Explanation of the Book: The Beginning of Revelation, Faith, and Knowledge-09b

The reciter: Sa'id ibn 'Ufayr narrated to us, saying: Al-Layth narrated to me, saying: 'Aqil narrated to me from Ibn Shihab from Hamzah ibn 'Abd Allah ibn 'Umar that Ibn 'Umar said: I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) say: .

The Shaykh : This says: . The word "between" here is connected to "I was brought," because "between" is a known adverb of place, though it can be used for time by extension. "And I was sleeping" is a nominal sentence. "I was brought," and it is not specified who brought it, but it is known that the one who brings dreams is an angel, an angel who brings these things. He says , meaning his entire skin was filled, until it began to come out from his fingernails. The connection between the two, namely knowledge and milk, is that the nourishment in both is accompanied by sweetness, ease of digestion, and strength of the body through it.
And his saying "knowledge" contains evidence of the breadth of 'Umar ibn al-Khattab's (may Allah be pleased with him) knowledge and his virtue. But if 'Umar ibn al-Khattab was given the surplus of knowledge by the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), then Abu Bakr was more knowledgeable than 'Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him), as is well known among the Companions. He was the most knowledgeable of them regarding the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), and also the most knowledgeable regarding the Shari'ah. Evidence for this is that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), at the end of his life, delivered a sermon and said: . He said it this way, so Abu Bakr wept, and no one else wept. They were amazed at his weeping, for it turned out that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) was the one being given the choice, and Abu Bakr was the most knowledgeable of them regarding the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) because he knew that he was the one being given the choice, while the Companions did not know that. And whoever traces the events that occurred between 'Umar ibn al-Khattab and Abu Bakr will see the virtue of Abu Bakr over 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both). So what happened from 'Umar at the Treaty of Hudaybiyyah? There was a dispute and an argument with the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), and the Prophet's answer to 'Umar was the same as his answer to Abu Bakr, exactly the same. Because when 'Umar spoke to the Messenger (may the prayers and peace be upon him) with what he spoke with and lost hope, he went to Abu Bakr and asked him, questioning him just as the Prophet had questioned him, so he answered him with the same answer as the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), and he advised him, saying: "He is upon the truth, so hold fast to your firm stance." This is one instance. The second is in the story of the death of the Messenger (may the prayers and peace be upon him). It was rumored that the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) had died, and he had indeed truly died, so 'Umar denied it and said: "By Allah, Allah will surely resurrect him, and I will surely cut off the hands and feet of some people," and he said it is not possible that he has died. And Abu Bakr had gone out to a place outside the city called al-Sunh, because the Messenger (may the prayers and peace be upon him) on the day he died was in the best of health, healthier than the days before. So when he passed away (may the prayers and peace be upon him), they went to Abu Bakr and informed him. So he came and found the Messenger (may the prayers and peace be upon him) lying down, covered, so he uncovered his face and kissed him and knew that he had died. He said to him: "My father and mother be your sacrifice, O Messenger of Allah. By Allah, Allah will not gather two deaths upon you. As for the first death, you have already died it." Then he covered him and went out to the people who were in the mosque, terrified, almost trampling each other from the agitation. And 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with them) was among them, preaching to them and denying his death. So he said to him: "Be calm, sit down." Then he ascended the pulpit and said his famous, astonishing words. He said: "As for what follows, O people: Whoever used to worship Muhammad, then Muhammad has died. And whoever used to worship Allah, then Allah is alive and does not die." "Glorified and Exalted is He, then he recited the saying of Allah the Exalted:

Muhammad is not but a messenger. [Other] messengers have passed on before him. So if he was to die or be killed, would you turn back on your heels

وما محمد إلا رسول قد خلت من قبل الرسل أفإن مات أو قتل انقلبتم على أعقابكم

[Ali 'Imran 3:144]

and he recited:

Indeed, you are to die, and indeed, they are to die.

إنك ميت وإنهم ميتون

[Az-Zumar 39:30]

. 'Umar said, meaning: So I knew that he had died until I fell, and my legs did not support me." He fell to the ground, unable... because he knew that it was the truth. And I testify, and you also, that the greatest of people in grief over him is
The student: Abu Bakr

The Shaykh : Abu Bakr, more severe than 'Umar, but due to his steadfastness (may Allah be pleased with him) in times of hardship, what happened did happen. Also, the fourth place: when the Messenger (may the prayers and peace be upon him) passed away, and Asama ibn Zayd (may Allah be pleased with him) had been dispatched by the Messenger (may the prayers and peace be upon him) to fight those who killed his father, Zayd ibn Harithah, and Ja'far ibn Abi Talib, and 'Abd Allah ibn Rawahah. This army had been sent out of the city, and he resolved to send them, and the Companions consulted him about it, including 'Umar. He said: "How can you send them to fight there in the outskirts of Sham while the people have apostatized here in the Arabian Peninsula?" He said: "By Allah the Exalted, he said: By Allah, I will not lower a banner that the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) raised." And he resolved to proceed. And among the army were he and 'Umar. Who was leading them?
The student: Asama

The Shaykh : Asama was younger than them and of less status than them, but they were men who obey the command of Allah and His Messenger. What do you think if a captain were brought and told to go under the command of a soldier? Would he obey or not?

The Shaykh : No, absolutely not. Even if the sword were placed on his head, he would not obey. He did not obey. But these are the best of the nations after the prophets, Abu Bakr and 'Umar, and yet they were under the command of this young man. But who placed them under his command?
The student: The Messenger.

The Shaykh : The Messenger (may the prayers and peace be upon him). They said: "We hear and obey," but they asked Asama for permission to remain in the city.