Ijtehaad of Umar regarding names and agnomens

1. It is narrated from Zaid bin Aslam from his father that Umar bin Khattab scolded his son, because his agnomen was Abu Isa. The agnomen of Mughira bin Shoba was also Abu Isa.

Umar said to him: Why did you not give yourself the agnomen of Abu Abdullah? He replied: The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.) kept my agnomen as Abu Isa.

Umar said: The Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.) has forgiven past and future sins, but we are responsible for ourselves.  After that he used to address him as Abu Abdullah till he was killed.

[Sonan Abu Dawood, 2:309 [4/291, H. 4963]

2. Wife of Ubaidullah Ibne Umar came to Umar and complained: “O chief of believers, will you not save me from Abu Isa?”

Umar asked: “Who is Abu Isa?”

The wife said: “Your son, Ubaidullah.”

Umar said: “Woe be on you, how can you call him Abu Isa?”

And he summoned his son and asked: “Woe be on you, have you adopted the agnomen of Abu Isa?”

He warned and threatened him; after that he bit his hand till he screamed. Then he beat him up and said: “Woe be on you, did Isa have a father? Can’t you have agnomens, which Arabs adopt? Like Abu Salma, Abu Hanzala, Abu Arfata and Abu Murra.”

[Sharh Nahjul Balagha, 3:104 [12/44, Sermon 223].

3. Umar wrote to the people of Kufa: “Do not name anyone on names of prophets;” and commanded the residents of Medina to change the names of their sons if they were named Muhammad, till some companions of Prophet (s.a.w.a.) said that the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) himself had permitted them to name their sons as Muhammad. At that time he left them alone.

[Umdatul Qari, 7:143 [15/39]

Writing of the Sunnah

It is narrated from Urwah that:

“Umar decided to write and record the Sunnah of Prophet. He sought advice of companions of Prophet and they said that it was advisable. But Umar continued to draw Istikhara [and prayed to God to show him the right path]. Till once day he gave up his intention and said:

‘I had decided to record in writing, the reports and traditions of Prophet, but when I studied histories of previous nations, I saw that people before had written books and they became engrossed in those books and abandoned the Book of God. By God, I will never mix the Book of God with another thing.’

Some people also followed the practice of the Caliph as opposed to Sunnah of Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) and prohibited writing and narration of traditions.

[Sonan Darami, 1:125; Mustadrak Hakeem, 1:104-106 [1/186-187, H. 357-359]; Mukhtasar Jaameul Ilm, 36-37 [Pg. 68-72, H. 61-63]

Viewpoint of Umar regarding query about future

Tawus says: Umar said from the pulpit:

“By God, I would deal harshly with one, who makes inquiries about future, because God has only mentioned about what is present.”4

[Sonan Darimi, 1:50; Jami Bayanul Ilm, 2:141 [Pg. 372, H. 1807].

He also said: “It is not lawful to make inquiries about what has not yet come to pass, because Allah, the Mighty and the High has only mentioned and revealed commands about the present.”

He also said: “I shall deal harshly with your queries about the future and what is there for us is sufficient; and it has kept us sufficiently occupied.”

“One day, a person came to Ibne Umar and asked about something, which I don’t what it was. Ibne Umar said: Don’t ask about what has not yet happened, because I heard from Umar bin Khattab cursing one, who inquired about future.”

[Sonan Darimi, 1:50; Kitabul Ilm, Abu Umar, 2:143 [Pg. 369, H. 1794]; and its Mukhtasar, 190 [Pg. 326, H. 232]; Fathul Bari, 13:225 [13/226]; Kanzul Ummaal, 2:174 [3/839, H. 8906]

Prohibition of Umar regarding traditions

It is mentioned in the text of Tabari that:

“Umar often said: Read only the Quran, which is written on skin and do not interpret it and narrate minimum traditions from the Prophet, as long as I am present among you.”

[Sharh Ibne Abil Hadeed, 3:120 [12/93, Sermon 223]

Tibrani has narrated from Ibrahim bin Abdur Rahman that:

“Umar imprisoned three persons: Ibne Masud, Abu Darda and Abu Masud Ansari and said: You narrate too many traditions from the Prophet, and he confined them in Medina till they were martyred.”

[Tazkeratul Huffaaz, Zahabi, 1:7 [No. 2); Majmauz Zawaaed, 1:149 and the writer of gloss on this book has regarded it as authentic and said: This matter is narrated from Umar through many authentic chains and Umar was dead against the narration of traditions]

Dhahabi has narrated from Abu Salma in Tadhkira that they asked Abu Huraira:

“Did you narrate so many traditions during period of Umar?”

