1396 — Abū Muhammad ibn Sā'id informed us, saying: Ishāq ibn Shāhīn Abū Bishr al-Wāsitī narrated to us, saying: Khālid ibn Abd Allah narrated to us, from Husayn, from Amr ibn Maymūn,
⦗1921⦘

1397 — Ibn Sā'id said: Yūsuf ibn Mūsā al-Qattān also narrated to us, saying: Jarīr narrated to us, from Husayn, from Amr ibn Maymūn.

1398 — Ibn Sā'id said: Ya'qūb ibn Ibrāhīm al-Dawraqī and Khallād ibn Aslam also narrated to us, saying: Alī ibn Āsim narrated to us, from Husayn, from Amr ibn Maymūn—the wording is that of Khālid ibn Abd Allah—who said:

“Umar ibn al-Khattāb—may Allah be pleased with him—had appointed Hudhayfa over the lands irrigated by the Tigris and Uthmān ibn Hunayf over those irrigated by the Euphrates. They assessed the land tax, and when they returned to him, he said, ‘Perhaps you have burdened the land with more than it can bear.’ Hudhayfa replied, ‘Had I wished, I could have doubled the tax on the lands under my charge.’ Uthmān ibn Hunayf said, ‘I have burdened them only with what they can bear, and there is little room to spare.’ Umar then said, ‘If I live, I shall surely provide for the widows of Iraq so that after me they will need no one.’ Only four days passed before he was attacked.

When the prayer was called, Umar—may Allah be pleased with him—would tell the people, ‘Straighten your rows.’ Once they had done so, a man stabbed him. ⦗1922⦘ Umar cried, ‘In the name of Allah! The dog has devoured me—or: the dog has killed me!’ The non-Arab assailant then sprang away wielding a double-pointed knife, stabbing everyone who came near him, until he had stabbed thirteen men, nine of whom died. One of the Muslims threw a hooded cloak over him and pinned him down. When the assailant realized that he had been captured, he stabbed himself and took his own life.

The people put Abd al-Rahmān forward, and he led them in a brief prayer. Umar then said to Ibn Abbās, ‘Find out who killed me.’ Ibn Abbās went around to investigate, then returned and said, ‘It was al-Mughīra ibn Shu'ba’s slave.’ Umar asked, ‘The craftsman?’ He replied, ‘Yes.’ Umar said, ‘May Allah destroy him! I had ordered that he be treated well. Praise be to Allah, who did not place my death at the hand of a Muslim.’

He then said to Ibn Abbās, ‘You and your father used to like having many non-Arabs in Medina.’ Ibn Abbās asked, ‘Shall we not kill them?’ Umar replied, ‘After they have performed your prayer and undertaken your pilgrimage?’

Umar was then carried into his home. It was as though no calamity had ever befallen the Muslims before that day. People began entering to see him, and a young man came in and said, ‘Rejoice, O Commander of the Believers, in the glad tidings of Allah—Mighty and Majestic! Your early companionship with the Messenger of Allah—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—is well known. You were then placed in authority and acted justly, and now Allah—Mighty and Majestic—has granted you martyrdom.’ Umar replied, ‘My nephew, I wish that all of that would leave me even, with nothing credited to me and nothing charged against me.’

The young man then turned to leave, and his lower garment was trailing behind him. Umar said, ‘Bring him back.’ When he was brought back, Umar told him, ‘My nephew, raise your lower garment. That will keep your clothing cleaner and is more in keeping with fear of your Lord.’ Amr ibn Maymūn said: By Allah, what Umar was suffering did not prevent him from offering the young man sincere counsel.

Umar was then given an infused drink. He drank it, but it came out through his wound, and he knew that death was upon him. He said, ‘Abd Allah ibn Umar, determine how much debt I owe.’ ⦗1923⦘ He calculated it and found it to be eighty-odd thousand. Umar said, ‘Seek payment from Umar’s family. If their wealth suffices, well and good; otherwise, seek it from the clan of Adī. If their wealth does not suffice, then seek it from Quraysh, but do not go beyond them to anyone else.’

He then said, ‘Abd Allah, go to the Mother of the Believers Aisha and say, “Umar sends you greetings of peace.” Do not say, “the Commander of the Believers,” for today I am no longer commander over the believers. Say, “He asks permission to be buried beside his two companions.” If she grants permission, bury me beside them; but if she refuses, return me to the Muslims’ cemetery.’

Abd Allah went to her and found her weeping. He said, ‘Umar asks permission to be buried beside his two companions.’ She replied, ‘I had been reserving that place for myself, but today I shall give him preference over myself.’

He then returned. When he approached, Umar said, ‘Sit me up.’ He then asked, ‘What news do you bring?’ Abd Allah replied, ‘She has granted you permission.’ Umar said, ‘Allah is the Greatest! Nothing was more important to me than that resting place. When my soul has been taken, carry me there and say, “Umar asks permission.” If she grants permission, bury me there; otherwise, return me to the Muslims’ cemetery.’

He then said, ‘The people are telling me to appoint a successor. The matter is to be entrusted to these six men with whom the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—was pleased when he died: Alī, Uthmān, Talha, al-Zubayr, Abd al-Rahmān ibn Awf, and Sa'd ibn Mālik. Let Abd Allah ibn Umar attend with them, though he is to have no share in the matter. If the caliphate falls to Sa'd, so be it; otherwise, whoever assumes authority should seek his assistance, for I did not dismiss him because of incompetence or betrayal.’

He then said, ‘I enjoin the caliph who succeeds me to fear Allah—Mighty and Majestic. I enjoin him concerning the first Emigrants, who were driven from their homes and deprived of their wealth: he must recognize their rights and honor their sanctity. ⦗1924⦘ I enjoin him to treat the Ansār well, accepting from those among them who do good and overlooking those who do wrong. I enjoin him to treat the people of the provinces well, for they are Islam’s bulwark, the enemy’s bane, and the collectors of public revenue. Nothing beyond their surplus should be taken from them, and only with their consent. I enjoin him to treat the Bedouins well, for they are the origin of the Arabs and a source of strength for Islam. What is due should be taken from the younger animals among their livestock and returned to their poor. I enjoin him concerning those under the protection of Allah—Mighty and Majestic—and the protection of His Messenger: he must honor their covenant, fight in their defense, and burden them only with what they can bear.’”