[Response to the Rāfidī polemicist’s remarks concerning Umar’s conduct at the Prophet’s death—may Allah bless him and grant him peace]
As for his statement (1), “The third dispute concerns his death” (2), the response is:
There is no doubt that Umar was initially unaware that he had died. The following day, however, he acknowledged his death and admitted that he had erred in denying it, thus ending the dispute. The wording of the hadith is not as al-Shahrastānī cited it. Rather, the two Sahih collections relate from Ibn Abbās that Abū Bakr came out while Umar was addressing the people. He said, “Sit down, Umar.” Umar refused to sit, so the people turned to Abū Bakr and left Umar.
Abū Bakr then said:
“To proceed: Whoever among you worshipped Muhammad, Muhammad has died; but whoever worships Allah, Allah lives and never dies.”
Allah Most High said:
“Muhammad is only a messenger. Messengers passed away before him. If he dies or is killed, will you turn back on your heels? Whoever turns back on his heels…”—to the end of the verse.
[Surah Āl Imrān: 144]
Ibn Abbās said, “By Allah, it was as though the people had not known that Allah had revealed this verse until Abū Bakr recited it. All the people then took it up (3), and I heard everyone reciting it.”
Ibn al-Musayyib informed me that Umar said, “By Allah, no sooner did I hear Abū Bakr recite it than I was stunned; my legs could no longer support me, and I fell