بـسـم الله والحـمـد لله والـصلاة والـسـلام عــلى رسـول الله، وبـعـد
`Abdullaah ibn `Umar رضي الله عنهما ibn al-Khattaab bin Nufail bin `Abdul `Uzza bin Riyaah bin Qart bin Razaah, bin `Adee bin Ka`b bin Lu’ai bin Ghaalib. The Imaam, the ideal (role model), Shaykh al-Islaam, Abu `Abdul-Rahmaan al-Qurashee al-`Adwee al-Makki then al-Madani.
His mother and the mother of his sister, Umm al-Mumineen Hafsah, was Zainab bint Madh`oon the sister of `Uthmaan bin Madh`oon al-Jamhee.
HIS AGE WHEN HE ACCEPTED ISLAAM:
Ibn `Umar was born around the year in which the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم received his first revelations. He embraced Islaam while he was still young. And when he migrated with his father, he had still not reached the age of puberty. [Some say that Ibn `Umar accepted Islaam before his father, but this is not correct. But what is correct is that he migrated before his father.] He was not allowed to participate in the battle of Badr because he was only 13 then. He was also not allowed to participate in Uhud because he was only 14. His first battle was al-Khandaq when he was 15 years old as has been mentioned in al-Saheeh of al-Bukhaaree. And he was one of those who gave the pledge to the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم under the tree.
He participated in the battles of Mu’tah with Ja`far bin Abi Taalib رضي الله عنهم as well as Yarmook, the conquest of Egypt etc.
THE PROPHET صلى الله عليه وسلم ACKNOWLEDGED HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS:
Narrated Saalim from his father (i.e. Ibn `Umar): I was a young unmarried man during the lifetime of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم. I used to sleep in the mosque. Anyone who had a dream would narrate it to the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم. I said, "O Allaah! If there is any good for me with You, then show me a dream so that Allaah's Apostle may interpret it for me." So I slept and saw (in a dream) two angels came to me and took me along with them, and they met another angel who said to me, "Don't be afraid, you are a good man." They took me towards the Fire, and behold, it was built inside like a well, and therein I saw people some of whom I recognized, and then the angels took me to the right side. In the morning, I mentioned that dream to Hafsah. Hafsah told me that she had mentioned it to the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم and he said, "'Abdullah is a righteous man if he only prays more at night." (AL-Zuhri said, "After that, 'Abdullah used to pray more at night and sleep very little.)" [Saheeh al-Bukhaaree Vol. 9, Hadeeth 156]
Sa`eed bin Basheer reported from Qataadah from Ibn Sireen that Ibn `Umar said: I was a witness when the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم was in the wall of the date palm trees (i.e. in the garden). Abu Bakr sought permission (to enter). The Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said (to the gatekeeper): “grant him permission and give him the glad tidings of the Jannah.” The same happened with `Umar. When `Uthmaan came, the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said: “give him the glad tidings of entering Paradise after a calamity that will befall him.” So he entered crying and being happy. So I (`Abdullaah) said: And (what about) me O Prophet of Allaah? He said: “You are with your father.” [This was narrated by al-Dhahabi in Siyar `Alaam al-Nubalaa (3/211) but in its chain is Muhammad bin Bikaar bin Bilaal who is alone in reporting it]
HIS ZUHD (ASCETICISM):
Ibn Mas`ood رضي الله عنه said: “From the youths of Quraish, the one who owned (protected) himself from the dunyaa is `Abdullaah ibn `Umar.” [reported in al-Zuhd of Imaam Ahmad]
Ibn Hajar reports that Abi al-`Abbaas al-Siraaj mentions in his “Taareekh” with a good chain that al-Suddee said: “I have seen the person from amongst the Sahaabah about whom it was said that no one amongst them was on the same state as they were during the time of Prophet صاى الله عليه وسلم except Ibn `Umar.”
Nafi` said that if Ibn `Umar missed the Ishaa prayer in congregation, he would stand up for the whole night praying.
Nafi` said that by the time of his death, Ibn `Umar had emancipated a thousand slaves. [The chain for this narration is “Saheeh”]
Abu Ja`far al-Raazee reported from Husain that Ibn `Umar said: “I do not go outside, nor do I have any need to do so, except to give the salutation (Salaams) to the people and that they greet me back.”
Mu`mar narrated that Abi `Amr said, “I went outside with Ibn `Umar, and he did not meet the young and the old except that he greeted them.”
Abu Maleeh reported that Maimoon entered upon Ibn `Umar and saw that all the furniture in the house of Ibn `Umar was not worth more than 100 Dirhams.”
Mu`mar reported from al-Zuhree from Hamzah that `Abdullaah (the son of `Abdullaah ibn `Umar) said: “If my father had much food with him, he would not eat and satisfy himself till he finds some to eat along with him. One day Ibn Mutee` visited him, and saw that he has a thin body, and so he spoke to him. Ibn `Umar replied, “8 years have passed, and I did not eat to the fullest except for once. And now you want me to satisfy myself whereas my time is coming closer.””
