44/2. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 2389a — Ali’s Praise for Umar
The Virtues Of 'Umar (RA)
Hadith About Ali Praising Umar ibn al-Khattab
Sahih Muslim : 2389a
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 2389a
حَدَّثَنَا سَعِيدُ بْنُ عَمْرٍو الأَشْعَثِيُّ، وَأَبُو الرَّبِيعِ الْعَتَكِيُّ، وَأَبُو كُرَيْبٍ مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْعَلاَءِ - وَاللَّفْظُ لأَبِي كُرَيْبٍ - قَالَ أَبُو الرَّبِيعِ حَدَّثَنَا وَقَالَ الآخَرَانِ، أَخْبَرَنَا ابْنُ الْمُبَارَكِ، عَنْ عُمَرَ بْنِ سَعِيدِ بْنِ أَبِي حُسَيْنٍ، عَنِ ابْنِ أَبِي مُلَيْكَةَ، قَالَ سَمِعْتُ ابْنَ عَبَّاسٍ، يَقُولُ وُضِعَ عُمَرُ بْنُ الْخَطَّابِ عَلَى سَرِيرِهِ فَتَكَنَّفَهُ النَّاسُ يَدْعُونَ وَيُثْنُونَ وَيُصَلُّونَ عَلَيْهِ قَبْلَ أَنْ يُرْفَعَ وَأَنَا فِيهِمْ - قَالَ - فَلَمْ يَرُعْنِي إِلاَّ بِرَجُلٍ قَدْ أَخَذَ بِمَنْكِبِي مِنْ وَرَائِي فَالْتَفَتُّ إِلَيْهِ فَإِذَا هُوَ عَلِيُّ فَتَرَحَّمَ عَلَى عُمَرَ وَقَالَ مَا خَلَّفْتَ أَحَدًا أَحَبَّ إِلَىَّ أَنْ أَلْقَى اللَّهَ بِمِثْلِ عَمَلِهِ مِنْكَ وَايْمُ اللَّهِ إِنْ كُنْتُ لأَظُنُّ أَنْ يَجْعَلَكَ اللَّهُ مَعَ صَاحِبَيْكَ وَذَاكَ أَنِّي كُنْتُ أُكَثِّرُ أَسْمَعُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ " جِئْتُ أَنَا وَأَبُو بَكْرٍ وَعُمَرُ وَدَخَلْتُ أَنَا وَأَبُو بَكْرٍ وَعُمَرُ وَخَرَجْتُ أَنَا وَأَبُو بَكْرٍ وَعُمَرُ " . فَإِنْ كُنْتُ لأَرْجُو أَوْ لأَظُنُّ أَنْ يَجْعَلَكَ اللَّهُ مَعَهُمَا .
Ibn 'Abbas Narrated from:
When 'Umar b. Khattab was placed in the coffin the people gathered around him. They praised him and supplicated for him before the bier was lifted up, and I was one amongst them. Nothing attracted my attention but a person who gripped my shoulder from behind. I saw towards him and found that he was 'Ali.He invoked Allah's mercy upon 'Umar and said: You have left none behind you (whose) deeds (are so enviable) that I love to meet Allah with them. By Allah, I hoped that Allah would keep you and your two associates together. I had often heard Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: I came and there came too Abu Bakr and 'Umar; I entered and there entered too Abu Bakr and 'Umar; I went out and there went out too Abu Bakr and 'Umar, and I hope and think that Allah will keep you along with them.
[1] Meaning when he died.Reference : Sahih Muslim 2389aIn-book reference : Book 44, Hadith 18USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 31, Hadith 5885
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 2389a
This hadith about Umar ibn al-Khattab records a moving moment after Umar was placed on his bier. People gathered around him, praised him, and supplicated for him before he was lifted. Ibn Abbas says Ali came from behind, held his shoulder, and invoked Allah’s mercy upon Umar. Ali then praised Umar’s deeds and said he hoped Allah would keep Umar with his two associates. The reason he gave was that he often heard Allah’s Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم say, I came with Abu Bakr and Umar, I entered with Abu Bakr and Umar, and I went out with Abu Bakr and Umar. The core topic is companionship and honor shown to Umar through Ali’s words.
What we learn from this hadith
- Supplicating for a deceased Muslim is shown in the gathering around Umar.
- Ali spoke well of Umar and invoked Allah’s mercy upon him.
- The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم often mentioned Abu Bakr and Umar together with him in this report.
