For this reason, one of the fundamental principles of the Sunnah and the community is that none of those who assumed authority after the Messenger of Allah—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—such as the Rightly Guided Caliphs and others, need possess knowledge unknown to everyone else. Rather, Muslims share in knowing the religion prescribed by the Messenger—may Allah bless him and grant him peace. When some possess knowledge of hadith that others do not, they convey it to them.

For this reason, the caliphs would ask the Companions concerning certain matters, “Do you have any knowledge from the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—about this?” Once the Messenger’s Sunnah became clear to them, they ruled accordingly. Thus, Abū Bakr al-Siddīq asked them about a grandmother’s inheritance when she came to him. He said, “There is no share prescribed for you in Allah’s Book, and I know of nothing prescribed for you in the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah. But let me ask the people.” He asked them, and Muhammad ibn Maslama and others informed him that the Messenger of Allah—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—had awarded her one-sixth.

Likewise, “When ʿUmar ibn al-Khattāb asked them about an unborn child who had been killed, one of the Companions stood and informed him that the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—had ruled that compensation should be a male or female slave.” That is, whoever killed an unborn child was liable to give its heirs a male or female slave in compensation. So ʿUmar ruled accordingly. They stated that the slave’s value should equal one-tenth of the blood money payable for the child’s mother.

The Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—said concerning ʿUmar ibn al-Khattāb:

“Among the nations before you there were people who were inspired. If there is anyone like that in my nation, it is ʿUmar.”

It is also reported that “truth was firmly established on his tongue and in his heart.” And he said:

“Had I not been sent among you, ʿUmar would have been sent among you.”

Despite this, he would not bind anyone to his own opinion or rule on public matters; rather, he would consult the Companions and reconsider. At times he would express a view, only to be corrected