Abd Allah ibn Umar (R.A), also known as Ibn Umar, was a companion of the Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.) and the son of the second Caliph, Umar ibn Khattab (R.A). He was born in Makkah around 613-614 C.E. His mother was Zainab bint Madhun (R.A). Abdullah (R.A) accepted Islam at a young age, even before he was ten years old, and migrated to Madina with his father and sister, Hafsah (R.A), who later became one of the Prophet’s wives.
Early Life of Abd Allah ibn Umar
From a young age, Abdullah ibn Umar (R.A) eagerly sought to accompany the Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.) in his endeavors. Although he was too young to join the battles of Uhud and Badr, when the Battle of the Trench approached. The Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.) called Abdullah and permitted him to join the Muslim army. The Prophet (S.A.W.) deemed him old enough to participate in the battle, and Abdullah (R.A) was just fifteen years old at the time of the Battle of the Trench.
Abdullah (R.A) learned from the best teacher of all, Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.). He closely observed and carefully studied every word and action of the Prophet (S.A.W.) in different situations, and he dedicatedly practiced what he learned. For instance, if Abdullah saw the Prophet (S.A.W.) praying in a specific place, he would also pray there later. If he witnessed the Prophet (S.A.W.) making a supplication while standing, he would do the same, and if the Prophet (S.A.W.) made a dua while sitting, Abdullah would follow suit.
Aishah (R.A.) noticed this devotion of Abdullah (R.A.) to the Prophet (S.A.W.) and remarked:
“There was no one who followed the footsteps of the Prophet (S.A.W.) in the places where he alighted as did Ibn Umar.”
The Personality of Abd Allah ibn Umar (R.A)
Hazrat Abdullah (R.A), the son of Umar ibn al-Khattab (R.A), or Ibn Umar, was one of the companions of the Prophet Muhammad ((S.A.W.). He was the son of the Second Caliph and the Prophet’s brother-in-law. His nickname was Abd al-Rahman, and he was born three years after the Prophet (S.A.W.) began his mission. His mother was Zaynab, the daughter of Maz’un. It is believed that he embraced Islam along with his father and migrated to Madina before his father did. However, there are some differences among sources regarding the exact year he embraced Islam.
Kindness
Whenever Abdullah ibn Umar (R.A) saw one of his slaves worshiping Allah in the mosque, he would set them free. Someone told him that the slaves were pretending to worship to gain their freedom. He replied, “If they’re pretending for the sake of Allah, then we accept it.” He freed over a thousand slaves or even more.
Generosity
Abdullah ibn Umar (R.A) was so generous that he often gave away everything he had. If someone came back to him asking for help again, he would borrow from those he had already helped to give to the new person. Once, he wanted to eat fish, but when a beggar approached, he gave the fish to them instead. Another time, when he fell ill, he bought six or seven grapes for a dirham, but when a beggar came by, he gave them away too.
Abdullah (R.A.) was greatly respected by his companions and later generations because of his piety, simplicity, and generosity. He was known for giving generously, even if it meant he would have less for himself. Despite being a successful trader, he didn’t hesitate to spend his wealth on the needy. Additionally, he received a generous stipend, which he often used to help the poor and those in need.
4000 Dirhams Story of Abd Allah ibn Umar (R.A)
One day, Ibn Umar (R.A.) received four thousand dirhams and a nice velvet blanket. The next day, Ayyub saw him at the market buying food for his camel, but he was getting it on credit. Ayyub (R.A) was surprised and went to Abdullah’s family to ask about it.
“Didn’t Abu Abdur-Rahman (R.A) (meaning Abdullah ibn Umar) get four thousand dirhams and a blanket yesterday?” Ayyub (R.A) asked.
“Yes, he did,” they replied.
“But today, I saw him at the market buying camel food and he didn’t have any money to pay for it,” Ayyub (R.A) said.
“Before yesterday ended, he had already given it all away. Then he took the blanket, put it over his shoulder, and left. When he came back, he didn’t have it with him. We asked him about it, and he said he gave it to a poor person,” they explained.
