1. It is narrated from Huzaifah bin Yaman that he saw Umar bin Khattab and
Umar asked: “How did you begin the day, O Ibne Yaman?”
He replied: “Do you want to know how I began the day? I began the day
displeased with truth and pleased with mischief; and testifying for what I have
not seen; and memorizing the uncreated; and prayed without ablution; and I have
on the earth what God does not have in the heavens.”
Umar became infuriated and went away on some important errand, but
decided to punish Huzaifah for these statements. On the way, he met Ali Ibne Abi
Talib (a.s.). His Eminence saw that Umar was infuriated and he asked: “What has
infuriated you, Umar?”
He replied: “I met Huzaifah bin Yaman and asked: How did you begin your day? He replied: I began the day while not being pleased with truth.”
Ali (a.s.) said: “He is right. Since he is not pleased with death, whereas it is truth.”
Then Umar said: “He says: And I liked temptation.” Ali (a.s.) said: “He is right; since he likes wealth and children and the Almighty Allah says:
أَنَّمَا أَمْوَالُكُمْ وَأَوْلَادُكُمْ فِتْنَةٌ
“Your property and your children are a temptation.”1
Umar said: “O Ali, he says: I testify for what I have not seen.” Ali (a.s.)
said: “He is right; since he testifies for the oneness of Almighty Allah, death,
rising up on Judgment Day, Paradise and Hell, Siraat Bridge, whereas he has not
seen any of them.”
Umar said: “O Ali, he says: I memorize the uncreated.” Ali (a.s.) said: “That
is true, he learns the Quran, whereas it is uncreated.”2
Umar said: “And he says: I pray without ablution.” Ali (a.s.) said: “He is
right, he recites benedictions on my cousin, the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.),
without ablution and that is allowed.”
Umar said: “He also claims something more serious.” Ali (a.s.) asked:
“What does he say?” Umar replied: “He says: There is something for me in the
earth which is not there for God in the heavens.” Ali (a.s.) said: “He is right, he
has family and dependants and Almighty Allah has no spouse or issues.”
At this point Umar said: “If Ali Ibne Abi Talib (a.s.) had not there, the son
of Khattab would have perished.”
Hafiz Ganji has narrated this tradition in Kifaya,3 and he remarks:
“According to tradition scholars this report is authentic and numerous
biographer have narrated it.”
2. Hafiz scholars: Ibne Abi Shaibah, Abd bin Hamid, Ibne Mundhir have
narrated from Ibrahim Tamimi that a man said in the presence of Umar: “O
Allah, make me from the small.” Umar asked: “What supplication is this?” He
replied: I heard Almighty Allah say:
وَقَلِيلٌ مِنْ عِبَادِيَ الشَّكُورُ
“And very few of My servants are grateful.”4
And I beseeched Almighty Allah to make me of those few. Umar said: “All
the people are more knowledgeable than Umar.”
Qurtubi has mentioned as follows: “All the people are more knowledgeable
than you, O Umar.”
Zamakhshari has narrated as follows:
“All people are more knowledgeable than Umar.”5
10. Opinion of Caliph regarding recitation in prayer
1. It is narrated from Abdur Rahman bin Hanzala bin Rahib that Umar bin
Khattab prayed the Maghrib Prayer and in the first unit (rakat), did not recite the
Surahs; when he reached the second unit (rakat), he recited Surah Hamd twice
and when the prayer was concluded and salutation recited, he performed two
prostrations of forgetfulness (Sajdah Sahv).
Ibne Hajar has quoted this report in Fathul Bari,6 after which he says:
“The authorities of this report are reliable and it seems as if this practice was
the viewpoint of Umar.”
2. It is narrated from Abu Salma bin Abdur Rahman that Umar bin Khattab
led people in Maghrib Prayer and he did not recite the chapters of Quran (Qirat).
After the prayer, he was asked: “You did not recite the chapters?” He asked:
“How were the genuflections and prostrations?” They said they were all right. He
said: “Then there is no problem.”7
3. It is narrated from Shobi that Abu Moosa Ashari said to Umar bin
Khattab: “Chief of believers, did you recite the chapters of Quran softly in
prayers?” He replied: “No.” Then he ordered and the Muezzin recited the Adhan
and Iqamah and the prayer was repeated.8
From these instances and repetition of these incidents, it is learnt that the
Caliph did not observe the most necessary rules of prayer; so much so that he did
not recite the chapters of Quran in the first unit (rakat) and made up for it by
reciting it in the second unit. And before the salutation or after that, he performed
two prostrations of forgetfulness (Sajdah Sahv).
Sometimes he was content with genuflections and prostrations being perfect
and he did not think that it was necessary to repeat the prayer. Sometimes he
resorted to precaution and repeated the prayer. Sometimes he considered the
prayer invalid and repeated it along with his followers. Are these occasional
guesses?! Or he had no capacity to solve problems? This also shows how sincere
the Caliph was in prayers.
11. The Caliph’s opinion about inheritance
It is narrated from Masud Thaqafi that:
“I was a witness when Umar bin Khattab made brothers of the father and
mother share the third with maternal brothers. A man remarked: You delivered a
different judgment in this issue before. He asked: How did I decide? He replied:
You gave to the maternal brothers and did not give anything to paternal brothers.
Umar said: That was a judgment [of that time] and this is another judgment
[which I give] now.”
On the basis of another narration, he said: “It was on the basis of judgment
of that day and this is on the basis of judgment of today.”9
Allamah Amini says: As if religious adjudication depends on personal
whims of the Caliph, whether he wants to follow the Shariah or oppose it. As if
that Caliph has the right to deliver any judgment and issue any order. As if there
is no rules and law in Islam! Perhaps this viewpoint is worse than the viewpoint
of Taswib,10 which is refutable through definite evidences.