44/2. Chapter:
Sahih Muslim 2398a — Umar Among the Inspired
The Virtues Of 'Umar (RA)
Hadith About Umar as an Inspired Person
Sahih Muslim : 2398a
Sahih MuslimHadith Number 2398a
حَدَّثَنِي أَبُو الطَّاهِرِ، أَحْمَدُ بْنُ عَمْرِو بْنِ سَرْحٍ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ وَهْبٍ، عَنْ إِبْرَاهِيمَ، بْنِ سَعْدٍ عَنْ أَبِيهِ، سَعْدِ بْنِ إِبْرَاهِيمَ عَنْ أَبِي سَلَمَةَ، عَنْ عَائِشَةَ، عَنِ النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم أَنَّهُ كَانَ يَقُولُ " قَدْ كَانَ يَكُونُ فِي الأُمَمِ قَبْلَكُمْ مُحَدَّثُونَ فَإِنْ يَكُنْ فِي أُمَّتِي مِنْهُمْ أَحَدٌ فَإِنَّ عُمَرَ بْنَ الْخَطَّابِ مِنْهُمْ " . قَالَ ابْنُ وَهْبٍ تَفْسِيرُ مُحَدَّثُونَ مُلْهَمُونَ .
A'isha Narrated from:
A'isha reported Allah's Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: There had been among the people before you inspired persons and if there were any such among my Umma Umar b. Khattab would be one of them. Ibn Wahb explained the word Muhaddathun as those who receive hint from the High (Mulhamun).
Reference : Sahih Muslim 2398aIn-book reference : Book 44, Hadith 34USC-MSA web (English) reference : Book 31, Hadith 5901
Summary of Sahih Muslim Hadith 2398a
This Hadith about Umar ibn al-Khattab focuses on a special virtue mentioned by Allah's Messenger صلى الله عليه وسلم. The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said that among earlier peoples there were inspired persons, and if such a person were found in his Ummah, Umar would be one of them. The narration itself also explains the word Muhaddathun as Mulhamun, meaning people who receive a hint or inspiration from the High. The hadith does not say Umar was a prophet. It praises the strength of his insight and the guidance Allah gave him. For readers searching for the virtues of Umar in Sahih Muslim, this report gives a short but powerful statement about his rank.
What we learn from this hadith
- Allah may grant strong insight to some righteous people.
- Umar is praised in this hadith for a special form of guided judgment.
- The wording keeps a clear line between inspiration and prophethood.
- The explanation of Muhaddathun helps readers understand the meaning carefully.
