Conditions of the Companions upon the Martyrdom of Hazrat Umar (ra)

Then, what was the condition of the companions upon the martyrdom of Hazrat Umar (ra)?

Hazrat Abu Burdahra relates from his father that Hazrat Auf (ra) bin Malik saw a dream whereby people had been gathered in an open plain and there was one individual among them who was elevated from the rest by a span of three hand widths. He asked who this person was and was informed that it was Umar (ra) bin al-Khattab. Upon this, he asked as to why this person had been elevated from the rest and he was informed that the reason for this was because he possessed three qualities: he did not fear the reproach of anyone in matters relating to Allah the Almighty; he would attain martyrdom in the way of Allah the Almighty and he would be made a Khalifa.

Upon hearing this, Hazrat Auf (ra) went to Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra)to relate his dream, who was the Khalifa at the time, and informed him of his dream. Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra)called Hazrat Umar (ra) and gave him glad-tidings and then told Hazrat Auf (ra) to relate his dream.

The narrator states that when he mentioned that he would become the Khalifa, Hazrat Umar (ra) told him off because Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra)was still alive. Later, when Hazrat Umar (ra) became the Khalifa, he travelled to Syria and whilst delivering a sermon, he looked towards Hazrat Auf (ra) and called him to come at the pulpit. Hazrat Umar (ra) then asked him to relate his dream. Hazrat Auf (ra) mentioned his dream and upon this, Hazrat Umar (ra) stated:

“As far as those people are concerned who do not fear the reproach of any faultfinder, I am hopeful that Allah the Almighty will enable me to become one of those people. With regard to me becoming the Khalifa, I have already been appointed as the Khalifa and I now pray that may Allah the Almighty grant me help to fulfil the responsibility which I have been entrusted with. And with regard to me being martyred, how can I be martyred when I live in the Arab land and do not fight against the neighbouring people.”

He then stated, “But if Allah wills then he will bring about the means of my martyrdom.”

Though it was not possible in light of the apparent circumstances, if Allah willed, then he would enable it to happen in some way.

It is related from Hazrat Anasra bin Malik that Hazrat Abu Musa Ash‘ari (ra) related that he saw a dream in which he set-off to travel upon various routes, but they all disappeared apart from one. Hence, he set-off on that particular route and eventually reached a mountain and saw that the Holy Prophet (sa) was stood on the mountain and Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra)was standing beside him. The Holy Prophet (sa) was indicating for him to come and join them. Upon this, Hazrat Abu Musa Ash‘ari (ra) exclaimed in his heart, “Verily, to Allah we belong and to Him shall we return. By God, the Leader of the Faithful has passed away.”

Hazrat Anasra relates that he enquired from Hazrat Abu Musa Ash‘ari (ra) whether he would inform Hazrat Umar (ra) of this dream and he replied that he did not want to disclose the news of his demise to him.

(Ibn Saad, Al-Tabaqat al-Kubra, Vol. 3 [Beirut, Lebanon: Dar al-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, 1990], pp. 252-253)

Saeed bin Abi Hilal narrates that Hazrat Umar (ra) bin al-Khattab addressed the people on a Friday. He praised Allah the Almighty which He is indeed worthy of and then stated, “O ye people! I have seen a dream whereby I feel that the time of my demise is near. I saw a red cockerel which bit me twice. I related this dream to Asma bint Umais and she interpreted this to mean that someone from among the non-Arabs will kill me.”

(Ibn Saad, Al-Tabaqat al-Kubra, Vol. 3 [Beirut, Lebanon: Dar al-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, 1990], p. 255)