Emphasize Helping Poor and Needy Persons
Abdullah ibn Umar (R.A.) always encouraged helping the poor and needy. When he ate, he often shared his meals with orphans and poor people. He even scolded his children for preferring to invite rich guests over poor ones. He once told them, “You invite the rich and ignore the poor.”
For Abdullah (R.A.), wealth was a tool, not something to show off. He lived a simple life and didn’t seek luxury. Once, a friend from Khurasan brought him a fancy piece of clothing:
“I got this beautiful garment for you from Khurasan,” his friend said. “It will make you look really good. You should change out of your old clothes and wear this.”
“Let me see it,” Abdullah (R.A) replied. When he touched the garment, he asked, “Is it made of silk?”
“No, it’s cotton,” his friend answered.
Abdullah (R.A.) was pleased for a moment. Then he pushed the garment away and said, “No! I’m worried it might make me proud and boastful. And Allah doesn’t like people who are proud and boastful.”
Maymun ibn Mahran (R.A) relates the following: “I entered the house of Ibn Umar. I estimated everything in his house including his bed, his blanket, his carpet and everything else in it. What I found was not a hundred dirhams’ worth.”
That was not because Abdullah ibn Umar (R.A.) was poor: indeed, he was rich. Neither was it because he was a miser for indeed he was generous and liberal.
Love for the Prophet صَلَّى الـلـهُ عَلَيْهِ وَاٰلِهٖ وَسَلَّم
Whenever Abdullah bin Umar (R.A) thought of the Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.), tears would come to his eyes. He would touch the pulpit where the Prophet (S.A.W.) used to stand and then wipe his hand over his face. When he traveled, he would stop and camp where the Prophet had camped before. He prayed where the Prophet (S.A.W.) prayed and even made his camel sit where the Prophet’s camel sat. When asked why, he said he wanted his ride to touch the same places as the Prophet’s.
Once, when the Prophet (S.A.W.) rested under a tree, Abdullah took care of it so it wouldn’t wither. When he returned from a journey, he visited the graves of the Prophet, Abu Bakr, and Umar first, greeting them with peace. Sometimes, he traveled alone because he saw the Prophet (S.A.W.) do the same. He wore shoes without fur because he saw the Prophet (S.A.W.) wear them that way. Once, when his foot felt numb, someone told him to call upon the person he loved the most. He immediately said “O Muhammad,” and the numbness went away.
Abd Allah ibn Umar (R.A) Famous as Brother of the Night
Abdullah ibn Umar (R.A) was known as the “brother of the night” because he would spend his nights praying, crying, asking Allah for forgiveness, and reading the Quran.
To his sister, Hafsah (R.A.), the Prophet (S.A.W.) once said:
“Abdullah is a righteous man if he only prays more at night ” (Sahih Bukhari: 7031)
Abdullah (R.A.) never stopped praying at night, whether he was at home or traveling. He spent quiet nights remembering Allah, praying, reading the Quran, and shedding tears, especially when he heard the Quran’s verses of warning.
Ubayd ibn Umayr (R.A.) has related that one day he read these verses to Abdullah ibn Umar (R.A.):
“How then (will the sinners fare on Judgment Day) when We shall bring forward witnesses from within every community and bring you (O Prophet) as a witness against them? Those who were bent on denying the truth and paid no heed to the Apostle will on that Day wish that the earth would swallow them but they shall not (be able to) conceal from God anything that has happened.” (Surah An-Nisa 4:41-42)
Hazrat Abdullah (R.A.) cried while listening to these verses until his beard was moist with tears. One day, he was sitting among some close friends and he read:
“Woe unto those who give short measure, those who, when they are to receive their due from people, demand that it be given in full but when they have to measure or weigh whatever they owe to others, give less than what is due. Do they not know that they are bound to be raised from the dead (and called to account) on an awesome Day, the Day when all men shall stand before the Sustainer of all the worlds?” (Surah Al-Mutaffifin 83: 1-6)
The Time of the First Three Caliphs
Throughout his life, Abdullah (R.A) remained loyal to the early caliphs, including the first three successors after the Prophet. Despite acknowledging the virtues of Imam Ali (A.S), he did not pledge allegiance to him during his caliphate. Instead, he later pledged allegiance to Yazid ibn Mu’awiya. During the time of Imam al-Hussain (A.S), Abdullah advised against fighting against Yazid, urging for peace instead.
