[Commentary]
The author—may Allah have mercy on him—narrates from Hudhayfah ibn al-Yamān, may Allah be pleased with him, that he said: “The Messenger of Allah ﷺ told us two reports; I have witnessed one of them and I am waiting for the other.” The Prophet ﷺ would at times address his Companions with whatever he deemed suitable, and whenever he spoke on a matter it remained guidance for him and for the entire community until the Day of Resurrection.

Hudhayfah ibn al-Yamān, may Allah be pleased with him, was called “the Keeper of the Secret,” for the Prophet ﷺ confided in him the names of a group of hypocrites—about thirteen men—whom he identified one by one.

ʿUmar ibn al-Khattāb, may Allah be pleased with him, out of his profound fear of Allah, would meet Hudhayfah and say, “I implore you by Allah: did the Messenger of Allah ﷺ include my name among those he listed as hypocrites?” This was ʿUmar ibn al-Khattāb—the best of this ummah after its Prophet and after Abū Bakr, may Allah be pleased with them all. He is the second greatest person in the community after the Messenger ﷺ, renowned for his firm certainty and lofty spiritual ranks. The Prophet ﷺ even said, “If there are any divinely-guided ones (muhaddathūn) among you, it is ʿUmar,” meaning: if anyone is inspired to reach the right decision, it is ʿUmar. Thus the Prophet praised and commended him for his consistent conformity with the truth. ʿUmar’s faith is well known and celebrated, yet despite that he would ask, “I implore you by Allah—did the Messenger of Allah name me among the hypocrites?” Hudhayfah would reply, “No—and after you I will not vouch for anyone.”