643 - ‘Abd Allah ibn Ahmad informed us that he heard his father [Ahmad ibn Hanbal] say regarding this issue: "The Companions of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings of Allah be upon him, were with him [‘Umar] and used to call him Commander of the Believers (Amir al-Mu'minin). He established the prescribed punishments (hudud), performed stoning (rajm), and led the people in Hajj. Furthermore, no one faulted him for his just division [of wealth], and he followed the truth in everything that those who preceded him were upon." I said to my father: "Some people say: 'He is not a Caliph.'" He replied: "This is an evil, vile statement. He performed Hajj, implemented the cutting of the hand for theft, performed stoning, and the Companions of the Messenger of Allah used to say to him: 'O Commander of the Believers.' How could he be anything other than a Caliph?" I said to my father: "What about the one who uses as an argument the narration of ‘Ubaydah, that he said to ‘Ali: 'Your opinion regarding unity is more beloved to me than your opinion regarding division'—or words to this effect?" My father said: "I see that he only referred to him as Commander of the Believers in that instance to humble himself. His statement, 'A trial has befallen us,' was an expression of his humility."