Abdullah (R.A) didn’t have much influence in politics or government. He didn’t join many battles either. After Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.) died, he joined Usama’s army during Abu Bakr’s rule. When Umar (R.A) was the caliph, he consulted Abdullah but didn’t let him run for caliphate like his father. Abdullah (R.A) did fight in battles like Nahavand and the conquest of Egypt during that time.
Historical sources say Abdullah never acted as a judge. When Uthman (R.A) offered him the position, Abdullah refused it. Yazid b. Harun shared that Abdullah once said he was with someone wiser, and if people wanted his judgment, he would need to learn more.
After Uthman (R.A) was killed, some people, like Marwan B. al-Hakam (R.A), offered Abdullah the position of caliph. But Abdullah refused, saying he wouldn’t accept it even if only a few people were against him becoming caliph.
During the Caliphate of Imam Ali (A.S)
When Imam Ali (A.S) became the caliph, Ammar bin Yasir (A.S) asked him if he could talk to Abdullah to get his allegiance. Although Abdullah (A.S) spoke highly of Imam Ali (A.S) and mentioned his many good qualities, he didn’t give his allegiance. He focused more on individual acts of worship and didn’t feel capable of dealing with social matters.
So, Imam Ali (A.S) told Ammar, “leave Abdullah alone! He’s not strong in his decisions.” When someone said they wouldn’t get involved in issues like Abdullah b. ‘Umar, Imam Ali (A.S) replied, “Abdullah neither supports the truth nor opposes falsehood.”
Although Ibn ‘Umar (R.A) didn’t pledge allegiance to Imam Ali (A.S), he also didn’t side with his opponents or support them. Toward the end of his life, he felt remorseful for not helping Imam Ali (A.S) and expressed regret, saying, “I regret not fighting alongside Imam Ali (A.S) against troublemakers.”
His Letter to Mu’awiya (R.A)
In a letter to Mu’awiya, Abd Allah said:
“Did you think I abandoned Imam Ali (A.S) and the Immigrants to support you? I didn’t take sides because I didn’t receive any guidance from the Prophet (s). I chose to stay neutral, thinking if it’s the right path, I won’t miss out on rewards, and if it’s wrong, I’ll avoid trouble. So, please don’t involve me anymore.”
Abu Musa al-Ash’ari (R.A) was asked to choose a leader for the community, and he suggested Abdullah ibn Umar, but Abdullah declined and chose Mu’awiya instead.
Mu’awiya expressed concern to his son Yazid about potential rivals for the caliphate, including Abdullah ibn Umar (R.A). He acknowledged Abdullah’s devotion to worship and piety, stating that if everyone supported Yazid, Abdullah would too.
Giving Allegiance to Yazid
“After Muawiya died, the ruler of Madina, Walid bin Utba, wanted Abdullah (R.A) to pledge allegiance to Yazid. But Abdullah refused, saying he didn’t want to cause trouble. He explained that when everyone else pledged allegiance, he would too. So, they left him alone because they didn’t think he would rebel.”
Al-Waqidi said that:
Walid bin Utba couldn’t get Abdullah ibn al-Zubayr (R.A) and Imam Hussein to pledge allegiance, so they left for Mecca secretly. Along the way, Abdullah ibn Umar met them and asked about the situation in Medina. When he heard about Mu’awiya’s death and people pledging allegiance to Yazid, he advised them to fear God and maintain Muslim unity. He stayed in Madina for a while. Later, when he heard that people from various cities had pledged allegiance to Yazid, he went to Walid and pledged allegiance too, saying he’d accept it if it was good, and if it was a test, they’d endure it.
Abdullah (R.A) later told his sons that pledging allegiance to Yazid was like pledging to God and His Prophet (S.A.W), and breaking such allegiance would lead to hell. So, he warned that he’d disown anyone who broke their allegiance with Yazid.
Sunni Scholars’ Beliefs on Abd Allah ibn Umar (R.A)
“In Sunni beliefs, Abdullah ibn Umar (R.A) was highly regarded, not just because he was a companion of the Prophet (S.A.W.) and the son of the Second Caliph, but also because he transmitted many hadiths from the Prophet, Abu Bakr, and Umar. Sunnis pay special attention to him because of his lineage. Ibn Athir (R.A), a Sunni scholar, highlighted Abdullah’s virtues and included him among the great Sunni figures who issued rulings after the Prophet.”
