consult him just as they consulted his peers. Thus, Umar would consult Uthmān, Ali, Talha, al-Zubayr, Abd al-Rahmān ibn Awf, Ibn Masūd, Zayd ibn Thābit, Abū Mūsā, and others concerning affairs. Ibn Abbās would even join them despite his young age.
This was among the things Allah commanded the believers to do and for which He praised them in His words:
“and whose affairs are settled by mutual consultation”
[Surah al-Shūrā: 38].
Accordingly, Umar’s judgment, rulings, and governance were among the soundest; no one like him was [ever] (1) seen after him. Nor did Islam become as manifest, widespread, and mighty as it did in his time. It was he who shattered Khosrow, brought Caesar low, and subdued the Romans and Persians. His chief commander over the Syrian army was Abū Ubayda, and over the Iraqi army, Sad ibn Abī Waqqās. After Abū Bakr, no one had lieutenants and deputies, governors and troops, or councilors comparable to Umar’s.
His statement, “I know the paths of heaven better than the paths of earth,” is false—no rational person would say such a thing. No Companion or Successor ever ascended bodily to heaven. People have debated whether the Prophet’s Ascension—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—occurred in body or in spirit. Although most hold that he ascended bodily, the early generations never disputed that no one other than the Prophet—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—ascended bodily.
Anyone among those who go to extremes who believes this about any religious shaykh or member of the Prophet’s Household is one of the misguided. Such a person belongs to the same category as those extremists who believe one of these figures to possess prophethood, something superior to prophethood, or divinity.