Even Satan Runs Away from him

There is a narration in which it is mentioned that even Satan runs away from Umar (ra). In Sahih Bukhari, it is narrated by Hazrat Saad (ra) bin Abi Waqas that Hazrat Umar (ra) bin al-Khattab sought permission from the Holy Prophet (sa) to enter. At the time some women from the Quraish were sitting in the Holy Prophet’s (sa) company and speaking to him. They were asking for more expenses and their voices were louder than the Holy Prophet’s (sa) voice. When Hazrat Umar (ra) sought permission to enter, they quickly put on their veils. The Holy Prophet (sa) permitted Hazrat Umar (ra) to enter. When Hazrat Umar (ra) entered, the Holy Prophet (sa) was smiling.

Hazrat Umar (ra) said, “O Messenger (sa) of Allah, may Allah always keep you smiling.” The Holy Prophet (sa) replied, “I am astonished by the women that were just here. When they heard your voice, they quickly put on their veils.” Upon this, Hazrat Umar (ra) submitted, “O Messenger (sa) of Allah, you, however, are more worthy of being feared”. Then, while addressing those women in a loud voice, Hazrat Umar (ra) stated, “O enemies of your own selves, are you intimidated by me and not the Holy Prophet (sa)?” The women replied, “Indeed, because you are harsher and sterner than the Messenger (sa) of Allah.” Upon this, the Holy Prophet (sa) said, “Hear me, O son of al-Khattab; I swear by the One in Whose hands is my life, whenever Satan crosses paths with you, he most certainly diverts his path [in fear of you].”

(Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab Fada‘il Ashab al-Nabi (sa), Bab Fada‘il Hazrat Umar (ra), Hadith 3683)

Hazrat Aisha (ra) relates, “Once while the Holy Prophet (sa) was seated, we heard some commotion and the sounds of children. The Holy Prophet (sa) stood up and saw that there was an Abyssinian woman performing a traditional dance while the children had gathered around her. The Holy Prophet (sa) said, ‘O Aisha, come and see.’ I went and started to watch, placing my chin on the shoulder of the Holy Prophet (sa). My chin was placed in-between the head and the shoulder of the Holy Prophet (sa). He then asked me, ‘Have you seen enough?’ I said ‘not yet’ because I wanted to see how much he cared about me. When Hazrat Umar (ra) arrived, everyone fled from around that woman.”

Hazrat Aisha (ra) continues, “Upon this, the Holy Prophet (sa) said, ‘I see that the Satans from among the jinn and man have fled from Umar.’” Hazrat Aisha (ra) says that following this, she returned from there.

(Sunan al-Tirmidhi, Abwab al-Manaqib, Bab Qauluh anna al-Shaitan la Yakhafu minka ya Umar, Hadith 3691)

Hazrat Buraydahra relates that once when the Holy Prophet (sa) returned from an expedition, a woman of dark complexion came and asked, “O Messenger (sa) of Allah, I took a vow that if Allah the Almighty brought you back to us in safety, I would sing and beat the drum before you.”

The Holy Prophet (sa) said, “If you had taken a vow, then you may do so, otherwise you cannot.” Thus, she began to beat the drum. Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra)arrived and she continued to beat the drum. Hazrat Ali (ra) arrived and she continued to beat the drum. Then, Hazrat Uthman (ra) arrived and she still continued to beat the drum. When Hazrat Umar (ra) arrived, however, she placed the drum beneath her and sat on top of it. The Holy Prophet (sa) said, “O Umar, even Satan fears you. I was present and seated, yet she was still beating the drum. Abu Bakr came, Ali came, Uthman came, yet she continued to beat the drum. However, O Umar, when you came, she put the drum away.”

(Sunan al-Tirmidhi, Abwab al-Manaqib, Bab Qauluh anna al-Shaitan la Yakhafu minka ya Umar, Hadith 3690)