Reading a research paper on the hadith of Anas regarding 'Umar ibn 'Abd al-'Aziz delaying the prayer
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The reader: In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and may Allah send prayers and blessings upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and his Companions. And after that:
The brother Tariq said: "In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and may prayers and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah. And after that: In the hadith of Abu Umamah, which is his saying:Sahih al-Bukhari 549 It may appear from this hadith that the delaying of the prayer occurred during the caliphate of 'Umar ibn 'Abd al-'Aziz, even though Anas ibn Malik had passed away before his caliphate. Therefore, my shaykh (may Allah preserve him) tasked me with clarifying the date of the caliphate of 'Umar ibn 'Abd al-'Aziz and the date of the death of Anas ibn Malik. Ibn Kathir spoke about this in *Al-Bidaya wa al-Nihaya*, Volume Five. I am quoting phrases from it, not in order, which resolve the issue of the hadith. He mentioned that historians differed regarding the year of Anas ibn Malik's death; it was said to be 90 AH, or 91 AH, or 93 AH, which is the famous view held by the majority. As for the beginning of the caliphate of 'Umar ibn 'Abd al-'Aziz, it was in the month of Safar of the year 99 AH, and he died in the year 101 or 102 AH. His caliphate lasted two years and four months, or two and a half years. However, before his caliphate, he was the governor of Madinah, Makkah, and al-Ta'if from the year 86 AH to the year 93 AH. Also mentioned in his discussion of the custom of the Umayyad caliphs in delaying the prayer, he made an exception, saying: 'Except for 'Umar ibn 'Abd al-'Aziz during his caliphate.'"
The Shaykh : The matter became one of his governorship, when he was the governor of the Hijaz, Madinah, Makkah, and al-Ta'if. It seems that he (may Allah be pleased with him) saw that he should not break the practice of the caliphs out of consideration for them. For this reason, when the authority came to him, he hastened the prayer. From this, it is understood that the Salaf (may Allah have mercy on them) viewed the contradiction of those in authority with a cautious perspective, and they did not see it as permissible to contradict those in authority, even if they chose the lesser of two good options over the greater, because discord is evil. For this reason, the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) criticized Uthman ibn Affan for completing the prayer in Mina, even though he had spent six or eight years in his caliphate shortening the prayer. Then he began to complete it, so they criticized him. They would pray behind him and pray four rak'ahs so that there would be no... what? Contradiction, even though they undoubtedly held that shortening the prayer was either obligatory or a recommended practice (sunnah) that should not be left. For this reason, when Abdullah ibn Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) heard that Uthman had completed the prayer, he said, "Indeed, to Allah we belong and to Him we return," and he began to pray with him. He was asked, "O Abu 'Abd al-Rahman, how is this?" He said: "Indeed, discord is evil". This is truly a matter that fills hearts with what causes enmity and hatred. This has a great status in the Islamic Shari'ah. Therefore, you will find that Allah, through the tongue of His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), has forbidden everything that incites hostility and hatred, such as buying over the purchase of a Muslim, or buying over his purchase, or bidding over his bid, or proposing over his proposal, and the like thereof. We ask Allah to unite hearts upon His obedience. Tonight, is it Muslim or al-Bukhari?
The brother Tariq said: "In the name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful. Praise be to Allah, Lord of the worlds, and may prayers and blessings be upon the Messenger of Allah. And after that: In the hadith of Abu Umamah, which is his saying:
We prayed the Zuhr prayer with `Umar bin `Abdul `Aziz and then went to Anas bin Malik and found him offering the `Asr prayer. I asked him, "O uncle! Which prayer have you offered?" He said 'The `Asr and this is (the time of) the prayer of Allah s Apostle which we used to pray with him."
صلينا مع عمر بن عبد العزيز الظهر ثم خرجنا حتى دخلنا على أنس بن مالك فوجدناه يصلي العصر فقلت يا عم ما هذه الصلاة التي صليت؟ قال العصر، وهذه صلاة رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم التي كنا نصلي معهThe Shaykh : The matter became one of his governorship, when he was the governor of the Hijaz, Madinah, Makkah, and al-Ta'if. It seems that he (may Allah be pleased with him) saw that he should not break the practice of the caliphs out of consideration for them. For this reason, when the authority came to him, he hastened the prayer. From this, it is understood that the Salaf (may Allah have mercy on them) viewed the contradiction of those in authority with a cautious perspective, and they did not see it as permissible to contradict those in authority, even if they chose the lesser of two good options over the greater, because discord is evil. For this reason, the Companions (may Allah be pleased with them) criticized Uthman ibn Affan for completing the prayer in Mina, even though he had spent six or eight years in his caliphate shortening the prayer. Then he began to complete it, so they criticized him. They would pray behind him and pray four rak'ahs so that there would be no... what? Contradiction, even though they undoubtedly held that shortening the prayer was either obligatory or a recommended practice (sunnah) that should not be left. For this reason, when Abdullah ibn Mas'ud (may Allah be pleased with him) heard that Uthman had completed the prayer, he said, "Indeed, to Allah we belong and to Him we return," and he began to pray with him. He was asked, "O Abu 'Abd al-Rahman, how is this?" He said: "Indeed, discord is evil". This is truly a matter that fills hearts with what causes enmity and hatred. This has a great status in the Islamic Shari'ah. Therefore, you will find that Allah, through the tongue of His Messenger (peace and blessings be upon him), has forbidden everything that incites hostility and hatred, such as buying over the purchase of a Muslim, or buying over his purchase, or bidding over his bid, or proposing over his proposal, and the like thereof. We ask Allah to unite hearts upon His obedience. Tonight, is it Muslim or al-Bukhari?