1st Question:

Is it true that Prophet Muhammad (s.) performed supplication for one of the worst hypocrites even though Umar pointed out to him that it was a forbidden conduct by God?

Answer:

This is a fabrication and invention of the innovators and contradicts the reports of the Infallibles (a.).

Sulaim Ibn Qais reported that the Commander of the Believers (a.) said: ,,He (Umar) was present when Prophet Muhammad (s.) came forward to pray over Abdullah Ibn Ubayy Ibn Salul. Therefore, he grabbed him by the back of his robe and pulled him to himself backwards. Then he said: “God has already forbidden you to pray over him and therefore you are not allowed to pray over him!” Thereupon the Messenger (s.) said to him: “Woe to you, you have harmed me! I prayed over him, for the honor, in which I made his son participate, and I hope that seventy men among the sons of his father and the people of his house would join Islam. What makes you know what I said? I made supplications to God against him.” [Kitab Sulaim, page. 238 – 239]

سليم بن قيس قال: قال أمير المؤمنين عليه السلام: وهو صاحب عبد الله بن أبي سلول حين تقدم رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله ليصلي عليه فأخذ بثوبه من ورائه فمده إليه من خلفه وقال: قد نهاك الله أن تصلي عليه ولا يحل لك أن تصلي عليه فقال له رسول الله صلى الله عليه وآله: ويلك، قد آذيتني إنما صليت عليه كرامة لابنه، وإني لأرجو أن يسلم به سبعون رجلا من بني أبيه وأهل بيته. وما يدريك ما قلت، إنما دعوت الله عليه

2nd question:

A innovator made the claim that the supplication against the hypocrite was cruel.

Response:

The “cruelness” of the Messenger (s.) is in accordance with the Qur’an: “God has promised the hypocrite men and the hypocrite women and the disbelievers the fire of hell; therein they will abide forever. It is their contentment. And God has cursed them, and destined for them is a lasting chastisement.” [At-Tawbah 9:68]

وعد الله المنافقين والمنافقات والكفار نار جهنم خالدين فيها هي حسبهم ولعنهم الله ولهم عذاب مقيم

And not according to the inclinations of men: “By the star when it falls! Your companion does not go astray and has not succumbed to error, and he does not speak from his own inclination. It is nothing but a revelation that is revealed.” [An-Naym 53:1-4]

والنجم إذا هوى ما ضل صاحبكم وما غوى وما ينطق عن الهوى إن هو إلا وحي يوحى

2nd question:

The innovator asks the question, where was the honor for the son?

Response:

Although his father was a hypocrite and one of the greatest enemies of Islam, the Prophet (s.) held a meeting for him, conducted his funeral, buried him among the believers, and even wrapped him in his own blessed shirt, according to the innovators. The Son himself follows a book wherein his father is condemned and is promised eternity in the fire, and seems to have less trouble with the righteousness of God than the people of the innovation today.

The innovators rather seem to seek honor in the fact that Umar was knowledgeable about the will of God, while the Prophet (s.) was ignorant about the will of God and had to be enlightened by Umar, about what is forbidden in the religion.

Nafi’ reported that Abdullah ibn Umar said: “After the death of Abdullah ibn Ubayy, his son, Abdullah ibn Abdillah, came to the Prophet Muhammad (s.) and asked him to give him his shirt for his father to bury him in it, so he gave it to him. After that he asked him to pray over him and therefore the Messenger (s.) rose to pray over him. Thereupon, Umar rose and grabbed the Prophet (s.) by the robe and said: “O Messenger of God, your Lord has already forbidden you to pray over him!” The Messenger (s.) replied: “God gave me the choice.” Then he said: “Ask forgiveness for them, or do not ask forgiveness for them. Even if you ask forgiveness for them seventy times, God will never forgive them.” – 9:80 – Therefore he said: “I will do it more than seventy times.” He said: “He is a hypocrite!” But Prophet Muhammad (s.) prayed over him and God then sent down: “And never pray over one of them who has died, and do not stand by his grave. They denied God and His Messenger, and they died as wrongdoers.” – 9:84 – [Sahih Al-Bukhari, Hadith 4393]

قال محمد بن إسماعيل البخاري: حدثني عبيد بن إسماعيل عن أبي أسامة عن عبيد الله عن نافع عن ابن عمر رضي الله عنهما قال لما توفي عبد الله بن أبي جاء ابنه عبد الله بن عبد الله إلى رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم فسأله أن يعطيه قميصه يكفن فيه أباه فأعطاه ثم سأله أن يصلي عليه فقام رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم ليصلي عليه فقام عمر فأخذ بثوب رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم فقال يا رسول الله تصلي عليه وقد نهاك ربك أن تصلي عليه فقال رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم إنما خيرني الله فقال استغفر لهم أو لا تستغفر لهم إن تستغفر لهم سبعين مرة وسأزيده على السبعين قال إنه منافق قال فصلى عليه رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم فأنزل الله ولا تصل على أحد منهم مات أبدا ولا تقم على قبره

Abdullah ibn Umar reported that he heard Prophet Muhammad (s.) say: “When I was sleeping, a cup of milk was brought to me, so I drank from it until I noticed that it was flowing from my fingernails. Thereupon I gave my preference unto Umar ibn al-Khattab.” The people said: “What do you think is meant by this, O Messenger of God?” He said: “The knowledge.” [Sahih Al-Bukhari, Hadith 82]

حدثنا سعيد بن عفير قال حدثني الليث قال حدثني عقيل عن ابن شهاب عن حمزة بن عبد الله بن عمر أن ابن عمر قال سمعت رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم قال بينا أنا نائم أتيت بقدح لبن فشربت حتى إني لأرى الري يخرج في أظفاري ثم أعطيت فضلي عمر بن الخطاب قالوا فما أولته يا رسول الله قال العلم

Abu Wa’il reported that Abdullah Ibn Umar said: “If one were to put the knowledge of Umar in one scale and the knowledge of the people in the other scale, the knowledge of Umar would prevail.” Al-Hakim An-Naisaburi writes: “This tradition is authentic (Sahih) under the condition of Muslim and the two (Al-Bukhari and Muslim) did not publish it.” [Al-Mustadrak Ala As-Sahihain of Al-Hakim, Hadith 4553]

الأعمش، عن أبي وائل، عن عبد الله قال: لو وضع علم عمر في كفة ميزان، ووضع علم الناس في كفة لرجح علم عمر. قال الحاكم النيسابوري: هذا حديث صحيح على شرط مسلم، ولم يخرجاه