Abu Huraira replied: “If I have narrated as many traditions during period of Umar, I would have definitely been lashed.”

Abu Huraira says: “As long as Umar was alive, I was not able to say: Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) said…”

[Tazkeratul Huffaaz, Zahabi, 1:7]

Umar's viewpoint about fast of Rajab

It is narrated from Kharsha bin Hurr that he said:

“I saw Umar bin Khattab beating up some people, who kept fasts during month of Rajab to such an extent that they broke their fasts; and said: Rajab? What is Rajab? Rajab is month, which the people of Jahiliyya used to regard as important. When Islam arrived it was given up.”

[Ibne Abi Shaibah has mentioned this report [in Musannaf, 3/102] and Tibrani has also mentioned it in Awsat. As is mentioned in Majmauz Zawaaed, 3:191 and Kanzul Ummaal, 4:341 [8/635, H. 24580].

Umar's opinion about inheritance

It is narrated from Masud Thaqafi that:
“I was a witness when Umar bin Khattab made brothers of the father and mother share the third with maternal brothers.

A man remarked: You delivered a different judgment in this issue before.

He asked: How did I decide?

He replied: You gave to the maternal brothers and did not give anything to paternal brothers.

Umar said: That was a judgment [of that time] and this is another judgment [which I give] now.”

On the basis of another narration, he said: “It was on the basis of judgment of that day and this is on the basis of judgment of today.”

(Sunanul Kubraa, 6:255; Sunan Darimi, I:154)

Everyone is more knowledgeable than Umar

One day, Umar was thirsty and he passed by a youth of Ansa. So he asked for water. The boy mixed some honey in water and brought it to Umar. Umar did not drink it, saying: Almighty Allah says:

"You did away with your good things in your life of the world…”  (Surah Ahqaf 46:20)


The youth said: O chief of believers, this verse is not for you or any other Muslim. Recite its preceding words:

"And on the day when those who disbelieve shall be brought before the fire: You did away with your good things in your life of the world and you enjoyed them for a while."  (Surah Ahqaf 46:20)

Umar remarked: “Everyone is more learned than Umar.”

Umar's ignorance about interpretation of Quran

It is narrated from Abu Saeed Khudri that: “I performed Hajj in the company of Umar bin Khattab. When he was circumambulating Kaaba, he addressed Hajar al-Aswad: ‘No doubt, I know that you are a stone and can neither benefit anyone nor harm anyone. Had I not seen Allah’s Apostle kissing you, I would not have kissed you.’

Then he kissed it. Ali Ibne Abi Talib said: ‘On the contrary, it gives benefits and harm, if you only knew from the interpretation of Book of Almighty Allah, in which He says:

“And when your Lord brought forth from the children of Adam, from their backs, their descendants, and made them bear witness against their own souls.”  (Surah Araaf 7:172 )


Then when they confessed that He is the Lord and they are servants, He wrote their covenant on a white sheet and placed it in the mouth of this stone. Indeed, on Judgment Day, this stone will be raised and it would be having a pair of eyes, tongue and lips; and it will testify in favor of those, who honored the covenant.

Thus, on the basis of Quran, this stone is the trustee of Almighty Allah.’ Umar said: ‘O Abul Hasan, may God not keep me alive in the land, where you are not present.’”

 It is mentioned in another version that he said: “O Abul Hasan, I seek refuge of God from living in a nation, in which you are not present.”

(Mustadrak Alas Saheehain, 1:457 [1/628, H. 1682]; Tareekh Umar bin Khattab, Ibne Jauzi, 106 [Pg. 115]; Kanzul Ummaal, 3:35 [5/177, H. 12521]; Sharh Nahjul Balagha, 3:122 [12/100, Sermon 223])

Umar’s order regarding the insane female who committed fornication

It is narrated from Ibne Abbas that a mentally incompetent woman, accused of adultery was brought to Umar. Umar discussed this with some people and declared that she must be stoned to death.

Ali passed from there and inquired what was going on about that female. They replied: “She is mentally deranged from some tribe and is accused of having committed adultery and Umar has ordered her to be stoned to death.”

Ali (a.s.) said: “Release her.” Then he came to Umar said: “Chief of believers, do you not remember that Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.) said:

Three people are absolved of religious responsibility: the insane, till he regains sanity; the child, till he reaches maturity and the sleeping one, till he wakes up?”

