Ihyaaud Deen An Effort to Revive Deen in Totality
Hazrat ‘Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) had great love for the Ahl-e-Bayt, the blessed family of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam). The following incident sheds light on the loving relationship which they enjoyed. Similarly, it shows the sentiments of indebtedness towards Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) and his mubaarak family, the Ahl-e-Bayt, in the heart of Hazrat ‘Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu).
Hazrat Husain (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) mentions the following incident which transpired during his childhood:
Once, I came to Hazrat ‘Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) while he was seated on the mimbar, delivering a khutbah. I ascended the mimbar towards him and said, “Descend from the mimbar of my father (in some reports, “my grandfather’s mimbar”), and go to your father’s mimbar!” Hazrat ‘Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) gently and lovingly replied, “My father did not have a mimbar.” Hazrat ‘Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) then picked me up and placed me at his side on the mimbar, where I sat, turning some pebbles in my hand. After he had completed delivering the khutbah, he proceeded to his home with me. He then asked me, “Who told you to come to the mimbar?” I replied, “By Allah, nobody told me.”
Hazrat ‘Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) then said to me, “Why don’t you come to our home and visit us?” Due to the request, I one day went to visit him, but found him speaking with Hazrat Mu‘aawiyah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) in private, while his son, Hazrat Ibnu ‘Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhuma), was waiting at the door. Seeing that he was busy, I did not disturb him. Thereafter, when Hazrat Ibnu ‘Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhuma) did not enter but left, I also returned.
When Hazrat ‘Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) later met me, he asked me, “I see that you have not come to visit us?” I replied, “O Ameerul Mu’mineen! I did come to visit, but I found you busy discussing some matter with Hazrat Mu‘aawiyah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) while your son was waiting at the door. I did not wish to disturb you and so returned when I found your son, Hazrat Ibnu ‘Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhuma), had returned after waiting a while (i.e. when your son did not receive permission to enter, how could I enter?).” Hazrat ‘Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) exclaimed, “You have a greater right to enter and visit me than my own son. Whatever deen and the knowledge of deen we received was through the grace of Allah Ta‘ala and through the means of your family (i.e. your grandfather, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) and his mubaarak household, the Ahl-e-Bayt).” (Isaabah 2/69)
The Desire of Hazrat ‘Ali (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) to Meet Allah Ta‘ala with the Actions of Hazrat ‘Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu)
Hazrat ‘Abdullah bin ‘Abbaas (radhiyallahu ‘anhuma) reports, “At the time when Hazrat ‘Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) was placed on the bier after being martyred, Hazrat Ali (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) looked at the body of Hazrat ‘Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) and said:
‘O ‘Umar! May Allah Ta‘ala shower His special mercy on you!’ He then said, “At this time, there is no person whose actions are more beloved to me, and which I wish to meet Allah Ta‘ala with, more than your actions!’ (Saheeh Bukhaari #3685)
NOTE: This incident is reported in the most authentic compilation of Hadith, Saheeh Bukhaari. Despite that, some shias deny this incident, whereas this incident also appears in the following books of the shia: Kitab al Shafi pg. 171 by ‘Alm al Huda, Talkhis al Shafi vol. 2 pg. 428 by al Tusi and Ma’ani al Akhbar pg. 117 by Al Saduq.
