UMAR BIN AL KHATTAB: Worthy Of Prophethood?-Part II

 The (weak) tradition under discussion is :

“The Prophet of Allah (s) said about Umar bin al Khattaab: If there had been after me, a Nabi (Prophet), it would have been him (i.e Umar)”

.......continued from Part I 

5- Umar was terribly scared and worried about his eeman and he used to ask huzaifa al yamaani many times whether he was from the munafiqeen (ahya uloom al deen az ghazaali). His fear from Azab of Hereafter on his death bed is clear from the fact that he was lamenting on his life record! and wishing if he could give anything in ransom to save himself from this Azaab!!!!

The people around him praised him for his virtues and sterling qualities. He asked them not to praise him.  He said: 

"All praise is to Allah. If all the treasures of this world were to be at my disposal, I would offer them as a  ransom to be saved from the trial at the Day of Judgment." 

He then recited the Arabic verse: 

"I have been unjust to my soul,

Except that I am a Muslim,

Say my prayers and fast."

6- Even ordinary women knew Fiqh more then Umar and would silence him on Islamic laws and issues at occasions.

7- Umar declared that All people knew fiqh more than him

8- According to Islam prophets are born muslims (see examples of Prophet Adam, Mohammad, Jesus, Issac, Ishmael, all prophets of bani israel, etc) and never have been on path of Kufr. Umar was not only a born Kafir but also a Zanim child (born from adultery). Thereafter for well around / or more then 35 years of his life Umar lived as a Kafir Mushrik, plotting at various times to kill the Holy Prophet of Islam, burying his daughters alive in Jahaliyyah. All these and other sick facts certainly prove that a person like Umar has none of the attributes of even a sane man let alone a possible Prophet of Allah.

9- Umar was a wife beater and famous for divorcing and marrying women a lot. The prophets are kind to their wives and so are their true followers and do not bury daughters and divorce women like flock of sheep. Umar also raped a woman after the death of Prophet of Islam, as is mentioned in Tabaqat ibn Sa'ad.

10- Umar was never known for any nobility, Hikmah, good manners or knowledge or truthfulness before conversion to Islam. The prophets are known for this even before they declare their risalah to People. On the contrary Omar was a street wrestler who accepted Islam because a fortune teller told him he would become ruler if he took this religion (See Izalah al Khafa by shah waliullah dehlvi)

11- Umar's ancestors were Kafir Mushrik as well. Such is not the case with ancestors of Prophets of Allah. The Quran declares that prophets are born through "Arhaam al Taahira" (pure wombs). Umar's mother/grandmother Sahhak was a well known prostitute from Africa and incest was a practice in his family as can be seen in various sunni books.

12- In not even a single Sahih narration did Umar or his sons never claimed this tradition in their honor or about Umar in any chain of narration! This is a complete fabrication of Nasibi devils from progeny and friends of Banu Omayyah!

13- The Prophets are teachers of martyrs and they bring scriptures which teach that those who run away from the field of Jihad are going to burn in Hell. The prophets are so particular about even their small deeds that if they even forgo a nonobligatory deed/act of worship, they consider it like sin for themselves. Omar on the other hand is the man who left the prophet (s) alone and ran for worldly wealth (maal al ghaneemah) on day of judgement. He is the same person who turned back from the battle of khyber from fear of jews. And Also it is the same Umar who abandoned the muslims and their Prophet (s) on the battlefield of Ghazwa al Hunain. Allah has announced Hell for those people who leave the battlefield of Jihad under any pretext. They must either achieve victory or martyrdom as taught in Holy Quran.

14- Prophets are Masoom by Ijma of Ummah. Umar was far from that. He never claimed this nor can his followers claim such a nobility for him. There is an ijma of the Ummah on this.

This Hadith is neither True Aqlan (from point of view of wisdom) nor Naqlan (from point of view of narration) as we will see shortly, so one wonders how can the Nawaasib conclude that it is a merit/or in honor of Umar bin al Khattab????!!