“On the other hand, some people think that Abdullah ibn Umar (R.A) didn’t share many hadiths from the Prophet. For instance, al-Sha’bi, who spent a year with him, didn’t hear any hadiths from him. However, others like Jabir ibn Abdullah (R.A) did transmit hadiths from him. Sunnis have transmitted hadiths from Abdullah ibn Umar (R.A) on various topics, including the alteration of the Quran, the virtues of Imam Ali (A.S), different Quran recitations, charity, and more.”
Good Manners of Abd Allah ibn Umar (R.A)
He learned many good manners from his father, Umar Ibn Al-Khattab (R.A), and they both learned from the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) about noble virtues and good conduct.
Just like his father, he had perfect faith in Allah and His Prophet (S.A.W.), so he followed the Prophet’s example closely. He would observe everything the Prophet (S.A.W.) did and then imitate it humbly and precisely. For instance, wherever the Prophet (S.A.W.) prayed, Abdullah ibn Umar (R.A) would pray there too, in the same way. If the Prophet (S.A.W.) made a supplication while standing, Abdullah would do the same, and if the Prophet (S.A.W.) made a supplication while sitting, Abdullah (R.A.) would do likewise.
He even remembered the exact spot where the Prophet’s camel turned twice in Makkah before the Prophet (S.A.W.) dismounted and prayed two rak’ahs. Although the camel might have done it naturally, Abdullah (R.A) would intentionally make his camel turn in a circle at that spot and then pray exactly as he had seen the Prophet (S.A.W.) do. This level of imitation sometimes amazed Aisha, the Prophet’s wife, who said, ‘No one followed the Prophet’s footsteps in his coming and going as Abdullah ibn Umar (R.A) did.’
His Status رضي الله عنه As A Narrator Of Hadith
With a total of 2,630 narrations, Abdullah ibn Umar (R.A.) was the second most prolific narrator of hadiths. It was said that he was extremely careful about what he narrated, and he would often narrate with tears in his eyes. He was very cautious when giving legal opinions on Islamic law.
Abdullah ibn Umar (R.A) is renowned for his knowledge of the Prophet’s sayings (Hadiths) and his expertise in Islamic jurisprudence. The Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.) respected Abdullah’s knowledge and permitted him to write down Hadiths, making him one of the first companions to do so.
He (R.A.) was very knowledgeable, had memorized the Qur’an, and narrated 1,630 hadiths. One of the most famous narrations from him (R.A.), found in Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim, talks about the ‘Five Pillars of Islam.’ It goes like this:
‘I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) saying: “Islam was built upon five: testifying that there is nothing worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, being steadfast in offering prayer, paying zakat, performing the pilgrimage to the House, and fasting in the month of Ramadan.”
There’s also a famous story from Imam al-Tirmidhi’s Shama’il where he (R.A.) closely observed the Prophet (ﷺ) when he was young. He even counted the number of white hairs on the Prophet’s head (ﷺ), which were only around twenty.”
Death of Abd Allah ibn Umar (R.A)
Salim, Abd Allah b. ‘Umar’s son heard from his father about an incident where he got wounded by the spear of one of al-Hajjaj’s companions, which made him ill. When al-Hajjaj visited him, Abd Allah (R.A) blamed him for his injury, saying he caused it by bringing weapons into the sacred area. Abd Allah (R.A) passed away in 73/693, at the age of 83. He wanted to be buried outside the sacred area, but al-Hajjaj didn’t allow it. Instead, they buried him in Fakhkh, near the Immigrants’ graves. Hajjaj, the tyrant, ordered someone to strike Abdullah Bin Umar’s foot with a poisoned spear. Because of this, he passed away in Makkah a couple of days later. He died in Sha’ban or Ramadhan in 73 AH, just a few months after the martyrdom of Abdullah Bin Zubayr (R.A).
May Allah have mercy on Abdullah ibn Umar (R.A.) be pleased with him and assemble us among his company.