of what he had done, even though ‘Umar—may Allah be pleased with him—was an inspired man, as stated in the authentic hadith in which the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

“Among the nations before you there were inspired men. If there is anyone like that in my community, it is ‘Umar.”

He—may Allah be pleased with him—was indeed an inspired man, upon whose tongue and heart Allah had established the truth. Yet the distinction of affirming the truth, with its more complete following of the Messenger and fuller knowledge of and faith in what he brought, is of a higher rank than this.

For this reason, al-Siddīq (the steadfast affirmer of truth), devoted to following the prophetic traditions, was the best of this community. He was a teacher to ‘Umar and a guide to the inspired individual among them who receives inspiration and communication from his Lord. Thus Abū Bakr taught and guided ‘Umar when he asked him:

“Did he tell you that you would enter it this year?”

He replied, “No.”

He said, “You will indeed come to it and circumambulate it.”

Al-Siddīq thus explained to him that the Prophet’s promise—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—was unrestricted, not tied to any particular time. His efforts and intention to enter that year did not necessarily mean that this was what his announcement referred to. He might intend something that does not happen, while something else happens instead. It is not a requirement of prophethood that events unfold as he intends. Rather, part of the fullness of his Lord’s favor upon him is that He restrains him from what he intends and directs him toward something else more beneficial than what he intended. Thus, the Treaty of al-Hudaybiyya was more beneficial to the believers than their entering that year. This is unlike what the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—reports: it is true, and what he reports must necessarily occur and be fulfilled.