Abdullah ibn Umar

Introduction

Abdullah ibn Umar was the son of the second caliph, Umar ibn al-Khattab, and the brother of Hafsa, the Prophet's wife. He grew up in the house of the Prophet's closest Companions and was present for much of the Prophet's life as a young man. He is counted among the most prolific narrators of hadith and was known above all for his meticulous following of the Prophet's actions, even in small details of travel and Hajj.

The Prophet once said of him that he was a good man and wished that he would pray at night. From that moment he slept very little at night and became known as one who prayed Tahajjud. He lived simply, fed the poor with him at every meal, accepted any invitation, and stayed far from the rulers' disputes in the political conflicts after the Prophet's death.

He lived a long life, taught students such as Nafi', Salim and others, and was the source of many of the earliest narrations on prayer, Hajj, zakat and etiquette. He died in Mecca in 74 AH.

The story

1. c. 610 CE, Mecca

   Born in Mecca, early in the Prophet's mission.

2. Medina

   As a young man he slept in the mosque and saw a dream the Prophet interpreted as a sign of his goodness.

   • Sahih al-Bukhari 1122Sahih (opens in a new tab)

   Read the wording

   Arabic text

   … لَهَا قَرْنَانِ، وَإِذَا فِيهَا أُنَاسٌ قَدْ عَرَفْتُهُمْ فَجَعَلْتُ أَقُولُ أَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنَ النَّارِ ـ قَالَ ـ فَلَقِيَنَا مَلَكٌ آخَرُ فَقَالَ لِي لَمْ تُرَعْ. فَقَصَصْتُهَا عَلَى حَفْصَةَ فَقَصَّتْهَا حَفْصَةُ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ " نِعْمَ الرَّجُلُ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ، لَوْ كَانَ يُصَلِّي مِنَ اللَّيْلِ". فَكَانَ بَعْدُ لاَ يَنَامُ مِنَ اللَّيْلِ إِلاَّ …

   “Abdullah is a good man. I wish he prayed Tahajjud”

   Grade: Sahih (al-Bukhari)

   • Read on sunnah.com (opens in a new tab)
   • Read on al-Hadees (opens in a new tab)

3. 3 AH / 625 CE

   Presented himself for Uhud at fourteen and was refused as too young.

4. 11 AH onwards

   Taught widely in Medina; stayed out of the political conflicts of the first fitnah.

5. 74 AH / 693 CE

   Died in Mecca.

A day in their footsteps

8 small, repeatable practices from Abdullah ibn Umar's life. Each comes with the Arabic text and English wording of its source, and links to read the full report.

1. 1

   Praying at night

   • Night prayer

   The Prophet said that Abdullah was a good man and wished that he would pray at night. After that he slept very little at night and spent much of it in prayer.

   Try this today

   Rise for even two rak'ahs in the night. A small, regular habit is what the Prophet loved.

   Sit with this

   What would two rak'ahs in the night change about the next morning?

   Sources

   … لَهَا قَرْنَانِ، وَإِذَا فِيهَا أُنَاسٌ قَدْ عَرَفْتُهُمْ فَجَعَلْتُ أَقُولُ أَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنَ النَّارِ ـ قَالَ ـ فَلَقِيَنَا مَلَكٌ آخَرُ فَقَالَ لِي لَمْ تُرَعْ. فَقَصَصْتُهَا عَلَى حَفْصَةَ فَقَصَّتْهَا حَفْصَةُ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ " نِعْمَ الرَّجُلُ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ، لَوْ كَانَ يُصَلِّي مِنَ اللَّيْلِ". فَكَانَ بَعْدُ لاَ يَنَامُ مِنَ اللَّيْلِ إِلاَّ …

   “After that `Abdullah (i.e. Salim's father) used to sleep but a little at night”

   Grade: Sahih (al-Bukhari)

   • Read on sunnah.com (opens in a new tab)
   • Read on al-Hadees (opens in a new tab)

   … لَهَا قَرْنَانِ، وَإِذَا فِيهَا أُنَاسٌ قَدْ عَرَفْتُهُمْ فَجَعَلْتُ أَقُولُ أَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنَ النَّارِ ـ قَالَ ـ فَلَقِيَنَا مَلَكٌ آخَرُ فَقَالَ لِي لَمْ تُرَعْ. فَقَصَصْتُهَا عَلَى حَفْصَةَ فَقَصَّتْهَا حَفْصَةُ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ " نِعْمَ الرَّجُلُ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ، لَوْ كَانَ يُصَلِّي مِنَ اللَّيْلِ". فَكَانَ بَعْدُ لاَ يَنَامُ مِنَ اللَّيْلِ إِلاَّ …

