His Cautious Approach

There is a narration of Sahih Muslim in which Hazrat Abu Hurairah (ra) states:

“We were sitting in the company of the Holy Prophet (sa) along with Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra)and Hazrat Umar (ra) as well as others. The Holy Prophet (sa) got up and left, but there was a delay in him returning. We feared that he may be in danger, and owing to this we stood up and left. I was the first to fear this and so I left in search of the Holy Prophet (sa). I arrived at a garden that belonged to the Banu Najjar. I circled the garden looking for the entrance, but was unable to find it. I then saw a stream flowing inside the garden from a well outside and so I crouched down like a fox and entered the garden through the stream and went to the Holy Prophet (sa). The Holy Prophet (sa) enquired, ‘Is it Abu Hurairah?’ I replied in the affirmative. He asked what the matter was to which I replied, ‘You were among us, after which you stood up and left, but there was a delay in you returning. We feared you may be harmed. I was the first to worry and so I followed you up to this garden; I had to crouch like a fox to enter into the garden and the others are following behind me.’ The Holy Prophet (sa) addressed me saying, ‘O Abu Hurairah’ and gave me his sandals and said, ‘Take my sandals and inform whoever you meet outside this garden, that if they testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah and truly have this belief in their hearts, then give them glad tidings of Paradise.’”

Hazrat Abu Hurairah (ra) further narrates, “When I went back, the first person I met was Umar (ra). He asked, ‘O Abu Hurairah (ra)! What are these sandals?’ I said that the sandals belonged to the Holy Prophet (sa) and he has sent me with these as a sign to give glad tidings of Paradise to the one who testifies that there is none worthy of worship except Allah and truly holds this belief in their hearts. Upon this, Hazrat Umar (ra) struck my chest in anger with great force and I fell on my back. He said, ‘O Abu Hurairah (ra)! Go back.’” Meaning, there was no need to say anything to anyone.

“I returned to the Holy Prophet (sa) and was about to cry when Hazrat Umar (ra) came behind me. The Holy Prophet (sa) asked, ‘O Abu Hurairah! What is the matter?’ I informed him that, ‘I met with Umar (ra) and told him about the message you had sent me with, but Umar (ra) struck me on my chest with such force that I fell backwards and Umar (ra) told me to return.’ The Holy Prophet (sa) asked, ‘O Umar! Why did you do such a thing?’ Hazrat Umar (ra) replied, ‘O Messenger (sa) of Allah! May my mother and father be sacrificed for you! Did you send Abu Hurairah with your sandals and tell him to give glad tidings of Paradise to the one who testifies that there is none worthy of worship except Allah and has firm belief in this?’ The Holy Prophet (sa) replied in the affirmative. Upon this, Hazrat Umar (ra) submitted, ‘Please do not do such a thing, for I fear that people will rely on this alone. Therefore, it would be best to let them carry on performing virtuous deeds and acting on the commandments so that they become true believers. Otherwise they will rely upon the declaration of “There is none worthy of worship except Allah” and consider it to be sufficient in order to enter Paradise. The Holy Prophet (sa) said, ‘Very well, leave it.’”

(Sahih Muslim, Kitab al-Iman, Bab al-Dalil ala in Mata ala al-Tauhid Dakhala al-Jannah Qat‘an, Hadith 147)

Hazrat Umar (ra) thus had a very cautious approach.