356 — ‘Abd Allāh narrated to us: ‘Abd al-A‘lā ibn Hammād narrated to me: Wuhayb narrated to us: Ayyūb narrated to us, from Abū Ma‘shar, from Ibrāhīm, who said: ‘Abd Allāh ibn Mas‘ūd said:

“When the righteous are mentioned, hasten to mention ‘Umar! ‘Umar was a strong, protective wall: Islam entered within it and did not leave. When ‘Umar was killed, the wall was breached, and Islam began to leave it rather than enter.

“By Him in whose hand is my soul, I wish I could serve someone like ‘Umar until I die. By Him in whose hand is my soul, if everyone on earth today were placed in one pan of the scales and ‘Umar in the other, ‘Umar’s side would outweigh them.

“‘Umar would order a camel to be slaughtered, and its liver, hump, and choicest portions would be for the wayfarer, while the neck would be for ‘Umar’s household. When the righteous are mentioned, hasten to mention ‘Umar!”