By Faisal Al-Zamel

Presenter: I once heard you talking about `Umar ibn Al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) as he was distributing clothes to the people of Medina.

Mr. Faisal Al-Zamel: Yes, that is true. It is also narrated that he did not find among those clothes anything befitting of Al-Hasan and Al-Husain (may Allah be pleased with them), so he sent to Yemen requesting for two luxurious garments. When they were brought to him, he dressed Al-Hasan and Al-Husain in them, and then said, “Now I am at peace.”

Presenter: This shows their high position in the heart of `Umar (may Allah be pleased with them).

`Umar ibn Al-Khattab deeply honored the Prophet’s household and showed generosity toward them, contrary to claims of hostility.

Mr. Faisal Al-Zamel: I’d like to mention to you a conversation that took place between `Umar and Al-Husain (may Allah be pleased with them) about something. So, `Umar asked him to bring back him the news the next day. When Al-Husain went to him, he found `Abdullah ibn `Umar returning, saying, “`Umar did not allow me to enter upon him because he was busy.” Upon hearing that, Al-Husain returned, and when `Umar saw him later, he asked him why he had not come. Al-Husain told him what he had heard about not allowing his son to enter. So, `Umar said, “Do you think that you are like `Abdullah to me? Does anyone excel you and your household in honor?”

Presenter: I heard that there was estrangement or hostility between `Umar and Lady Fatima (may Allah be pleased with her) or her family.

Mr. Faisal Al-Zamel: Can night and day occur at the same time? How could he say to `Ali (may Allah be pleased with him), “May Allah not keep me in a land where you are not present, O Abu Al-Hasan.” He also said, “Had it not been for `Ali, `Umar would have perished.” ` Umar would not conclude a matter without consulting `Ali. Moreover, he used to put the family of the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him) at the top of the ladder of giving, a system similar to social insurance today. How could it be said afterwards that there was estrangement or enmity between `Umar and them?

Presenter: What about Fadak in Khaybar, a land that belonged to the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings be upon him), and Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him) did not allow it to be inherited by his family?

Mr. Faisal Al-Zamel: We have two points here: First, the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said, “We, Prophets, do not inherit; what we leave behind is charity for the Muslims.” This hadith has been authenticated by all the Rightly Guided Caliphs.

Second, during the time of the Abbasid Caliph, Abu Ja`far Al-Mansur, a man from the descendants of `Ali ibn Abu Talib interrupted him while he was on the pulpit, saying, “Give us our right, O Commander of the Faithful.” He asked, “From whom?” The man replied, “From Abu Bakr. In Fadak Khaybar, he did not inherit it for Fatimah.”

Abu Ja`far then asked: “Did anyone assume power after Abu Bakr and refuse to give you what you asked for?” The man said: “Yes, `Umar ibn Al-Khattab.” Abu Ja`far repeated the question. The man replied: “Yes, `Uthman ibn `Affan.”

Abu Ja`far asked again: “Did anyone assume power after Abu Bakr and refuse to give you what you asked for?” The man fell silent and began looking around the mosque.

Abu Ja`far, who was a ruthless ruler, said to him: “Sit down, for by Allah, there is no god but Him, if it were not my first sermon as Caliph, I would have cut your head.”

If there had been any injustice, Imam `Ali (may Allah be pleased with him), while he was Caliph, would have removed it.

Presenter: What is the reason for this confusing information?

Mr. Faisal Al-Zamel: The first reason is the failure to verify what is said and the tendency to accept it simply because it has been repeated for years and decades. The second reason is that we have neglected logic, assuming that historical sequence settles any argument.

PS: The article is a translated interview from Alanba newspaper with Mr. Faisal Al-Zamel, addressing the misconceptions surrounding `Umar ibn Al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) and his relationship with the household of the Prophet (peace be upon him).