Technical Critique of Traditions with this Content
(Al Jerah al Ahaadith)

Analyzing the 1st Source of Hadith: Al Jaamia al Kabeer by Al Tirmidhi

Tirmidhi narrates this Hadith as Hasan in his "Al Jaamiah al Kabeer" but declares it as Ghareeb (strange) and says that it has been narrated only through ONE person which is "Mashrah bin Aahaan" (in another narration the correct name as recognized by muhadiths is Mashrah bin Haa'aan) who narrated this fairy tale on authority of Aqbah bin Aamir:

حدثنا سلمة بن شبيب، قال: ثنا المقري، عن حيوة بن شريح، عن بكر ابن عمرو، عن مشرح بن عاهان، عن عقبة بن عامر، قال: قال رسول الله (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم): (لو كان نبيّ بعدي، لكان عمر بن الخطاب). هذا حديث [ حسنٌ ] غريب، لا نعرفه إلاّ من حديث مشرح بن عاهان

Sunni Reference: Al Jaamia al Kabeer by Al-Tirmidhi Vol.6, P.59, Tradition No.3686

We see above that, Tirmidhi testifies that this Hadith is "Ghareeb" (Strange) but what is stranger is that in his Jamia al Kabeer he alleges it to be Sahih!!! (correct).

Furthermore he clarifies that this hadith is “NOT known to US” by any other source except through Mashrah bin Aahaan [Haa'aan] who has been declared DAEEF (weak) by Ibn Hibban.

Ibn Hibban is from the greatest of their (sunni) muhaddiths, shuyookhs (teachers) and from the very high ranked ones and symbolic ones from them as declared by their famous scholar Imam Dhahabi in his work "Al Mughni":

Sunni Reference: Al Mughni by Imam al-Dhahabi, Vol.2, P.408, Entry no.6257

* Ibn Hibban said about Mashrah bin Aaahan [Haa'aan] that:

“He (Mashrah) narrated from Aqbah bin Aamir Ahaadith which were "Manaakeer" (Absolute Falsehoods) which are not to be relied upon. And from him (Mashrah) narrated Ibn Habeerah and the People of Misr (Egypt) and the right thing to do on his matter is to abandon and exclude him (Mashrah) from that which comes in narrations!”

Sunni Reference: Al Majrooheen by Ibn Hibban, Vol3. p.28

And He (Ibn Hibban) said at another place about him (Mashrah):

“(He is) From the residents of Egypt. Narrated on authority of Aqbah bin Aamir and narrated from him the residents of Egypt. Faultered / Committed Mistakes-Errors and Transgressed / Dissented/Deviated!!”

Sunni References: 
- Kitaab al Thiqaat by Ibn Hibban, Vol.5, P.452

And Ibn al Jawzi writes in his book "Al Mawdoo'aat" (The Forged Ahaadith) under the following Hadith:

(The Prophet (s) said: "If I had not been dispatched/commissioned (for prophethood) amongst you, then Umar would have been")

that Ibn Hibban said:

Mashrah's Sahaaif (books) have overthrown/ toppled/tossed /capsized him (i.e his reputation), thus outcries / arguments using him (and his material) are invalid / false!!

Sunni Reference: Al Mawdoo'aat by Ibn Al Jawzi Vol.1, P.238

And Al Aqeeli, the infamous Sunni scholar in ilm al hadith wal rijaal writes that:

"Al Hassan ibn Ali narrated that Moosa ibn Dawood narrated that it has reached to me that Verily Mashrah is from one of those who went to Makkah with Hajjaaj bin Yousuf and installed the Manjaneeq / Catapult (to attack) on Kaaba!!"

Sunni References:

- Al Dua'afaa al Kabeer by Aqeeli Vol.4, P.222 Entry No.1813

- Meezan al Ei3tadaal by Imam Dhahabi Vo.6, P.432 Entry No.8555

In the chain of narration of this Hadith by Tirmidhi there is another character called "Bakr bin Umar al Ma'aarafi" who is called trustworthy by most from them (i.e ahl al sunnah) but the famous and classical Sunni Muhaddith Imam Al Haakim Neeshapuri said:

Verily if one looked (critically/carefully) into his matter, then there is suspicion in his truthfulness!!

Imam al Dhahabi also stated the same in his book "Al Maqdooheen".

He (Imam Dhahabi) writes in his Meezaan al Eitadal:

Bakr bin Umar al Maa3arafi, was an Egyptian Imam of the Jamia al Fustaat who narrated from Mashrah bin Aaahaan and Bakr bin Al Ashaj and his party. And from him narrated Haywa bin Shareeh and Ibn Lahee3a and others and he was a person of merit and his place was of Truthfulness and the Shaykhaan (Imam Bukhari and Imam Muslim) objected / opposed him / his merits and He died in his Youth....Abu Haatim al Raazi said about him: Sheikh and al-Daruqutni said about him: relied upon and Abu Abdullah al Haakim said: Look (critically/carefully) into his matter.

