Hazrat Umar RA & The Qur’an Revelation

There are 15 places wherein the opinion of HAZRAT UMAR (Radhiallaahu Anhu) conformed to revelation.

There are nine instances in which verses were revealed exactly as Hadhrat Umar (Radhiallaahu Anhu) had suggested.

1. Maqaam Ibraahim: wherein Umar (Radhiallaahu Anhu) told Nabi (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam), “Why don’t you make the Maqaam Ibraahim (Alayhis salaam) a prayer place?” Allah revealed the Aayat, “And the Maqaam of Ibrahim (Alayhis salaam) a prayer place.” (Baqarah 124)

2. Hijaab: Hadhrat Aaisha (Radhiallaahu Anha) said that after the laws of Hijaab were implemented, Hadhrat Sawda (Radhiallaahu Anha) went out for some need. Despite being covered, she could still be recognised. Hence, Umar (Radhiallaahu Anhu) recognised her and said, “O Sawda, look at how you have come out, by Allah you cannot hide.” Sawda (Radhiallaahu Anha) immediately went to Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) who was eating at the house of Aaisha (Radhiallaahu Anha). Nabi (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) had a bone in his hand. Sawda (Radhiallaahu Anha) told Nabi (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) that she had went out for some need and Umar (Radhiallaahu Anhu) told her such and such. Hadhrat Aaisha (Radhiallaahu Anha) narrates that the bone was still in the hand of Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) and he hadn’t yet placed it when Wahy (revelation) came to Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam). After the revelation was complete, Nabi (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) told the women that they have been given permission to go out for need only if they are properly covered. (Mazaahirul Haqq vol.9 pg.430)

3. Prisoners of Badr: Nabi (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) made Mashwara with the Sahaaba (Radhiallaahu Anhum) regarding the prisoners. Umar (Radhiallaahu Anhu) said, “O Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam), these Kuffaar should be killed by chopping their necks.” Nabi (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) accepted the opinion of Abu Bakr (Radhiallaahu Anhu) to free them and take a ransom. The Aayaat, “It is not for a prophet that he have prisoners of war…” (Anfaal 67) was revealed.

4. Umar (Radhiallaahu Anhu) told the wives of Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam), “Either you will refrain from displeasing Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) or Allah Ta’ala will replace you with wives who will be better than you…” Then a similar Aayaat was revealed, “It may be if he divorced you that his Lord will grant him instead of you, wives better than you.” (Al-Tahrim 5)

5. When Nabi (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) separated from his wives in an enclosure, Umar (Radhiallaahu Anhu) told Nabi (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam), “If you divorce your wives, then Allah Ta’ala and Jibraaeel (Alayhis salaam) and myself and Abu-bakr and the believers are with you.” Then Allah Ta’ala revealed a similar Aayat, “but if you help one another against him (Muhammad), then verily Allah is his Mawla (Lord) and Jibraaeel and the righteous among believers and angels are his helpers…” (Al-Tahrim 4)

6. When Abdullah ibn Ubayy (a Munaafiq) passed away, then Nabi (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) wanted to perform his Janaaza Salaat. Umar (Radhiallaahu Anhu) held the clothes of Nabi (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) and prevented him from doing so. Allah Ta’ala revealed, “And never (O Muhammad) pray (funeral prayer) for any of them (hypocrites) who dies.” (Tawbah 84)

7. When the Aayat, “Even if you ask forgiveness for them 70 times, Allah will not forgive them.” (Tawbah 80). Nabi (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) said, “Definitely, I will increase upon 70″ and he began making Istighfaar for them. Then Umar (Radhiallaahu Anhu) said, “O Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam), Allah will not forgive them at all whether you make Istighfaar for them or not.” Then, the Aayat, “It is equal to them whether you (Muhmmad) ask for forgiveness or ask not forgiveness for them. Allah will never forgive them.” (Munaafiqoon 6)

8. When the Aayat, “And We created man (Adam) out of an extract of clay. Thereafter, We made him as a Nutfah…” (Surah Mu’minoon 12-14) came, Umar (Radhiallaahu Anhu) remarked, “Glory be to Allah, the best of all creators.” The same Aayat was revealed. According to some narrations, Nabi (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) exclaimed, “Are you increasing on the Qur’aan, O Umar?” Thereafter, Jibraaeel (Alayhis salaam) descended with revelation and said to Nabi (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) that is the completion of those Aayaats.

9. When Nabi (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) made Mashwara with the Sahaaba (Radhiallaahu Anhum) regarding Aaisha (Radhiallaahu Anha) when the incident of Ifk (accusation of Zina took place), Umar (Radhiallaahu Anhu) asked Nabi (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam), “Who has made your Nikah to her O Rasulullah (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam)?” Nabi (Sallallaahu Alayhi Wasallam) replied, “Allah Ta’ala.” Umar (Radhiallaahu Anhu) said, “Do you think that your Lord deceived you on that? Glory be to You (Allah), this is a great lie.” (Noor 16) Then Allah Ta’ala revealed the exact same words.