   “I wish he prayed Tahajjud”

   Grade: Sahih (al-Bukhari)

   • Read on sunnah.com (opens in a new tab)
   • Read on al-Hadees (opens in a new tab)

2. 2

   Following the Prophet step by step

   • Following the Sunnah

   In Hajj and travel he followed exactly what he had seen the Prophet do: he stopped reciting the talbiyah at the sanctuary, stayed the night at Dhi Tuwa, prayed Fajr and bathed before entering Mecca, because the Prophet had done so.

   Try this today

   Pick one thing the Prophet did and follow it exactly, rather than only broadly.

   Sit with this

   Which single act of the Prophet ﷺ could you copy exactly, detail by detail?

   Source

   قَالَ كَانَ ابْنُ عُمَرَ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ إِذَا دَخَلَ أَدْنَى الْحَرَمِ أَمْسَكَ عَنِ التَّلْبِيَةِ، ثُمَّ يَبِيتُ بِذِي طُوًى، ثُمَّ يُصَلِّي بِهِ الصُّبْحَ وَيَغْتَسِلُ، وَيُحَدِّثُ أَنَّ نَبِيَّ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم كَانَ يَفْعَلُ ذَلِكَ.

   “He used to say that the Prophet (ﷺ) used to do the same”

   Grade: Sahih (al-Bukhari)

   • Read on sunnah.com (opens in a new tab)
   • Read on al-Hadees (opens in a new tab)

3. 3

   Not eating alone

   • Charity
   • Brotherhood and sisterhood

   He would never eat unless a poor person was called to eat with him. On one occasion a guest ate far more than he expected, and Ibn Umar asked that the man not be brought again, citing the Prophet's saying that a believer eats in one intestine. This shows both his generosity and his strict standard of moderation.

   Try this today

   Invite someone to your table, especially a person in need, at least once a week.

   Sit with this

   Who could you invite to your table who rarely gets invited anywhere?

   Source

   قَالَ كَانَ ابْنُ عُمَرَ لاَ يَأْكُلُ حَتَّى يُؤْتَى بِمِسْكِينٍ يَأْكُلُ مَعَهُ، فَأَدْخَلْتُ رَجُلاً يَأْكُلُ مَعَهُ فَأَكَلَ كَثِيرًا فَقَالَ يَا نَافِعُ لاَ تُدْخِلْ هَذَا عَلَىَّ سَمِعْتُ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم يَقُولُ " الْمُؤْمِنُ يَأْكُلُ فِي مِعًى وَاحِدٍ وَالْكَافِرُ يَأْكُلُ فِي سَبْعَةِ أَمْعَاءٍ".

   “Ibn `Umar never used to take his meal unless a poor man was called to eat with him”

   Grade: Sahih (al-Bukhari)

   • Read on sunnah.com (opens in a new tab)
   • Read on al-Hadees (opens in a new tab)

4. 4

   Accepting every invitation

   • Brotherhood and sisterhood
   • Following the Sunnah

   He accepted every invitation to a wedding or other gathering in obedience to the Prophet's command, even when he was fasting.

   Try this today

   Say yes to invitations from fellow Muslims, and go to bring joy, not for the food.

   Sit with this

   Which invitation have you been avoiding that would bring someone joy?

   Source

   قَالَ سَمِعْتُ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ بْنَ عُمَرَ ـ رضى الله عنهما ـ يَقُولُ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم " أَجِيبُوا هَذِهِ الدَّعْوَةَ إِذَا دُعِيتُمْ لَهَا". قَالَ كَانَ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ يَأْتِي الدَّعْوَةَ فِي الْعُرْسِ وَغَيْرِ الْعُرْسِ وَهْوَ صَائِمٌ.

   “Ibn `Umar used to accept the invitation whether to a wedding banquet or to any other party, even when he was fasting”

   Grade: Sahih (al-Bukhari)

   • Read on sunnah.com (opens in a new tab)
   • Read on al-Hadees (opens in a new tab)

5. 5

   Living in this world as a traveller

   • Character
   • Patience

   The Prophet took him by the shoulder and told him to be in the world as a stranger or traveller. Ibn Umar made it his rule: do not expect to see the morning in the evening, nor the evening in the morning, and use health before illness and life before death.

