Umar was Concerned for the Well Being of the Prophet (s)

Defence Three – Umar was concerned for the well being of the Prophet (s)

Ansar.org states:

“The Prophet peace be upon him was suffering from a severe headache when he asked his Companions for something to write on. The Prophet peace be upon him said that what he would write would save his Ummah from going astray forever.So Omar said, “Pain had taken over the Prophet peace be upon him.” Omar meant that the Prophet peace be upon him was tired, therefore, do not increase his pain and leave him alone”.

Ibn al Hashimi who comments:

The perceptive reader should consider that on Thursday the Prophet was in more intense pain than ever before, and it is likely that the Prophet asked for a pen and paper because he was having a hard time speaking loudly and instead he wished to softly dictate what to write to the people closest to him so that they could convey the written message to the others. We see that it was at this point in time that the Prophet was having unbearable pain and could not talk without unbearable discomfort; it was for this reason that Umar ibn al-Khattab wished that the Prophet would not talk as it would cause him unnecessary pain. This was a sign of love and affection, not of rebellion or opposition. We read:Sahih Muslim, Book 013, Number 4016:

Ibn Abbas reported: When Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) was about to leave this world, there were persons (around him) in his house, Umar ibn al-Khattab being one of them. Allah’s Apostle (may peace be upon him) said: “Come, I may write for you a document; you would not go astray after that.” Thereupon Umar said: “Verily Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) is deeply afflicted with pain. You have the Quran with you. The Book of Allah is sufficient for us.” Those who were present in the house differed. Some of them said: “Bring him (the writing material) so that Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) may write a document for you and you would never go astray after him.” And some among them said what Umar had (already) said. When they indulged in nonsense and began to dispute in the presence of Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him), he said: “Get up (and go away)” Ubaidullah said: Ibn Abbas used to say: “There was a heavy loss, indeed a heavy loss, that, due to their dispute and noise, Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) could not write (or dictate) the document for them.”

Umar ibn al-Khattab wanted the people to leave the Prophet alone because he was very sick and talking was very painful for him.

Reply – Umar increased the pain and distress of the Prophet (s) by opposing his instructions and insulting his wives

We wish to reiterate that the narrations of Sunni sect do not have any evidence of the Prophet (s) falling in and out of consciousness. Umar’s instructions were directed at the Prophet (s) and he was seeking to supplant the latter’s authority with his own. The Prophet (s) had told those in the room to make provision for writing materials, Umar was hence conversing with the same individuals making it clear that this order should not be implemented. When the Sunni narrations point to the Prophet (s) remaining conscious when issuing this instruction and Umar insisting that this should be ignored, his conduct was an open challenge to the Prophet (s). Umar whilst recollecting his lead role during the event states:

“We were with the Prophet, may Allah bless him, and there was a screen between the women and between us. The Apostle of Allah, may Allah bless him, said: Wash me with seven waterskins and bring something to write upon and an inkpot, I shall write a document for you and you will never be misguided till eternity. The women said bring to the Apostle of Allah, may Allah bless him what he wants. Umar said; I said to them: Keep quiet. You are like the women of Yusuf when he is ill and you shed tears, and when he is healthy you hold him by his neck. Thereupon the Apostle of Allah, may Allah bless him said: They are better than you”

al-Tabaqat al Kabir, Volume 2 page 305 English translation by S. Moinul Haq

Interestingly, the women in the house found the Prophet’s command to be perfectly clear and recognized that the Noble Messenger was speaking coherently in a perfect state of mind. However, in this instance Umar by his own confession disobeyed the Prophet’s (s) orders and, further, insulted Muhammad (s) ‘s wives in the dying man’s own house and in his presence. One continues to be astonished at the extent of Umar’s vile manners, here before the Mothers of the Believers. Umar’s rude conduct was such that in any house it would necessitate the man of the house asking for an apology for his wife, if not punch the other man on the nose. Muhammad (s) in fact though has his full wits about him and attacks Umar verbally to defend his wives. Umar’s disobedience and insults against the women (including the wives of Rasulullah [s]) wherein he compared them to the ill character women from the time of Prophet Yusuf (as) further caused the Prophet (s) to rebuke him, since ALL the women did was to insist that his (s) order be carried out as the Book of Allah commands. Muhammad (s)’s words “they are better than you”, illustrates that it was Umar who was in the wrong whereas the women had taken the correct path. Of course, die hard Sunnis will accept none of this and say Umar was correct and Muhammad the Seal of Prophets (s) and his wives all wrong. Yes for those diehards – Muhammad (s) – Seal of 124,00 Prophets, Master of Jesus, Noah, Abraham and Moses – was wrong, misguided, false and needing the guidance of Umar. Of course we Shias cannot accept this king-worship. Muhammad (s) is superior to all men, even if Umar does happen to be a king of Sunni Islam and the founding father of Sunni Islam. It also shows Umar was not really concerned about the Prophet (s)’s health and well-being – what worse a way to upset a dying man than to start hurling foul insults at his wives! It is not even done by the lowest people in society. Umar’s rudeness to Muhammad (s)’s wives in Muhammad (s)’s very own personal presence round his bed succeeded in causing Muhammad (s) sufficient distress for him to verbally lash out at Umar! This is the kind of disgusting, vile and contemptible behavior that Umar was perpetrating before the dying Seal of Prophets! And to this day there are Sunni Muslims who applaud him for it, while like true hypocrites they would not tolerate such behavior if it was their own father who was on his deathbed!

These hard facts, which are unpalatable but which must be digested, show once again Muhammad (s) left this world on hostile terms with this strange, odd fellow called Umar. Here his strangeness is in abusing a dying man by insulting his wives wthin earshot of him – that is the real Umar, not the King Umar of fabrications. There is of course a brand of Sunni Islam that deeply applauds Umar for this kind of hostility to women (and people in general) – but stand back, think deeply, and pause bearing in mind the situation here being the deathbed of Muhammad (s). One then realizes this was not good conduct on Umar’s part, it was nothing but sheer impudence to the Holy Prophet (s). And indeed many a Muslim present there reacted against Umar – two factions formed, one the party of Umar the other that of Muhammad (s) and his family. Could you have behaved like Umar? No. Why? Don’t find excuses – say it, there’e nothing to feel ashamed about – yes, that’s right, because you are sincere in your devotion to and respect of Muhammad (s). Something Umar and the extreme Wahabi Muslims in earnest are not, and their own Sunni brethren are aware of this fact.