Mansoor bin Zadhaan reported from Ibn Sireen that a person came to Ibn `Umar and said, “Shall I make Jawaarish for you?” Ibn `Umar asked, “What is it?” He said, “It is to help you in digesting food?” Ibn `Umar replied, “I did not eat to my fullest for the past 4 months, and it is not because I can’t afford it. But, I have gone through the time when people were able to eat one day and go hungry the next day.”
HIS KNOWLEDGE:
He has narrated a lot of beneficial knowledge from the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم, from his father, and from Abu Bakr, `Uthmaan, `Ali, Bilal, Suhaib, `Amir bin Rabi`ah, Zaid bin Thaabit, Sa`d, Ibn Mas`ood, `Uthmaan bin Talhah, his sister Hafsah, `Aaishah, Abi Dhar, Mu`aadh bin Jabal, Abu Hurairah and others.
From the companions who narrated from him are: Jaabir, Ibn `Abbaas, and others.
From the Taabi`een, those who narrated from him are: his own son Saalim ibn `Abdullaah ibn `Umar, Sa`eed bin al-Musaiyib, Aadam bin `Ali, Aslam the freed slave of `Umar, Nafi` the freed slave of Ibn `Umar, Ismaa`eel bin `Abdul-Rahmaan, Umayyah bin `Abdullaah al-Amwee, Anas bin Sireen, al-Hasan al-Basree, `Alqamah bin Waqqas, Masrooq, `Abdul-Rahmaan bin Abi Layla and many more (the list runs into hundreds).
Al-Laith bin Sa`d and others have said, “A person wrote to Ibn `Umar (in the time of the fitan) that he (Ibn `Umar) should write for him all the knowledge that he has. So Ibn `Umar wrote back to him, “The knowledge is very vast; but if you can, then try to meet Allaah with lighter load on your back (from the sins) of spilling the blood of the people, and from filling your belly with their wealth (unjustly); while protecting your tongue from speaking against them, and sticking to their Jamaa`ah, then do so.””
Yaqoob bin Sufyaan also reported from Humaid bin al-Aswad from Maalik who said, “After `Umar Ibn al-Khattaab, the Imaam (most knowledgeable) of the people was Zaid bin Thaabit. And after Zaid, the Imaam of the people was Ibn `Umar.”
Al-Baihaqi reported from Yahya bin Yahya who asked Maalik, “Did you hear the scholars say that, ‘Whosoever takes from what Ibn `Umar has said, will not need to inquire any further?’” Maalik said: “Yes.”
Maalik reported from Naafi` that Ibn `Umar and Ibn `Abbaas used to sit, in the beginning of al-Hajj, so that they can meet the people. I used to sit one day with Ibn `Umar and the other day with Ibn `Abbaas. Ibn `Abbaas used to reply to the people and give fatwaa on everything they asked; and Ibn `Umar used to give more information (than what Ibn `Abbaas) said in his fatwaa.”
HIS STATUS:
Al-Baihaqi reports in “Shu`ab al-Eemaan” that Abu Salamah bin `Abdul-Rahmaan said: “Ibn `Umar died while he was in the same status as his father.”
Abu Is-haaq al-Sabee`I said: “We came to ibn Abi Layla, and we used to gather around him. Once Abu Salamah bin `Abdul-Rahmaan came and said: “In your opinion is `Umar better or his son?” They said: “`Umar”. He said: “As for `Umar, in his time, he had counterparts (who would aid him). But as for Ibn `Umar he lived in a time where there was no one similar to him.””
Qataadah said: I heard Sa`eed Ibn al-Musaiyab saying: “When Ibn `Umar died, he was better than those who remained after him.” [Reported bY al-Baghawi in “al-Mu`jam” with a ‘Saheeh’ chain]
Taawoos said: “I did not see anyone more pious than Ibn `Umar.” And the same was said by Maimoon bin Mahraan.
Yaqoob bin Sufyaan reported from Ibn Wahab from Maalik who said, “Ibn `Umaar is one of the Imaams of this deen.”
HIS STRICTNESS IN IMPLEMENTING THE SUNNAH:
And `Aaishah رضي الله عنها said: “I have not seen anyone who was more adherent to the commands better than Ibn `Umar.”
Al-Baghawi reported that Is-haaq bin Sa`eed reported from his father that he has seen no one who was more strict in following the Hadeeth of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم than Ibn `Umar.
Ibn Wahab narrates from Maalik that he was informed that Ibn `Umar used to precisely follow the commands of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم and his sayings and actions and his ways and paid great attention to them – and he always had the fear that his memory would fail him and that he might forget and omit these acts.
Nafi` said: “Ibn `Umar used to precisely follow the actions of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم – he would pray in the place where the Prophet had prayed, to the extent that once the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم sat under a tree, and Ibn `Umar used to frequent that place.
