363 - 'Abd al-Malik reported to us, saying: Abu 'Amr Shababah al-Mada'ini narrated to us, saying: al-Furat ibn al-Sa'ib narrated to us, from Maymun ibn Mihran, who said: I met Ibn 'Umar in Medina and said: I would love to know how the killing of 'Umar took place. He said: Then I shall inform you. Abu Lu'lu'ah, a slave of al-Mughirah ibn Shu'bah, came to him complaining about the tribute al-Mughirah was imposing upon him. He asked: "How much do you owe?" He replied: "Four dirhams a month." He asked: "And what is your profession?" He replied: "I make these handmills." He promised him he would speak to his master. He [the slave] left, threatening him. [Later] he asked: "What is the slave saying?" They replied: "He is a fool." Then he sent word to al-Mughirah, saying: "Fear Allah regarding what you have been entrusted with, and lighten the burden on your servant." He intended reconciliation between them. The wicked man went out and made a double-headed dagger with its handle in the middle. He entered the mosque at the dawn prayer, while 'Umar—may Allah have mercy on him—was with his lash, commanding the people to straighten the rows. He would say: "Align your shoulders; do not differ, lest your hearts differ." He stabbed him nine times. 'Umar—may Allah have mercy on him—said: "Seize the dog, for he has killed me." The people rushed toward him, but no one approached him without him striking out at him with his blade. That day he stabbed thirteen people; six of them died in the mosque, may Allah have mercy on them. 'Umar—may Allah have mercy on him—was carried and taken to his house. The sun was about to rise and they had not yet prayed the dawn prayer, so he nudged 'Abd al-Rahman ibn 'Awf from behind, and he recited "Say, He is Allah, [who is] One" and "When the victory of Allah has come and the conquest" in haste due to the sun. Then the people flocked to 'Umar's residence, may Allah have mercy on him. He said to me: "O my son, go out to the people and greet them with peace and the mercy of Allah, and ask them if this was [done by] a group among them." I went out to them and mentioned that to them. They said: "Allah forbid! Far be it from Allah! By Allah, we wish we could have ransomed him with our fathers and our sons. By Allah, no day has ever passed us since the death of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) greater than this day." Then he said to Ibn 'Abbas: "Ask the people: Do they confirm a killer for me?" He said: "Yes, the smith of al-Mughirah ibn Shu'bah has killed you." He praised Allah the Almighty, saying that he did not have any right [to claim against him] regarding the Fai', for his blood was only made lawful by that which he deemed lawful of those present, without his consultation. The first to enter upon him were 'Ali and Ibn 'Abbas. When Ibn 'Abbas saw him, he wept. He said: "Rejoice, O Commander of the Faithful, with Paradise." He asked: "Do you testify to that for me?" He said: [He hesitated]. 'Ali ibn Abi Talib—may Allah have mercy on him—struck his shoulder and said: "Yes, so testify, and I am among the witnesses to that." 'Umar asked: "How?" Ibn 'Abbas said: "Your Islam was an honor, your rule was justice, and your death is martyrdom." He said: "No, by Allah, do not deceive me regarding my Lord and my religion. May 'Umar's mother be bereaved of him if his Lord does not have mercy on him." Then he said, with his head in my lap: "Place my head on the ground." I said: "It is difficult for you to lower it." He said: "Place it down, may your mother be bereaved of you." When I placed it down, he said: "Go to my mother 'Aishah—may Allah have mercy on her—and ask her to allow me [to be buried] in her resting place which she prepared between her husband and her father. If she does so, then bury me in her place, otherwise, take me to al-Baqi'." I went out until I reached the residence of 'Aishah, and I knocked on the door. She said: "Who is this?" I said: "This is 'Abd Allah, your son." She welcomed me and said: "What brings you?" I said: "I left 'Umar struggling in death, and he sends you peace and the mercy of Allah, and asks you to allow him [to be buried in] your resting place which you prepared between the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) and Abu Bakr—may Allah have mercy on him." She asked: "What has afflicted him?" I said: "The smith of al-Mughirah ibn Shu'bah stabbed him." She said: "My friend, meaning the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), was truthful to me; he had informed me that his death would be martyrdom. It is pleasant and wholesome. By Allah, I did not want anyone else to enter between them, but since he has preceded me to the Hereafter, I have no reason to refuse him. Say: Yes, and may his eyes be refreshed." When I returned to him, he asked: "What news?" I said: "She has consented." He said: "May Allah reward her well in life and in death. If I pass away, ask her permission a second time; if it is confirmed, [bury me there], otherwise take me to al-Baqi'." Then those around him said to him: "Appoint a successor for us whom you are pleased with." He said: "I do not wish to bear the burden of it alive and dead." He said: "The Muslims are pleased with 'Abd Allah ibn 'Umar." He said: "It is enough for the family of al-Khattab that one of them is held accountable for the affairs [of the people]." When they looked at him, they said: "Are you leaving us in a state where some of us are over others, and you do not advise us?" He said: "If you want me to advise you, I will." They said: "We do want that." He said: "The heads of Quraysh who are fit for the Caliphate, along with those I heard the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) mention as being from the people of Paradise, are seven men. Among them is Sa'id ibn Zayd ibn 'Amr ibn Nufayl, who is one of my relatives, and I am not including him among them. The six chosen ones are 'Uthman and 'Ali, the two sons of 'Abd Manaf, 'Abd al-Rahman ibn 'Awf, Sa'd, the maternal uncle of the Messenger, Talhah, and al-Zubayr. Suhayb shall lead the people in prayer, and bring 'Abd Allah ibn 'Umar. If five agree and one refuses, strike his neck."