—peace be upon him—are still present, the very ones you can see?’
So he left the matter (1), and I devoted myself to asking questions. Whenever a report reached me from any Companion, I would go to him even if it was his midday rest. I would spread my cloak at his doorstep, lay my head on it, and the wind would blow dust over me. When he came out and saw me he would say, ‘Cousin of the Messenger of Allah! Why did you not send for me so that I might come to you?’ I would reply, ‘I am the one who should come to you and inquire of you.’
That man persisted until, when he saw the people gathered around me, he said, ‘This young man is more intelligent than I.’ (2)
ʿAbd al-Malik ibn Abī Sulaymān narrated from Saʿīd ibn Jubayr:
Some of the Emigrants felt resentment toward ʿUmar for bringing Ibn ʿAbbās into his council ahead of them. ʿUmar would question him, and he said to them, ‘Today I shall show you something from him that will make you recognize his merit.’
He asked them about the surah, ‘When the help of Allah comes’ (al-Naṣr 1). Some of them replied, ‘Allah commanded His Prophet that, when he saw people entering the religion of Allah in multitudes, he should praise Him and seek His forgiveness.’
ʿUmar then said, ‘Ibn ʿAbbās, speak.’
He answered, ‘He informed him of the time of his death; this is your sign of passing away, so glorify the praise of your Lord and ask His forgiveness.’ (3)
(1) In the Tabaqat and the Mustadrak the wording is fa taraktu ("so I left"), whereas the Majmaʿ reads fa rakibtu ("so I mounted"); the latter is a scribal corruption.
(2) The chain of transmission is sound. The report is found in Ibn Saʿd, 2/367–368, and al-Fasawi, 1/542. Al-Hakim declared it sahih (3/538) and al-Dhahabi concurred. Al-Haythami quotes it in the Majmaʿ, 9/277, stating: "It was transmitted by al-Tabarani and its narrators are those of the Sahih."
(3) The isnad is strong. The same chain appears in al-Baladhuri, 3/33, and al-Bukhari records it in al-Manaqib and in al-Maghazi (8/99) under the headings "The Prophet’s lodging on the day of the Conquest," "The Prophet’s illness and death," and in his Tafsir under the verse fa sabbih bi-hamdi rabbika wa-staghfirhu. It comes through two routes from Abu Bishr, from Saʿid ibn Jubayr, from Ibn ʿAbbas, who said:
“ʿUmar used to admit me to sit with the veterans of Badr. Some of them felt uneasy and said, ‘Why do you bring this lad in when we have sons like him?’ ʿUmar replied, ‘You know who he is.’ One day he invited them and included me; I think he did so only to show them (my knowledge). He asked, ‘How do you interpret Allah’s words: idha jaʾa nasr Allah wa-al-fath (When the help of Allah comes and the conquest)?’ Some answered, ‘We are commanded to praise Allah and seek His forgiveness when He grants us victory,’ while others remained silent.
He then said to me, ‘Is this how you understand it, Ibn ʿAbbas?’ I replied, ‘No.’ He asked, ‘Then what do you say?’ I said, ‘It foretells the death of the Messenger of Allah. Allah informed him: idha jaʾa nasr Allah wa-al-fath—that was the sign of your approaching term—fa sabbih bi-hamdi rabbika wa-staghfirhu innahu kana tawwaba (so glorify the praise of your Lord and seek His forgiveness; surely He is Ever-Returning).’ ʿUmar said …” (the narration continues).