351 — ‘Abd Allāh narrated to us: Muhammad ibn Hassān al-Azraq, the client of Zā’idah ibn Ma‘n ibn Zā’idah al-Shaybānī, narrated to me: Husayn ibn ‘Alī al-Ju‘fī narrated to us, from Zā’idah, from ‘Abd al-Malik ibn ‘Umayr, who said: Abū Burdah and another man narrated to me, from ‘Awf ibn Mālik al-Ashja‘ī, who said:

“I saw in a dream that the people had been gathered together, and there was a man towering three cubits above them. I asked, ‘Who is this?’ They said, ‘‘Umar ibn al-Khattāb.’ I asked, ‘Why?’ ‘Because no one’s reproach deters him in matters concerning Allah, and he will be appointed caliph and will die a martyr.’

“I went to Abū Bakr and recounted the dream to him. He sent for ‘Umar to give him the good news, then said to me, ‘Relate your dream.’ When I reached the mention of a caliph, ‘Umar rebuked me and sternly exclaimed, ‘You say this while Abū Bakr is still alive?’ So I fell silent.

“Later, after ‘Umar had assumed office, he was in Syria. I passed by him while he was on the pulpit. He called me over and said, ‘Relate your dream.’ When I reached ‘he fears no one’s reproach in matters concerning Allah,’ he said, ‘I certainly hope that Allah will make me one of those people. As for being appointed caliph, by Allah, He has indeed appointed me, and I ask Him to help me fulfil the responsibility He has entrusted to me.’

“When I reached ‘he will die a martyr,’ he said, ‘How could I attain martyrdom while I am in the Arabian Peninsula and those around me are out on military campaigns?’ Then he said, ‘Allah will bring it about however He wills,’ repeating this twice.”