Hayatus Sahabah - The Lives of the Sahabah - Part 3

THE LIVES OF THE S M A H @,%@&j' (Vol-3) 565
said to them, "Do you not see Allaah's punishment? Accept what they are inviting
you towards.. ." The narration still continues further.
Their Voices reaching Far Distant Places
Hadhrat Umar ~,~I;u,32's Voice Reaches Far into the
Distance and is Heard by Hadhrat Saariyah SWb=
Hadhrat Abdullaah bin Umar ~,EWj reports that when Hadhrat Umar s%w
once dispatched an army, he appointed someone by the name of Hadhrat
Saariyah W3i!G as its commander. Hadhrat Umar ?%3&% was one day delivering
a lecture when he suddenly called out, "The mountain, 0 Saariyah, the
mountain!" This he called out three times. When a messenger from the same
later arrived (in Madinah), Hadhrat Umar %WM asked him for a report. He said,
"0 Ameerul Mu'mineen! We were being defeated when we suddenly heard a voice
thrice calling out, "The mountain, 0 Saariyah, the mountain!" We then put our
backs towards the mountain, as a result of which Allaah defeated the enemy."
Someone then said to Hadhrat Umar %W!G, "It was you who shouted out that
command."(2)
In another narration, Hadhrat Abdullaah bin Umar BBE reports that while
Hadhrat Umar %%W+j was delivering a sermon, he suddenly called out, "The
mountain, 0 Saariyah, the mountain! The one who makes a wolf the shepherd of
a flock has truly committed a grave injustice." The people looked at each other in
surprise, but Hadhrat Ali !Z%W& assured them that Hadhrat Umar B%@ will
surely have an explanation for what he had said. When they questioned Hadhrat
Umar W,Ew after he had completed, he explained, "The vision flashed through
my mind that the ~ushrikee'n would defeat our brothers who were then passing
by a mountain. If they turned towards the mountain (placing it at their backs),
they would have to fight from one direction only (allowing them to win a victory).
However, if they passed by the mountain, they would be destroyed (because they
would have to fight the enemy from the direction of the mountain as well). What
you claim to have heard me say is my response to that situation."
A month later, someone (from the Muslim army) came with the good news that
they had heard Hadhrat Umar wWj'~ voice that day, because of which they
turned towards the mountain and were granted a victory by Allaah. (3)
Another narration states that the people asked Hadhrat Ali @,Gm, "Did you hear
Umar @Gw say, '0 Saariyah!' while he was delivering the lecture on the pulpit?"
"Shame on you people!" Hadhrat Ali @,Gw said, "Leave Umar alone because he
always has a valid explanation for anything he does." (4)
(I) lbn Jareer (Vo1.3 Pg.97).
(2) Bayhaqi, Laalkaa'i in Sharhus Sunnah, Zain Aaqooli in his Fawaa'id and lbnul A'raabi in h~s
Karaamaatul Awliyaa, as quoted by Harmala in his Jam'u.
(3) Ibn Mardway, as quoted in Isaabah (Vol.2 Pg.3). Abu Nu'aym In his Dalaa'il (Pg.210) and Abu Abdur
Rahmaan Sulamiin his Arba'een have reported a similar narration.
(4) Khateeb and Ibn Asaakir, as quoted in Muntakhab Kanzul Ummaal (Vol.4 Pg.386). Allaama Ibn
Katheer has commented on the authenticity of the narration in his A1 Bidaayah wan Nihaayah
(Vo1.7 Pg.131).