There is much to be said about this event that you narrated from Sahih Bukhari and about what it proves.
EVIDENCE 1 - The Prophet Muhammad (s) could read and write
Focusing on the words of the Prophet in the hadith, we can see that he said:
The translation from the site states:
- “'Bring for me (writing) paper and I will write for you a statement after which you will not go astray.' “
Could the Prophet Muhammad (s) possibly make this direct and extremely clear request if he could not actually physically write a piece of text?
Note that the request from the Prophet (s) is a direct order, with no ifs and buts attached.
EVIDENCE 2 - Umar did not want the Prophet (s) to compose that text
The translation of this event from Sahih Bukhari continues:
- But `Umar said, 'The Prophet is seriously ill, and we have got Allah's Book with us and that is sufficient for us.'
There is a lot to unpack in this statement, which I’ll come back to later, but suffice it to say for now that for whatever reason Umar did not want the Prophet (s) to compose that text,
One could give him the benefit of doubt that he did not want to discomfort the Prophet (s). But in any case, we cannot hide from the fact that Umar did not want the Prophet (s) to put pen to paper.
Note that he did not say anything to suggest that the Prophet (s) was incapable of writing due to being illiterate. Rather he referred to his condition of illness.
EVIDENCE 3 - Umar disobeyed the Prophet Muhammad’s direct order
If the Prophet Muhammad (s) was in his full faculties when he made the direct request, how could anyone be excused for refusing to comply by saying that a written instruction from the Prophet (s) was not required as the Book of God was sufficient?
There is only one way Umar can be excused from this implication of deliberate disobedience.
If it could be shown that the Prophet Muhammad (s) was not in the appropriate mental faculties, then Umar can be saved as he is not disobeying a Prophet (s) in that moment but a man who does not know what he is saying.
What a disgusting notion, you say?
Well, I didn't make it up. There are plenty of narrations of this event from authentic sources that show that Umar did suggest quite clearly that the Prophet (s) had lost his mind.
But that suggestion is even more problematic for obvious reasons and hadith commentators have tried hard to defend Umar and distance him from this implication.
Can you see what happens here? As soon as you declare that Umar was fully respectful towards the Prophet (s) and did not consider him deranged in mind due to illness, then it becomes necessary to conclude that he did knowingly disobey the Prophet (s).
Which he did, and I will explain why later. He had a reason for doing so.
EVIDENCE 4 - Many companions disagreed with Umar’s disobedience
The narration from Bukhari continues.
- But the companions of the Prophet (s) differed about this and there was a hue and cry.
Umar was clearly not on his own in having the opinion that the Prophet (s) should not be allowed to write anything. But there were other companions in the room who disagreed.
These two camps had opposing views on this matter and there was a hue and cry.
Try and imagine the scene and you may come to the following conclusion.
If someone says, no need for the Prophet (s) to write something, and others in the room felt he (s) should, what stopped them from getting a pen and paper?
The hue and cry suggests active denial and blockage by the set of companions, that included Umar, of any attempts at getting pen and paper for the Prophet (s).
If this is not obvious walk through the event and dialogue in your mind’s eye.
If you were in that room, and you felt that the Prophet (s) deserved to be obeyed, why would you not be able to simply go out and get him the paper and pen? And if you were able to, why would that cause a hue and cry in the room?
The only explanation is what I stated above: there was active opposition against the Prophet (s) being allowed to write.
This was not about ensuring the comfort of the Prophet (s) in his illness. This was about something else. More on that later.
EVIDENCE 5 - The Prophet (s) was displeased by the disobedience
The narration from Sahih Bukhari continues. The Prophet (s) proved that he was fully cognizant of what was going on, as he said:
- On that the Prophet (s) said to them, 'Go away (and leave me alone). It is not right that you should quarrel in front of me."
The Prophet (s) used the term - al-tanazu’ - and it struck me to check the occurrence of this term in the Qur’an.
So it seems Umar and those who agreed with him were adamant in disobeying the direct command of the Prophet (s) let alone referring back to him (s) in matters of dispute.
This verse also refers to the necessity of following the ulu’l amr - the third authority mentioned after God and the Prophet (s) in the text of the Qur’an.
The Prophet (s) was the speaking Qur’an and his choice of words should have reminded all the companions that his obedience was mandatory and dispute in the matter was unacceptable.
EVIDENCE 6 - The Book of God is not sufficient on its own
By implication of what has been stated above, it stands proved that the Book of God is not sufficient.
This was simply a statement by Umar, in his disobedience towards the Prophet (s) who wanted to indicate a second matter in writing.
EVIDENCE 7 - The Prophet (s) wished to reiterate his Ahl al-Bayt as the second source of guidance
Let’s review the initial request of the Prophet (s):
- “'Bring for me (writing) paper and I will write for you a statement after which you will not go astray.' “
We have seen the balagha of the Prophet (s) and how his choice of words is fully considered.
When he made this statement, he used the words la tadillu ba’di - after which you will not go astray.
As he was not allowed to write what he wished, and he asked everyone to leave him alone to dissipate the hue and cry, what does that tell us about what he was going to write?
It tells us that he was going to write something that he had said publicly in the past.
There is no other solution.
If we say that he was going to write something new but then he gave up due to the hue and cry, then how is that compatible with his duties as the Prophet (s)?
After all, just some weeks earlier the verse of the Qur’an had been revealed that stated:
What the Prophet (s) said that day when this verse was revealed, the day of Ghadir Khumm - and I have written extensively about it earlier with full evidences - is exactly what Umar got reminded of.
The Prophet had said, among other things:
- I am leaving for you two precious things and if you adhere to them both, you will never go astray after me.
- They are the Book of Allah and my Progeny, that is my Ahlul Bayt.
- The two shall never separate from each other until they come to me by the Pool (of Paradise).
Now when the Prophet (s) said he wants to write something after which people will not go astray, Umar correctly understood the Prophet’s intent and decided to disobey and prevent him from writing it.
In fact, he told him (s) quite bluntly that the Book of God was enough.
Umar and some associated companions had already decided that the Ahl al-Bayt of the Prophet was not going to be allowed to take power after the death of the Prophet (s).
