Second kinds of reports from Ibne Umar
Regarding these types of reports of Ibne Umar whatever you say would be
less. You will see him with his deep malice and anger against Ameerul
Momineen (a.s.), or his blind affection for the Abshami clan, does not allow him
to mention the name of Ali or to remember the days of his Caliphate then what to
say that he should have pledged allegiance to him!
Statement of Ibne Hajar regarding the tradition which we mentioned above
in which it was mentioned that he said:1 Ibne Umar did not mention the Caliphate
of Ali because of there being dispute in that he had not pledge allegiance to
him…
It is narrated by Hafiz Ibne Asakir that:2 Ibne Umar mentioned Islamic
caliphates and stated the names of twelve caliphs from Quraish: Abu Bakr, Umar,
Uthman, Muawiyah, Yazid, Saffah, Mansur, Jabir, Amin, Salam, Mahdi, Ameerul Asab and said regarding them: “All of them were worthy and the like of
them are not found.”
What a degraded conduct is that or a useless view that has cast this man in
such prejudice – prejudice of ancient Jahiliyya. Suppose the Caliphate of
Ameerul Momineen (a.s.) – refuge of God! – had not been legal, but whether it
came to such a level, but was it worse than the rulership of Yazid, the
transgressor that it this man despised even to mention it?
Whether when writing about the events of history it is allowed not to
mention the times of Firon and other oppressors, whereas according to Ahle
Sunnat it is narrated from Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.) that: Caliphate after him
will be there for thirty years, after that it would be tyrannical rulership and then
there would be mischief in the Ummah. And they would regard profligacy and
wine as lawful.3
What was there on the tongue of this man that prevented him to speak about
excellence of Ameerul Momineen (a.s.)? Whereas 300 verses of Quran were
revealed regarding him, and thousands of traditions have come down in his
praise, from which only a few are narrated by Ibne Umar and that also in brief
and in a negative manner that they seem to be defects.
Like what Ahmad has narrated from Ibne Umar in his Musnad:4 During the
period of Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.) we used to say: Messenger of Allah
(s.a.w.a.) is the best of men, then Abu Bakr, and then Umar and indeed, the son
of Abu Talib has three qualities and if I had one of them, I would have preferred
it to having red haired camels! The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.) married his
daughter to him and he was the grandfather of his children, and all the doors into
the Masjid were closed, except his door and on the day of Khyber, the standard
was given to him.
It is mentioned traditions that Ibne Umar was asked: “What is your view
about Ali and Uthman.” He replied: “As for Uthman, then indeed Allah forgave
him and you do not like to forgive; and as for Ali, he was only cousin and son-in-law of the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.).”5
You will see him comparing Abu Bakr, Umar and Uthman to the Messenger
of Allah (s.a.w.a.) and weigh them in the criterion of his thoughts having
excessive defects; after that he raised his criterion and did not join Ali (a.s.) in
this excellence.
Ahmad in Musnad,6 has narrated from Ibne Umar that one day after sunrise
the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.) came out and said:
“A little before dawn I dreamt as if the keys and balances were given to me.
As for the keys; they are these keys and the balance is with what you weigh. So I was placed myself in one pan of the balance and my Ummah was placed in the
other pan, I emerged heavier. Then Abu Bakr was brought and was weighed with
them and he was heavier. Then Umar was brought and was weighed with them
and he was heavier. Then Uthman was brought and was weighed with them and
he was heavier. Then the balance was gathered [and there was no one equal to
them in weight].