and by al-Bayhaqi (4/209–210), who said: “Buraidah ibn Sufyan ibn Farwah al-Aslami narrated to me from his father, Sufyan, from him, with this report.” It includes mention of the two ʿUmars.

However, there is unanimous agreement that this Buraidah is weak. Indeed, al-Daraqutni said: “Abandoned.” Ibn ʿAdi said: “His hadith is extremely rejected.” Ibn Hibban alone listed him among the trustworthy narrators, but no weight is to be given to that. The chains and routes already mentioned render this report unnecessary, especially the route of Buraidah ibn al-Husayb, for it is the most authentic of them. It confirms that the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, first sent Abu Bakr, but he did not achieve the conquest; then he sent Umar, but he likewise did not achieve the conquest; after which the conquest came at the hands of Ali—a distinction Allah granted him over the two of them. May Allah be pleased with them all.

Yet the statement concerning Umar’s being accused of cowardice still requires examination, for I am not convinced that it is established in the hadith: first, because it does not occur in the authentic route or in the others; and second, because there is no reliable corroborating evidence for it—unless the narration of Abu Maryam al-Hanafi proves authentic, concerning which I have already stated my view. And Allah knows best.

If it is asked: Does this not gain strength from what al-Hakim recorded (3/38) through the route of al-Qasim ibn Abi Shaybah: Yahya ibn Yaʿla narrated to us; Maʿqil ibn ʿUbayd Allah narrated to us, from Abu al-Zubayr, from Jabir:

“The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, gave the banner to Umar on the day of Khaybar. He set out, but then returned, accusing his companions of cowardice, while they accused him of cowardice.”

Al-Hakim said: “Authentic according to Muslim’s conditions!”