and al-Waqidi, both of whom are liars. One of these routes revolves around Malik, from Nafi’, with similar wording. Ibn Kathir said: “There is some question regarding its authenticity as a narration from Malik.”

Ibn al-Athir narrated it in Usd al-Ghabah (5/65), from Furat ibn al-Sa’ib, from Maymun ibn Mihran, from Ibn Umar, from his father: While Umar was delivering the Friday sermon from the pulpit of the Messenger of Allah, blessings and peace be upon him, it suddenly occurred to him during his sermon that he said: “O Sariyah ibn Hisn, to the mountain, to the mountain! Whoever entrusts his flock to a wolf acts wrongfully.” The people began looking at one another, and Ali said: “By Allah, he will surely explain what he said.” When he had finished his prayer, Ali asked him, “What came to your mind during your sermon?” He said, “What was that?” Ali replied, “Your saying: ‘O Sariyah, to the mountain, to the mountain! Whoever entrusts his flock to a wolf acts wrongfully.’” He said, “Did I say that?” Ali replied, “Yes, and everyone in the mosque heard it.”

He said: “It occurred to me that the polytheists had routed our brothers and were pursuing them at close quarters, and that they were passing by a mountain. If they turned toward it, they would fight whoever they encountered and prevail; but if they passed it by, they would perish. Thus, what you claim to have heard simply came out of me.”

He said: Then, a month later, the bearer of the news of victory arrived and related that, on that day and at that very hour, when they came upon the mountain, they heard a voice resembling Umar’s, saying: “O Sariyah ibn Hisn, to the mountain, to the mountain!” He said: “So we turned toward it, and Allah granted us victory.”

I say: This chain of transmission is extremely weak. As for Furat ibn al-Sa’ib, al-Bukhari said: “His hadith are rejected.” Al-Daraqutni and others said: “He is abandoned.” Ahmad said: “He is close to Muhammad ibn Ziyad al-Tahhan; he is accused of the same things of which that man is accused.” (1)

It is thus clear from what has preceded that none of these routes is authentic except the route of Ibn Ajlan. It contains only Umar’s call, “O Sariyah, to the mountain,” the army’s hearing his call, and its victory as a result.

There is no doubt that this call was merely an inspiration from Allah, Most High, to Umar; and this was not unprecedented in his case, for he was one divinely inspired, as is established from the Prophet, blessings and peace be upon him. Yet it does not indicate that Umar was made aware of the army’s condition or that he saw them with his own eyes. Therefore, some Sufis’ citing it as proof for the mystical unveiling they claim for the righteous allies of Allah, and for the possibility that they can perceive what lies in people’s hearts—