   Try this today

   Hold this world loosely. Do the good you can today before health or time runs out.

   Sit with this

   What would you do today if you lived like a traveller passing through?

   Source

   قَالَ أَخَذَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم بِمَنْكِبِي فَقَالَ " كُنْ فِي الدُّنْيَا كَأَنَّكَ غَرِيبٌ، أَوْ عَابِرُ سَبِيلٍ". وَكَانَ ابْنُ عُمَرَ يَقُولُ إِذَا أَمْسَيْتَ فَلاَ تَنْتَظِرِ الصَّبَاحَ، وَإِذَا أَصْبَحْتَ فَلاَ تَنْتَظِرِ الْمَسَاءَ، وَخُذْ مِنْ صِحَّتِكَ لِمَرَضِكَ، وَمِنْ حَيَاتِكَ لِمَوْتِكَ.

   “Be in this world as if you were a stranger or a traveler”

   Grade: Sahih (al-Bukhari)

   • Read on sunnah.com (opens in a new tab)
   • Read on al-Hadees (opens in a new tab)

6. 6

   Dropping an old habit the moment he heard the Sunnah

   • Following the Sunnah

   Ibn Umar used to kill snakes in the house, until Abu Lubabah told him the Prophet had forbidden it. He stopped immediately, without argument.

   Try this today

   When you learn the Sunnah on a matter, adapt your habit to it, even if you have long done otherwise.

   Sit with this

   Is there an old habit you keep only because you have always done it?

   Source

   أَنَّهُ كَانَ يَقْتُلُ الْحَيَّاتِ. فَحَدَّثَهُ أَبُو لُبَابَةَ، أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم نَهَى عَنْ قَتْلِ جِنَّانِ الْبُيُوتِ، فَأَمْسَكَ عَنْهَا.

   “when Abu Lubaba informed him that the Prophet (ﷺ) had forbidden the killing of snakes living in houses, he gave up killing them”

   Grade: Sahih (al-Bukhari)

   • Read on sunnah.com (opens in a new tab)
   • Read on al-Hadees (opens in a new tab)

7. 7

   Verifying a ruling at the source

   • Knowledge

   When told that the Prophet had forbidden renting farms, he went himself to the narrator Rafi' to ask, and then changed his practice after being sure.

   Try this today

   If a hadith is mentioned that contradicts what you do, check it at the source and follow it.

   Sit with this

   When you hear a ruling that surprises you, do you check it, or dismiss it?

   Source

   … رَافِعِ بْنِ خَدِيجٍ، أَنَّ النَّبِيَّ صلى الله عليه وسلم نَهَى عَنْ كِرَاءِ الْمَزَارِعِ، فَذَهَبَ ابْنُ عُمَرَ إِلَى رَافِعٍ فَذَهَبْتُ مَعَهُ، فَسَأَلَهُ فَقَالَ نَهَى النَّبِيُّ صلى الله عليه وسلم عَنْ كِرَاءِ الْمَزَارِعِ. فَقَالَ ابْنُ عُمَرَ قَدْ عَلِمْتَ أَنَّا كُنَّا نُكْرِي مَزَارِعَنَا عَلَى عَهْدِ رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم بِمَا عَلَى الأَرْبِعَاءِ وَبِشَىْءٍ مِنَ …

   “Ibn `Umar went to Rafi` and I accompanied him”

   Grade: Sahih (al-Bukhari)

   • Read on sunnah.com (opens in a new tab)
   • Read on al-Hadees (opens in a new tab)

8. 8

   Praying nafl on his mount while travelling

   • Prayer

   Following the Prophet, he used to pray voluntary prayers on his riding animal, facing whichever direction it was heading, while travelling.

   Try this today

   On journeys, do not drop your voluntary prayers. Make them with what you can.

   Sit with this

   Which voluntary prayer do you drop first when your routine is disrupted?

   Source

   أَنَّ رَسُولَ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم كَانَ يُسَبِّحُ عَلَى ظَهْرِ رَاحِلَتِهِ حَيْثُ كَانَ وَجْهُهُ، يُومِئُ بِرَأْسِهِ، وَكَانَ ابْنُ عُمَرَ يَفْعَلُهُ.

   “Ibn `Umar used to do the same”

   Grade: Sahih (al-Bukhari)

   • Read on sunnah.com (opens in a new tab)
   • Read on al-Hadees (opens in a new tab)

Virtues

• The Prophet said of him in a dream report, 'Abdullah is a righteous man'.

