before you men who received inspiration; if there is any such man in my community, it is ‘Umar.” It is also established in the two Sahīh collections that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

“I saw myself being given a cup of milk. I drank until I could see the satisfaction of my thirst flowing from my nails, then I handed what remained to ‘Umar.” They asked, “How did you interpret it, Messenger of Allah?” He replied, “Knowledge.”

It is reported in al-Tirmidhī and elsewhere that he said:

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

Moreover, the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, appointed al-Siddīq to lead the “prayer,” which is the pillar of Islam, and to oversee the “pilgrimage rites,” whose rulings are the most complex among matters of worship. He conducted the pilgrimage rites before the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, himself performed the pilgrimage. He proclaimed that no polytheist was to perform the pilgrimage after that year, and that no one was to circumambulate the House naked. The Prophet then sent ‘Alī ibn Abī Tālib after him to notify the polytheists that their treaty was being terminated. When ‘Alī caught up with him, Abū Bakr asked, “Are you in command, or under orders?” He replied, “Under orders.”

Thus, he placed Abū Bakr in command over ‘Alī ibn Abī Tālib. ‘Alī was among those whom the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, ordered to listen to and obey Abū Bakr concerning the pilgrimage, the rulings governing travellers, and other matters. This occurred after the expedition to Tabūk, during which he had left ‘Alī in charge of Medina. No men remained in Medina except hypocrites, those with valid excuses, or sinners. ‘Alī caught up with him and asked, “Are you leaving me behind with the women and children?” He replied, “Are you not content to stand in relation to me as Aaron stood in relation to Moses?”

By this, he explained that leaving ‘Alī in charge of Medina did not imply any diminution of his standing, for Moses had left Aaron in charge. The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, regularly appointed men to take his place, but on those occasions other men remained there. In the year of Tabūk, however, the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, set out with all the Muslims and permitted no one to remain behind rather than join the expedition, because the enemy was formidable and the journey was