Umar raising his voice in the presence of the Prophet(SAWA) and disrespecting him

Allah warned those who raised their voices in the presence of the prophet and those who speak aloud to him. A well-behaved companion will not raise his voice in the presence of the prophet, he will not speak loud to the prophet and will ask the permission of the prophet before giving his point of view regarding a matter.

This event occurred few months before the demise of the prophet. This means that the two caliphs knew well how they should behave in the presence of the prophet. With all their misdeeds, I still don't understand why Abu Bakr is known as al-Siddiq (the truthful) and Umar ibn al-Khattab as al-Farrouq (the distinguisher). It just does not make sense that it was the prophet's idea. Certainly, an Umayyad addition!

This sign of disrespect also occured 3 days before the demise of the prophet (s), an incident known as the Calamity of Thursday. Umar and his followers raised their voices in desagreement when the prophet asked them to bring him some writing tools so he can write them something that will never lead them astray. Their desagreement was so loud that the prophet expelled them from the room.

Quran 49:1-3
O Ye who believe! Put not yourselves forward before Allah and His Messenger; but fear Allah: for Allah is He Who hears and knows all things. O ye who believe! Raise not your voices above the voice of the Prophet, nor speak aloud to him in talk, as ye may speak aloud to one another, lest your deeds become vain and ye perceive not. Those that lower their voices in the presence of Allah's Messenger,- their hearts has Allah tested for piety: for them is Forgiveness and a great Reward.

بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمنِ الرَّحِيمِ - ِ يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا تُقَدِّمُوا بَيْنَ يَدَيِ اللَّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ وَاتَّقُوا اللَّهَ إِنَّ اللَّهَ سَمِيعٌ عَلِيمٌ - يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا لَا تَرْفَعُوا أَصْوَاتَكُمْ فَوْقَ صَوْتِ النَّبِيِّ وَلَا تَجْهَرُوا لَهُ بِالْقَوْلِ كَجَهْرِ بَعْضِكُمْ لِبَعْضٍ أَن تَحْبَطَ أَعْمَالُكُمْ وَأَنتُمْ لَا تَشْعُرُونَ - إِنَّ الَّذِينَ يَغُضُّونَ أَصْوَاتَهُمْ عِندَ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ أُوْلَئِكَ الَّذِينَ امْتَحَنَ اللَّهُ قُلُوبَهُمْ لِلتَّقْوَى لَهُم مَّغْفِرَةٌ وَأَجْرٌ عَظِيمٌ

 

Narrated Ibn Abi Mulaika: The two righteous persons were about to be ruined. They were Abu Bakr and 'Umar who raised their voices in the presence of the Prophet when a mission from Bani Tamim came to him. One of the two recommended Al-Aqra' bin Habeas, the brother of Bani Mujashi (to be their governor) while the other recommended somebody else. (Nafi', the sub-narrator said, I do not remember his name). Abu Bakr said to Umar, "You wanted nothing but to oppose me!" 'Umar said, "I did not intend to oppose you." Their voices grew loud in that argument, so Allah revealed: 'O you who believe! Raise not your voices above the voice of the Prophet.' (49.2) Ibn Az-Zubair said, "Since the revelation of this Verse, 'Umar used to speak in such a low tone that the Prophet had to ask him to repeat his statements." But Ibn Az-Zubair did not mention the same about his (maternal) grandfather (i.e. Abu Bakr).

Reference:
    • Sahih Bukhari, Volume 6, Book 60, #368, Book: al-Tafseer; Page 1052, #4845
    • Sahih Bukhari, Volume 9, Book 92, #405, Book: Holding Fast to The Quran and The Sunnah; Page 1534, #7302

 

 

Narrated Abdullah bin Az-Zubair: A group of Bani Tamim came to the Prophet (and requested him to appoint a governor for them). Abu Bakr said, "Appoint Al-Qaqa bin Mabad." Umar said, "Appoint Al-Aqra' bin Habeas." On that Abu Bakr said (to 'Umar). "You did not want but to oppose me!" 'Umar replied "I did not intend to oppose you!" So both of them argued till their voices grew loud. So the following Verse was revealed: 'O you who believe! Be not for ward......' (49.1)

Reference:
    • Sahih Bukhari, Volume 6, Book 60, #370, Book: al-Tafseer; Page 1053, #4847
    • Sahih Bukhari, Volume 5, Book 59, #653, Book: al-Maghaazi; Page 908, #4367

If the next narration is authentic, it clearly shows how Umar admitted his disrespect to the prophet. However, this narration cannot be authentic, because in this case, the prophet would have contradicted the Quran, which is impossible. Allah says:

Quran 9:84
And never offer prayer for any one of them who dies and do not stand by his grave; surely they disbelieve in Allah and His Messenger and they shall die in transgression.

وَلاَ تُصَلِّ عَلَى أَحَدٍ مِّنْهُم مَّاتَ أَبَدًا وَلاَ تَقُمْ عَلَىَ قَبْرِهِ إِنَّهُمْ كَفَرُواْ بِاللّهِ وَرَسُولِهِ وَمَاتُواْ وَهُمْ فَاسِقُونَ

Allah clearly prohibits a believer to offer prayer for those who died hypocrites and unbelievers. It is also reported that this verse was revealed before this event (al Mizan vol. 9 page 385), which is contradicted by this report. The narration says that the prophet offered his prayers to the known hypocrite Abdullah ibn Ubay and Umar was trying to prevent him. Does Umar no better than the messenger? And would the prophet contradict the command of Allah? The other strange thing is that these verses belong to sourat al-tawba and not al-Bara'a. I wonder if this narration is a fabrication.

Narrated Umar bin Al-Khattab: When 'Abdullah bin Ubai bin Salul died, Allah's Apostle was called in order to offer the funeral prayer for him. When Allah's Apostle got up (to offer the prayer) I jumped towards him and said, "O Allah's Apostle! Do you offer the prayer for Ibn Ubai although he said so-and-so on such-and-such-a day?" I went on mentioning his sayings. Allah's Apostle smiled and said, "Keep away from me, O 'Umar!" But when I spoke too much to him, he said, "I have been given the choice, and I have chosen (this) ; and if I knew that if I asked forgiveness for him more than seventy times, he would be forgiven, I would ask it for more times than that." So Allah's Apostle offered the funeral prayer for him and then left, but he did not stay long before the two Verses of Surat-Bara'a were revealed, i.e.:-- 'And never (O Muhammad) pray for anyone of them that dies.... and died in a state of rebellion.' (9.84) Later I was astonished at my daring to speak like that to Allah's Apostle and Allah and His Apostle know best.

Reference:
    • Sahih Bukhari, Volume 6, Book 60, #193, Book: al-Tafseer; Page 1053, #4847  

 

The disrespect of Umar and ill-mannered attitude of Umar did not stop there. He is the companion who accused the prophet of being delirious when the latter wanted to write them a document that will protect the nation of Muhammad from ever going astray. 

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