49/18. Chapter:
Jami at-Tirmidhi 3684 — Abu Bakr’s Praise of Umar
Regarding The Virtues Of Abu Hafs 'Umar bin Al-Khattab, May Allah Be Pleased With Him
Hadith About Abu Bakr Praising Umar’s Virtue
Jami at-Tirmidhi : 3684
Jami at-TirmidhiHadith Number 3684
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ الْمُثَنَّى، قَالَ حَدَّثَنَا عَبْدُ اللَّهِ بْنُ دَاوُدَ الْوَاسِطِيُّ أَبُو مُحَمَّدٍ، قَالَ حَدَّثَنِي عَبْدُ الرَّحْمَنِ ابْنُ أَخِي مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْمُنْكَدِرِ عَنْ مُحَمَّدِ بْنِ الْمُنْكَدِرِ، عَنْ جَابِرِ بْنِ عَبْدِ اللَّهِ، قَالَ قَالَ عُمَرُ لأَبِي بَكْرٍ يَا خَيْرَ النَّاسِ بَعْدَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ . فَقَالَ أَبُو بَكْرٍ أَمَا إِنَّكَ إِنْ قُلْتَ ذَاكَ فَلَقَدْ سَمِعْتُ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ " مَا طَلَعَتِ الشَّمْسُ عَلَى رَجُلٍ خَيْرٍ مِنْ عُمَرَ " . قَالَ أَبُو عِيسَى هَذَا حَدِيثٌ غَرِيبٌ لاَ نَعْرِفُهُ إِلاَّ مِنْ هَذَا الْوَجْهِ وَلَيْسَ إِسْنَادُهُ بِذَاكَ . وَفِي الْبَابِ عَنْ أَبِي الدَّرْدَاءِ .
Jabir bin `Abdullah Narrated from:
'Umar Said To Abu Bakr: "O Best Of People After The Messenger Of Allah (ﷺ)!" So Abu Bakr Said: "If You Say That, Then I Have Heard The Messenger Of Allah (ﷺ) Say: 'The Sun Has Not Risen Upon A Man Better Than 'Umar.'"
Reference : Jami` at-Tirmidhi 3684In-book reference : Book 49, Hadith 80English translation : Vol. 1, Book 46, Hadith 3684
Summary of Jami at-Tirmidhi Hadith 3684
This hadith about Abu Bakr and Umar shows mutual respect between two great companions in the wording of the report. A strong search term for it is Abu Bakr praised Umar hadith, along with virtues of Umar ibn al-Khattab and best man after the Prophet hadith. Umar called Abu Bakr the best of people after the Messenger of Allah صلى الله عليه وسلم. Abu Bakr replied by saying that he had heard the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم say that the sun had not risen upon a man better than Umar. The wording is a direct praise of Umar in this narration. It also shows humility, because Umar praises Abu Bakr, and Abu Bakr answers by mentioning what he heard from the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم.
What we learn from this hadith
- The narration shows open respect between Umar and Abu Bakr.
- Abu Bakr used what he heard from the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم when praising Umar.
- The hadith teaches that praise should be based on truth, not flattery.
- The text presents Umar’s virtue through a reported statement from the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم.