Nafi` reported from Ibn `Umar that when the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم said, “We should leave this door for the women”; Nafi` said, Ibn `Umar never entered through that gate till he died. [Reported by Abu Dawood # 462 & 571 and it is Saheeh]
HIS EXTREME PRECAUTION IN NARRATING THE HADEETH:
Abu Ja`far al-Baaqar said: “Ibn `Umar never added or deducted a word from the Hadeeth which he heard from the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم. And there was no one better than him in that.”
Al-Sha`by said: “I sat with Ibn `Umar for a whole year, and I did not hear from him narrating from the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم except for once.”
Mujaahid said: “I accompanied Ibn `Umar (on his journey towards) Madeenah. And I did not hear from him any Hadeeth of the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم except for one Hadeeth.”
`Aasim bin Muhammad al-`Amri reported from his father that whenever Ibn `Umar used to remember the Prophet صلى الله عليه وسلم he used to cry. [Also reported by al-Baihaqi with a ‘Saheeh’ chain from `Umar bin Muhammad bin Zaid bin `Abdullaah bin `Umar from his father]
Ibn al-Mubaarak mentioned in “al-Zuhd” that Ibn `Umar was asked about a thing, so he said, “I do not know about it.” Then he also said, “Do you want to make our backs as bridges (leading people) towards Hell, saying it was Ibn `Umar who gave us this fatwaa?”
Ibn `Umar took extreme precaution while giving Fatwaa. He did not participate in the dispute which took place in the Khilaafah (as to who should be the next Khaleefah) even though people of al-Shaam were inclined towards him (to be the khaleefah) because of their love for him. He did not participate in the fighting when the fitnah broke out. Nor did he participate with `Ali in any of his battles because of the confusion that arose amongst the people. But later on he regretted for not joining the forces of `Ali.
After the death of Yazeed, Marwaan said to Ibn `Umar, “Give me your hand so that we give you our pledge (and make you our khaleefah), for you are the master of the `Arabs and the son of their master.” Ibn `Umar said, “But what about the people of the east (i.e. al-`Iraaq)?” Marwaan said, “We’ll fight them till they give you the pledge of alliance.” He said, “It is better that Allaah banishes me for 70 years than for me to kill a single person with my sword.”
THE LAST DAYS OF HIS LIFE:
Al-Bukhaaree mentioned in “al-Tareekh” from al-Uwaisi from Maalik that Ibn `Umar was 87 years old when he died. Some say he was 86 years old, while others say he was 84.
Ḍhamrah bin Rabi`ah mentioned in his “al-Tareekh”, that ibn `Umar died in the year 72 or 73 Hijri.
In Usud al-Ghaabah it is mentioned that Ibn `Umar died in the year 73 Hijri, 3 months after Ibn Zubair was killed. The reason for Ibn `Umar’s death was because al-Hajjaaj. Hajjaaj had commanded one of the persons, who then poisoned his pike and placed it on the road. This pike pierced the back of Ibn `Umar’s foot. And al-Hajjaaj did this because, one day he gave a sermon and delayed the prayer – to which Ibn `Umar said: “The sun doesn’t wait for you.” So, al-Hajjaaj said, “I am thinking of striking between your eyes!” Ibn `Umar said, “If you do so, then you are a foolish oppressor!”
And it is also said that al-Hajjaaj made Hajj with Ibn `Umar. `Abdul-Malik bin Marwaan commanded al-Hajjaaj to obey Ibn `Umar. Ibn `Umar used to lead the pilgrims in the plains of `Arafah and other places. Al-Hajjaaj did not like this. So he ordered one of his men who had his spear poisoned. This man came close to Ibn `Umar in between the crowd (it is reported that this was near the Jamarah) and stabbed him on the back of his foot with his spear. Ibn `Umar fell sick because of this wound. Al-Hajjaaj paid a visit to him and said to him, “who did this to you?” Ibn `Umar said, “What will you do about it?” He said, “Allaah curse me if I don’t kill that person.” Ibn `Umar said, “I can’t see you doing that because it is you who had ordered that person who had stabbed me with his spear.” Al-Hajjaaj said, “Don’t say this O Abu `Abdul-Rahmaan (i.e. Ibn `Umar)” and he left him.
In another report it is mentioned, al-Hajjaaj entered upon ibn `Umar when Ibn `Umar was injured, and said to him, “Who did this to you?” He said, “This was done by the one whom you had commanded to carry the weapon in a place where it is not allowed to carry one.”
Ibn `Umar died after a few days and al-Hajjaaj led the funeral prayer.
He died in Makkah, and was buried in al-Muhhassab.
Ibn `Umar narrated 2,630 Ahaadeeth. Al-Bukhaaree and Muslim agreed upon 168 Hadeeth. And al-Bukhaaree individually reported 81 Ahaadeeth, and Muslim individually reported 31 Ahaadeeth.
References:
الإصابة في تمييز الصحابة – لإبن الحجر الأسقلاني
أسد الغابة في معرفة الصحابة – لإبن الأثير
الاستيعاب في معرفة الأصحاب - لإبن عبد البر
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