Umar is more misguided than a donkey

Question:

Do the innovators report that Umar is more lost than a donkey?

Answer:

Abu Al-Mughirah reported that Al-Awza’i said: “Bilal Al-Habashi came to Umar Ibn Al-Khattab and said: “Let us pray!” He then repeated it, but Umar said to him: “We know the time better than you do.” Bilal said to him: “We know the time better than you do, and you are even more misguided than your domesticated donkey.” [Tarikh Madinat Dimashq by Ibn Asakir, Volume 10 page 474]

أخبرنا أبو الحسن علي بن المسلم حدثنا عبد العزيز بن أحمد لفظا أخبرنا أبو محمد عبد الرحمن بن عثمان بن أبي نصر أخبرنا أبو عبد الرحمن بن عثمان بن أبي نصر أخبرنا أبو عبد الله بن محمد بن هشام الكندي أخبرنا أبو زيد أحمد بن عبد الرحيم بن بكر الحوطي حدثنا أبو المغيرة حدثنا الأوزاعي قال إن بلالا أتى عمر بن الخطاب فقال الصلاة فرددها عليه فقال له عمر نحن أعلم بالوقت منك قال له بلال لأنا أعلم بالوقت منك وأنت أضل من حمار أهلك

Comment:

How excellent are the words of Bilal (r):

“Have you seen him who takes his own desires as his God? Will you then be a trustee over them? Or do you think that most of them hear or have understanding? They are but like cattle, no, they are more misguided from the (true) path.” [Al-Furqan 25:43-44]