Abdullah ibn Umar

Abdullah ibn Umar, kunya Abd al-Rahman, [2] ^: 156 was born 610 in Mecca,[3]^: 207 three years after the beginning of Muhammad's message.[2]^: 156 He was the son of Umar ibn al-Khattab and Zaynab bint Madhun.[3]^{: 203–204} His full siblings were Hafsa and Abdurrahman. His paternal brothers, born to his stepmother Umm Kulthum bint Jarwal, were Zayd and Ubaydullah. He had another stepmother, Qurayba bint Abi Umayya, but she had no children of her own.[3]^: 204

The young Abdullah had vivid memories of his father's conversion to Islam. It is believed he accepted Islam together with his father, although some sources disagree about the year of his acceptance.[4]^: 950 He remembered following his father around the town as Umar declared his conversion to the neighbours and on the steps of the Kaaba. Ibn Umar asserted, "Although I was very young at the time, I understood everything I saw."[5]^: 138 His mother Zaynab also became a Muslim, but his two stepmothers did not.[5]^: 510[6]

The family emigrated to Medina in 622.[5]^: 218 Although he may have emigrated to Medina before his father.[4]^: 950 A few months later, just before the Battle of Uhud in March 625, Muhammad called Ibn Umar, who was then fourteen years old, to present himself. But when Ibn Umar appeared, Muhammad would not allow him to fight in the battle. Two years later, as the Battle of the Trench approached, Muhammad again called Ibn Umar, and this time he decreed that the youth was old enough because he was mature and reached puberty. He was also present at the Battle of Al-Muraysi in 628.[7]

In the Battle of Muta, Ibn Umar along with others, escaped the battlefield and returned to Medina, fearing they would be overcome. Ibn Umar and his companions later apologized to Muhammad for fleeing and were forgiven.[8]^{: vol. 4 p. 248}

He was enlisted in the last army prepared by Muhammad during the expedition of Usama bin Zayd.[9]^: 229

After his father became Caliph in 634, Ibn Umar married Safiya bint Abu Ubayd, and they had six children: Abu Bakr, Abu Ubayda, Waqid, Umar, Hafsa and Sawda.[10]^: 305 He had a number of other sons by Ummul Walad, including Abdurrahman, Salim and Hamza.

Ibn Umar's sister Hafsa married Muhammad in 625.[10]^: 152 Muhammad once told her: "Abdullah is a good man. I wish he prayed the night prayers." After that, every night Abdullah would pray much and sleep but a little.[11]

He was reportedly present at the guardians of the house of Caliph Uthman (r. 644–656) along with Abd Allah ibn al-Zubayr, Hasan ibn Ali and Husayn ibn Ali.[12]

At the Arbitration of Siffin, Abu Musa al-Ash'ari nominated Ibn Umar for the caliphate, but Amr ibn al-As objected claiming he was not fit to rule. [13]^: 452

Ibn Umar participated in battles in Iraq, Persia and Egypt, but he remained neutral throughout the first civil war.[14]^: 30 In 656, he prevented his sister Hafsa from following Aisha to the Battle of the Camel.[15]

While in Medina during the Second Fitna of the 680s, Ibn Umar, together with Abd Allah ibn al-Zubayr and Ibn Abbas, advised Husayn ibn Ali to make Mecca his base and fight against Yazid I from Mecca. Husayn did not take this advice but chose Kufa.[16]

Abdullah ibn Umar died in Mecca in 693 (74 AH).[14]^: 30

Abdullah ibn Umar was the second most prolific narrator of ahadith, with a total of 2,630 narrations.[14]^: 27 It was said that he was extremely careful about what he narrated and that he narrated with his eyes full of tears.[14]^: 30–31 He was very cautious in life and thus was cautious in judgment too.[4] ^: 951

Sunni historians such as ibn Qutaybah, ibn Al-Athir, and ibn Sa'd were critical of Ibn Umar's political stance, regarding him as having a weak[1]^: 73 and simple minded personality [17] ^{: vol.4 p.6} who avoided the arguments of people with the government and did not consider objecting against a corrupt ruler permissible. [18]^: 164He is reported to have said, "I do not fight in time of trouble and follow anyone who wins in congregational prayer." [18]^: 133

However, he has a positive reputation among some contemporary Sunni scholars, like M.Z. Siddiqi, who cites "In spite of the great esteem and honour in which he was held by all the Muslims and notwithstanding the suggestion repeatedly made to him to stand up for the caliphate (which he obstinately refused), he kept himself entirely aloof from party strife, and throughout these years led an unselfish, pious life. He is known for his neutrality."[14]^: 30

• Sunni view of the Sahaba

• Madelung, Wilferd (2003). "ḤASAN B. ʿALI B. ABI ṬĀLEB". Encyclopædia Iranica. Encyclopedia Iranica Foundation. Archived from the original on 17 November 2013.