Is 'Umar ibn 'Abd al-'Aziz considered one of the Rightly Guided Caliphs, and is his Sunnah followed or not?
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The questioner : Your Eminence, is 'Umar ibn 'Abd al-'Aziz considered one of the Rightly Guided Caliphs, and is his Sunnah followed?
The Shaykh : Yes, some scholars consider him one of the Rightly Guided Caliphs. However, this is with regard to his conduct (may Allah have mercy on him); he is not considered in his speech and guidance like the four Caliphs, because the four Caliphs were Companions, and the speech of a Companion is a proof, especially these four. As for him, his speech is considered like the speech of the great Tabi'un. But in his conduct and guidance, there is no doubt that he was eager to follow the Sunnah of the Rightly Guided Caliphs.
The Shaykh : Yes, some scholars consider him one of the Rightly Guided Caliphs. However, this is with regard to his conduct (may Allah have mercy on him); he is not considered in his speech and guidance like the four Caliphs, because the four Caliphs were Companions, and the speech of a Companion is a proof, especially these four. As for him, his speech is considered like the speech of the great Tabi'un. But in his conduct and guidance, there is no doubt that he was eager to follow the Sunnah of the Rightly Guided Caliphs.