153 — Abū Ubayd Alī ibn al-Husayn ibn Harb al-Qādī informed us, saying: Abū al-Ash'ath Ahmad ibn al-Miqdām narrated to us, saying: Hammād ibn Zayd narrated to us, from Yazīd ibn Hāzim, from Sulaymān ibn Yasār, that a man from Banū Tamīm named Sabīgh ibn Asal came to Medina. He had some books in his possession and began asking about the ambiguous passages of the Quran. When this reached Umar—may Allah be pleased with him—he sent for the man, having prepared some date-palm stalks for him.

When the man entered, he sat down. Umar asked him, “Who are you?” He replied, “I am Allah’s servant, Sabīgh.” Umar said, “And I am Allah’s ⦗484⦘ servant, Umar.” He then lunged at him and began beating him with those stalks. He continued beating him until he split his scalp and blood began running down his face. Sabīgh said, “Enough, O Commander of the Faithful! By Allah, whatever I had been experiencing in my head is now gone.”

Muhammad ibn al-Husayn said: If someone were to ask, “Does a person who asks about the interpretation of ‘By those [winds] scattering [dust] far and wide, and those [clouds] carrying a load [of water]’ [al-Dhāriyāt: 2] deserve to be beaten, made an example of, and ostracized?” he would be told:

“Umar—may Allah be pleased with him—did not beat him because of this particular question. Rather, before Umar had even seen him, reports had reached him about the ambiguous passages of the Quran that the man had been asking about. He therefore knew that the man had fallen prey to temptation and had occupied himself with matters that would bring him no benefit. He knew that it was more fitting for him to pursue the knowledge incumbent upon him concerning what is lawful and unlawful, and more fitting for him to seek knowledge of the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah—peace and blessings be upon him.

“When Umar realized that he was pursuing what would not benefit him, he asked Allah Most High to deliver the man into his hands so that he might make an example of him and thereby warn others. For Umar was a shepherd, and it was his duty ⦗485⦘ to watch over his flock in this and all other matters. Allah Most High therefore delivered the man into his hands.”

Umar—may Allah be pleased with him—said, “There will come people who dispute with you by means of the ambiguous passages of the Quran. Counter them with the Sunnah, for those versed in the Sunnah know the Book of Allah Most High best.”