327 — “If there were to be a prophet after me, it would be Umar.”

It was narrated by al-Tirmidhi (2/293), who graded it good; al-Hakim (3/85), who authenticated it; Ahmad (4/154); al-Ruyani in his Musnad (50/1); al-Tabarani, as cited in al-Muntaqa min Hadithihi (4/7/2); Abu Bakr al-Najjad in al-Fawa'id al-Muntaqah (17/1–2); Ibn Sam'un in al-Amali (172/2); Abu Bakr al-Qati'i in al-Fawa'id al-Muntaqah (4/7/2); al-Khatib in al-Mudih (2/226); and Ibn Asakir (3/210/2), through Abu Abd al-Rahman al-Muqri', who said: Haywah informed us, from Bakr ibn Amr, from Mishrah ibn Ha'an, from Uqbah ibn Amir, who attributed it to the Prophet—peace and blessings be upon him.

Al-Najjad then narrated it through Ibn Lahi'ah, from Mishrah, with the same report.

I say: This is a good chain; all its narrators are trustworthy. There has been some criticism of Mishrah, but his reports do not fall below the rank of good, and Ibn Ma'in declared him trustworthy.

It has two supporting reports. One is from Ismah, narrated by al-Tabarani, and it includes al-Fadl ibn al-Mukhtar, who is weak. The other is from Abu Sa'id al-Khudri, narrated by al-Tabarani in al-Awsat. Al-Haythami said (9/68):

“It includes Abd al-Mun'im ibn Bashir, who is weak.”

328 — “Why is it that some men have heard of a matter in which I availed myself of a concession, yet disapproved of it and kept themselves aloof from it? By Allah, I am more knowledgeable of Allah than they are and more fearful of Him.”

Muslim (7/90) and Ahmad (6/45, 181) narrated it from Aishah—may Allah be pleased with her—who said: “The Messenger of Allah—peace and blessings be upon him—did something in which he availed himself of a concession. It reached some of his Companions, and it was as though they