Ibn Hajar al Asqallani said about him:

I say and so did Ibn al Qattaan that: We cant profess / recognize his Adaalah (Righteousness)*

Sunni References:

- Imam Dhahabi in Meezan al Eitadaal Vol.2, p.63 Entry no. 1292

- Sooaalat al Haakim lil Daruqutni P.89

- Ibn Hajar al Asqallani in Tahzeeb al Tahzeeb Vol.1, P.364, Entry no 894

- See page no. 288 of same of above reference by ibn Hajar

Analyzing the 2nd Source of Hadith: Al Mo3jam al Kabeer by Imam Al Tabarani

The Sunni Muhaddith Imam Al Tabarani also narrated this Hadith with another Isnaad in his Al Mo3jam al Kabeer and if it has any origin (asal) then it seems to be disguised upon the tradition of al Tirmidhi and just as with that tradition this tradition is also Daeef (weak) as declared in Sharh al Jamia al Sagheer which is entitled as "Fayd al Qadeer" by eminent Sunni Scholar Al-Manaawi:

The tradition narrated by Al-Tabarani:

"If there had been a Nabi after me it would have been Umar bini Al Khattaab"

is taken from Aqbah bin Aamir, who got it from from Asma bin Malik.

Al Haythami said:

"And in it's sanad is Al Fadal bin Mukhtaar (*) and he is Daeef (weak) and as for the news from al Daylami from Abu Hurayra: (If I had not been commissioned for Prophethood, Umar would have been) , it is Munkir (Falsehood/Disowned)

Sunni References:

- Fayd al Qadeer by al Manaawi Vol.5, p.414 Entry no. 7470

- Majma3 al Zawaaid by al Haythami Vol.9, p.67 Entry no. 14433

- Musnad al Firdows by al Daylami Vol.3, P.93

- Firdows al Akhbar by Al daylami Vol.3, P.417 Entry no. 5167

(*)  and majority of the ahl ul sunnah muhadiths/scholars have called "al-Fadl" Daeef as well.

Eminent Sunni Scholar Ibn Adi after reporting that several of his Ahaadith are Munkirah (Falsehood/disowned) says:

"And on the whole from them none is to be relied upon either in Isnaad (chains of narrations) or in Matn (content of hadith)"

Sunni Reference: Al Kaamil fil Dua'afa al Rijaal by Ibn Adi Vol.7, p121 Entry no.1561

Also, the famous Sunni Scholar Abu Haatim said about him:

"Majhool (unknown / uncharted / unheard of) and his Ahaadiths are Munikrah (Falsehood/disowned) and he narrates worthless / baatil things"

Sunni References:

- Al Jerah wal Ta3deel by Abu Haatim Vol.7 p.69

- Meezan al Eitadaal by Imam Dhahabi Vol.5, P.435 Entry no. 6756

In the Sunni Hadith compilation, Kanz ul Ummaal by Al Muttaqi Hindi, we read a slight variant of the same hadith:

قال رسول الله (صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم) لعمر بن الخطاب: (لو كان بعدي نبيّ لكنته). خط قال: منكر

وفيه أيضاً: (لو كان بعدي نبيّ لكنته). قاله لعمر، الخطيب في رواية ابن مالك، وابن عساكر عن ابن عمر، وقال منكر»

“The Prophet of Allah (s) said about Umar bin al Khattaab: If there had been after me, a Nabi (Prophet), it would have been him (i.e Umar)”

Al Muttaqi al Hindi, the author of Kanz ul Ummal has written in the sidenote of this Hadith that this Hadith is narrated for Umar in the narration of Ibn Maalik and Ibn Asaakir from Ibn Umar and it is "Munkir" (False/Disowned):

Sunni Reference: Kanz ul Ummaal  by Al Muttaqi al Hindi, Vol.12, p.597 Entry no.5862 and Vol.11, p.581 Entry no.3262

Without doubt the truth should not be hidden from the learned readers that this Hadith and its variants were forged by the Nawaasib (enemies / opposers of ahlulbayt a.s) to compete against the Sahih Hadith of the Prophet (s) for Imam Ali a.s which indicated that if there had been the chance of a prophet after Prophet Mohammad (s) it would have been Imam Ali a.s. And it is this from which they found the procedure to forge the Hadith for Umar as well:

..........................................................................................to be continued(Read Part III)

Categories: Arabic - العربية , English