  “Indeed, your brother is a righteous man”

  Arabic text

  قَالَ رَأَيْتُ فِي الْمَنَامِ كَأَنَّ فِي يَدِي سَرَقَةً مِنْ حَرِيرٍ لاَ أَهْوِي بِهَا إِلَى مَكَانٍ فِي الْجَنَّةِ إِلاَّ طَارَتْ بِي إِلَيْهِ، فَقَصَصْتُهَا عَلَى حَفْصَةَ. فَقَصَّتْهَا حَفْصَةُ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ" إِنَّ أَخَاكِ رَجُلٌ صَالِحٌ". أَوْ قَالَ" إِنَّ عَبْدَ اللَّهِ رَجُلٌ صَالِحٌ".

  Sahih al-Bukhari 7015Sahih

  • Read on sunnah.com (opens in a new tab)
  • Read on al-Hadees (opens in a new tab)

• The Prophet said that he was a good man, wishing he would pray at night.

  “Abdullah is a good man”

  Arabic text

  … لَهَا قَرْنَانِ، وَإِذَا فِيهَا أُنَاسٌ قَدْ عَرَفْتُهُمْ فَجَعَلْتُ أَقُولُ أَعُوذُ بِاللَّهِ مِنَ النَّارِ ـ قَالَ ـ فَلَقِيَنَا مَلَكٌ آخَرُ فَقَالَ لِي لَمْ تُرَعْ. فَقَصَصْتُهَا عَلَى حَفْصَةَ فَقَصَّتْهَا حَفْصَةُ عَلَى رَسُولِ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم فَقَالَ " نِعْمَ الرَّجُلُ عَبْدُ اللَّهِ، لَوْ كَانَ يُصَلِّي مِنَ اللَّيْلِ". فَكَانَ بَعْدُ لاَ يَنَامُ مِنَ اللَّيْلِ إِلاَّ …

  Sahih al-Bukhari 1122Sahih

  • Read on sunnah.com (opens in a new tab)
  • Read on al-Hadees (opens in a new tab)

Sayings and moments

• If you reach the evening, do not expect the morning, and if you reach the morning, do not expect the evening. Take from your health for your illness, and from your life for your death.

  “If you survive till the evening, do not expect to be alive in the morning”

  Arabic text

  قَالَ أَخَذَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صلى الله عليه وسلم بِمَنْكِبِي فَقَالَ " كُنْ فِي الدُّنْيَا كَأَنَّكَ غَرِيبٌ، أَوْ عَابِرُ سَبِيلٍ". وَكَانَ ابْنُ عُمَرَ يَقُولُ إِذَا أَمْسَيْتَ فَلاَ تَنْتَظِرِ الصَّبَاحَ، وَإِذَا أَصْبَحْتَ فَلاَ تَنْتَظِرِ الْمَسَاءَ، وَخُذْ مِنْ صِحَّتِكَ لِمَرَضِكَ، وَمِنْ حَيَاتِكَ لِمَوْتِكَ.

  Sahih al-Bukhari 6416Sahih

  • Read on sunnah.com (opens in a new tab)
  • Read on al-Hadees (opens in a new tab)

Words on this page

Fajrالفجر

The dawn prayer, prayed between first light and sunrise. It is preceded by two short voluntary rak'ahs.

Hadithحديث

A report of what the Prophet ﷺ said, did or approved, passed down through a chain of narrators.

Hajjالحج

The pilgrimage to Makkah in the month of Dhu al-Hijjah, required once in a lifetime of every adult Muslim who is able.

Madinahالمدينة

The city, formerly Yathrib, to which the Prophet ﷺ migrated and where the first Muslim community was built.

Makkahمكة

The city of the Ka'bah, where the Prophet ﷺ was born and revelation began.

Rak'ahركعة

One unit of the prayer: standing and reciting, bowing, and two prostrations.

Sunnahالسنة

The way of the Prophet ﷺ: his words, actions and approvals. Also used for a recommended act.

Tahajjudتهجد

Voluntary prayer at night after waking from sleep, especially in the last third of the night.

Uhudأحد

The mountain outside Madinah where the Muslims fought Quraysh in 3 AH, and where Hamzah and many others were martyred.

Zakatالزكاة

The obligatory annual alms on wealth above a threshold, one of the five pillars of Islam.

The full glossary

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