At that time, Umar released the woman and began to recite Takbeer

(Sunan Abi Dawood, 2:227 [4/140, H. 4399 & 4401]; Sonan Ibne Majah, 2:227 [1/659, H. 2042]; Al-Mustadrak alas Saheehain, 2:59, 4:389 [2/68, H. 2351 & 4/430, H. 8169])

Umar did not know the meaning of ‘Abb’ (َأَبًّا)

Anas bin Malik says: Umar recited the following verse from the pulpit:

“Then We cause to grow therein the grain, and grapes and clover, and the olive and the palm, and thick gardens, and fruits and herbage” (Surah Abasa 80:27-31)


Then he said: “I know meaning of all these terms, but what is this ‘Abb’?” Then he left the staff he was holding and said: “My God, this is a duty and what is the problem if you don’t know the meaning of ‘Abb’?

Follow that whose guidance is clear to you from Quran and act upon it, and leave the knowledge of what you don’t know to Almighty Allah.” It is narrated from Thabit that a man asked Umar about the term of ‘abb’ in the verse:  َ

وَفَاكِهَةً وَأَبًّا

“And fruits and herbage”     (Surah Abasa 80:3)

Umar replied: We are forbidden from excessive precaution and to penetrate deeply. This tradition is also narrated in different words.

(This report is mentioned in Hakeem in Mustadrak Alas Saheehain, 2:514 [2/559, H. 3897]; Zamakhshari in Kashaf, 3:253 [4/704]; Suyuti in Durre Mansoor, 6:317 [8/421]; Kanzul Ummaal, 1:227 [2/328, H. 4154])

Ibne Hajar says in Fathul Bari: “It is said: ‘Abb’ is not an Arabic term. And it is supported by the fact that its meaning was unknown to the like of Abu Bakr and Umar.” 

Fathul Bari, 13:230 [13/270-272]

Everyone is more knowledgeable than Umar!

In Sunan Kubra, Baihaqi has narrated from Shobi that Umar delivered a speech and after divine praise and glorification, said:

 “Do not fix higher amounts as dowers and if I hear that a woman has taken dower more than the dower of the wives of Prophet, I will recover it from her and deposit it in Public Treasury.”

Then he came down from the pulpit. A Quraish lady asked:

“O chief of believers, is the Book of Allah more worthy to be followed or your statement?”

He replied: “The Book of Allah, what do you imply?” She said: “You prohibited heavy dowers, whereas Almighty Allah says in Quran:

“And you have given one of them a heap of gold, then take not from it anything.” (Surah Nisa 4:20)

Umar said twice or thrice: “Everyone is more learned than Umar,”

(Sunan Kubra, 7:233; Kanzul Ummaal, 8:298 [16/536, H. 45796])

and according to another version, he said: “Everyone, except Umar is most learned, even ladies in seclusion.” Are you not amazed at an Imam, who makes a mistake and a woman, who rectifies him?

(Sharh Nahjul Balagha, Ibne Abil Hadeed, 1:61 & 3:96 [1/182, Sermon 3:12/17])

It is mentioned in the words of Khazin that: “A woman, who states the right thing and a ruler, who commits a mistake.”
(Tafseer Khazin, 1:353 [1/339])


And in the words of Razi in his book of Arbaeen: “All people are more learned than Umar, even ladies at home.”
(Al-Arbaeen, Razi, 467)

Views of Umar regarding one who has no water for ablution

In his Saheeh, Muslim, in the chapter of Dry Ablution (Tayammum), has narrated through four chains of narrators from Abdur Rahman bin Abza that:

“Abdul Rahman bin Abza narrated it on the authority of his father that a man came to Umar and said: I am (at times) affected by seminal emission but find no water. He (Umar) told him not to pray. Ammaar then said. Do you remember, O Commander of Faithful, when I and you were in a military detachment and we had a seminal emission and did not find water (for taking bath) and you did not say prayer, but as for myself I rolled in dust and said prayer, and (when it was mentioned before) the Messenger of Allah (s.a.w.a.) said: It was enough for you to strike the ground with your hands and then blow (the dust) and then wipe your face and palms.

 Umar said: Ammaar, fear Allah. He said: If you so like, I would not narrate it.”

 (Saheeh Muslim, [1/355, H. 112]; Kitabul Haiz; Musnad Ahmad, 4:265 [5/329, H. 1786])