Chapter: Mention of the Prophet’s saying—peace and blessings be upon him: “There used to be inspired men among the nations. If there be one in my nation, it is Umar ibn al-Khattāb—may Allah be pleased with him.”

Muhammad ibn al-Husayn—may Allah have mercy on him—said: This accords with the preceding chapter. Its meaning, according to the scholars—and Allah knows best—is that Allah, glorified and exalted, casts the truth into his heart, and his tongue gives utterance to it. An angel casts it upon his tongue and into his heart from Allah, glorified and exalted—a special distinction with which Allah the Generous singled out Umar ibn al-Khattāb—may Allah be pleased with him. As Ali—may Allah be pleased with him—said: “We did not consider it unlikely that tranquility speaks through Umar’s tongue.” These hadiths corroborate one another.