Hazrat Ubaidullah bin Umar (ra) Seeks Revenge

In Al-Tabaqat ibn Saad, there is a narration on the authority of Nafi‘ which states that Hazrat Abdur Rahman (ra) had seen the knife used to martyr Hazrat Umar (ra). He stated that he saw the knife in the possession of Hormuzan and Jufainah and asked them what they used it for. They replied that they used it to cut meat because they did not touch the meat with their hands. Hazrat Ubaidullah bin Umar (ra) asked Hazrat Abdur Rahman (ra) if he had in fact seen the knife in the possession of those two. He replied in the affirmative. Upon this, Hazrat Ubaidullah bin Umar (ra) took up his sword and killed both of them.

Hazrat Uthman (ra) called for Hazrat Ubaidullah bin Umar (ra). When he arrived, Hazrat Uthman (ra) asked him what had incited him to kill the two individuals while they were living under the oath of their protection. Upon hearing this, Hazrat Ubaidullah (ra) threw Hazrat Uthman (ra) to the ground, at which point others arrived to protect Hazrat Uthman (ra) from Hazrat Ubaidullah (ra). When Hazrat Uthman (ra) had called for him, Hazrat Ubaidullah (ra) had placed his sword in its sheath; however, Hazrat Abdur Rahman (ra) strictly demanded him to remove his sword altogether which he did so.

This is one narration that I have just mentioned in reference to Hazrat Uthman (ra), and Allah knows better to what extent it is true and authentic. Nonetheless, the mention of this killing has been recorded in other narrations as well. Saeed bin Musayyab narrates that when Hazrat Umar (ra) was martyred, Hazrat Abdur Rahman bin Abi Bakr (ra)said that he passed by the killer of Hazrat Umar (ra), i.e. Abu Lu‘lu‘, and he was whispering in the company of Jufainah and Hormuzan. When he suddenly went to them, they ran away, dropping a dagger in their haste. It was a double-edged dagger with the handle in between. He then told them to examine the dagger with which Hazrat Umar (ra) was martyred. Upon observing it, the dagger was identical to what was described by Hazrat Abdur Rahman bin Abi Bakr (ra).

When Hazrat Ubaidullah bin Umar (ra) heard this from Hazrat Abdur Rehman bin Abi Bakr (ra), he set out with his sword and called out for Hormuzan. When Hormuzan came out, Hazrat Ubaidullah took him to see their horses and meanwhile he moved behind him. When Hormuzan was walking in front of him, he attacked him with his sword. Hazrat Ubaidullah bin Umar (ra) stated that as soon as Hormuzan felt the force of his blade, he proclaimed, “There is no one worthy of worship except Allah.” Hazrat Ubaidullah (ra) also stated that he called upon Jufainah, who was a Christian from Hira and was sent to Medina as a helper of Hazrat Saad (ra) bin Abi Waqas to establish reconciliation between them. He used to teach the art of scribing in Medina. When Hazrat Ubaidullah (ra) attacked him with his sword, he drew the symbol of a cross before his eyes. Then, Hazrat Ubaidullah (ra) went on to kill the daughter of Abu Lu‘lu‘, who claimed to be a Muslim.

That day, it was Hazrat Ubaidullah’s (ra) intention to kill all the prisoners in Medina. The Muhajireen stood against him and tried to stop him and rebuked him, but he swore by Allah that he would kill all the prisoners and ignored the Muhajireen to the point where Hazrat Amr (ra) bin al-Aas continued to reason with him until he finally surrendered his sword to Hazrat Amr (ra) bin al-Aas. Then, when Hazrat Saad (ra) bin Abi Waqas came, they both took hold of each other from their forelocks. But in any case, Hormuzan, Jufainah and the daughter of Abu Lu‘lu‘ were killed.