Abdullah ibn Masud also said:
“If Umar’s knowledge were placed in one pan of a balance and the knowledge of all the people on earth in the other, his knowledge would outweigh theirs.”
He also said when Umar died:
“I believe this man has taken nine-tenths of knowledge with him. Indeed, I believe that nine-tenths of knowledge departed with Umar on the day he was struck down.”(1)
Mujāhid said:
“When people differ over something, consider what Umar did and follow his judgment.”(2)
Abu Uthmān al-Nahdī said:
“Umar was indeed a balance: he did not say this, nor did he say that.”(3)
These reports—and many times as many—are recorded with established chains of transmission in the works composed on this subject. They are not among the reports of liars, and the extant books containing these reports with established chains of transmission are exceedingly numerous.
(1) Al-Haythamī cited both reports in *Majma al-Zawāid*, 9/69, from Abdullah ibn Masūd—may Allah be pleased with him—with the following wording: “If Umar’s knowledge were placed in one pan of the balance and the knowledge of all the people on earth in the other, his knowledge would outweigh theirs.” Wakī said: “Al-Amash said: ‘I objected to this, so I went to Ibrāhīm and mentioned it to him. He replied: “Why do you object to it? By Allah, Abdullah made an even greater statement than that. He said: ‘I believe that nine-tenths of knowledge departed on the day Umar departed.’”’” Al-Haythamī said: “Al-Tabarānī narrated it through several chains. The transmitters in this chain are transmitters of the *Sahīh*, except Asad ibn Mūsā, who is trustworthy.” Ibn al-Jawzī also cited the report at length in *Tārīkh Umar ibn al-Khattāb*, p. 214.
(2) The report appears in *Fadāil al-Sahāba*, 1/264, no. 342. It begins: “When they differ…” The editor stated: “Its chain is authentic.”
(3) The report appears in *Fadāil al-Sahāba*, 1/259, no. 332; the editor stated: “Its chain is authentic.” A report with the same meaning also appears as no. 47, and its chain is likewise authentic.