Book of Virtues and Merits of the Prophet (pbuh) and his Companions [6]
- Sahih Muslim, Book al-fada'il, Chapter min fada'il 'Umar
^ 3)
- Sahih Bukhari, Book "Companions of the Prophet" [7]
[edit] External link
Sunni:
