disobeys me—You are indeed Forgiving, Merciful.” And that of Jesus son of Mary, when he said:

“If You punish them, they are Your servants; but if You forgive them, You are indeed the Almighty, the All-Wise.”

Your likeness, ‘Umar, is that of Noah, peace be upon him, when he said:

“My Lord, do not leave a single disbeliever on the earth.”

And that of Moses son of ‘Imrān, when he said:

“Our Lord, obliterate their wealth and harden their hearts, so that they will not believe until they see the painful punishment.”’”

Throughout the Prophet’s lifetime, peace and blessings be upon him, the two were as the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, had described them. They were his two ministers from among the people of the earth. It is established in the Sahīh, on the authority of Ibn ‘Abbās, may Allah be pleased with them both:

“When the bier of ‘Umar ibn al-Khattāb, may Allah be pleased with him, was set down and people came to offer the funeral prayer over him, Ibn ‘Abbās said: ‘I turned around and there was ‘Alī ibn Abī Tālib, may Allah be pleased with him. He said: “By Allah, there is no one on the face of the earth whose deeds I would rather meet Allah Most High with than those of this deceased man. By Allah, I hope that Allah will gather you with your two companions, for I often heard the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, say: ‘I entered with Abū Bakr and ‘Umar; I went out with Abū Bakr and ‘Umar; and I went with Abū Bakr and ‘Umar.’”’”

It is also established in the Sahīh:

“On the day of Uhud, most of the Muslims fled. Then there was Abū Sufyān—and the people were the object sought (1)—when he said: ‘Is Muhammad among the people? Is Muhammad among the people? Is Muhammad among the people?’

The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said: ‘Do not answer him.’ Then he said: ‘Is there among