He then said to the other, “Who taught you to recite it?” He replied, “Umar ibn al-Khattāb.” Ibn Masūd wept until his tears flowed profusely. Then he said, “Recite it as Umar taught you, for he was the best reciter among us of the Book of Allah and the most knowledgeable among us about Allah’s religion.”

Then he said, “Umar was an impregnable fortress [for Islam](1). People entered Islam and did not leave it. When Umar departed, the fortress was breached, leaving a gap that no one after him could close(2). Whenever he took a path, we followed him and found it easy. When the righteous are mentioned, begin with Umar! [Begin with Umar! Begin with Umar!](3)”

Abdullah ibn Ahmad said: My father narrated to us: Hushaym narrated to us: al-Awwām narrated to us, from Mujāhid, who said:

“When people disagree about something, consider what Umar did and follow it.”(4)

Ibn Mahdī related from Hammād ibn Zayd, who said: I heard Khālid al-Hadhdhā say, “We hold that the abrogating ruling among the statements of the Messenger of Allah—peace and blessings of Allah be upon him—is the one acted upon by Umar ibn al-Khattāb—may Allah be pleased with him.”

Ibn Batta related from a report transmitted by Ahmad ibn Yahyā al-Hulwānī: Ubayd ibn Jannād narrated to us: Atā ibn Muslim narrated to us, from Sālih al-Murādī, from Abd Khayr, who said:

“I saw Ali performing the afternoon prayer while the people of Najran stood in two rows before him. When he finished praying, a man gestured