24/08/2026
Our Ninth Companion
Few companions have lived past 80 years old. This great companion passed at the age of 85 yet was always persistent, repentant, and never deviating for once from the path of Islam. The merits of Abdallah Ibn Umar were abundant. He was known for his knowledge, modesty, the straightness of his conscience and path, his generosity, piety, persistence in worship, and his sincere adherence to the Prophet's model.
Abdallah learned a lot of good manners from his father, Umar Ibn Al- Khattaab, and together with him, they learned from the Prophet (PBUH) all the good manners and all that can be described as noble. Abdallah's belief in the Prophet was perfect and the way he pursued the Prophet's steps was admirable.
He had a strict adherence to the Sunnah unmatched by any other companion. Our Mother Aa'ishah (May Allah be pleased with her) once said, "No one followed the Prophet's Steps in his coming and going as Ibn 'Umar did." Our author mentioned that Abdallah Radiyallaahu Anhu was always looking at what the Prophet was doing in every matter and then humbly imitating his deeds to the finest detail. For example, wherever the Prophet prayed, there also would Ibn Umar pray, and on the same spot. If the Prophet invoked Allah while standing, then Ibn Umar would invoke Allah while standing. If the Prophet invoked Allah while sitting, so also would Ibn Umar invoke Allah while sitting. On the same particular route where the Prophet once dismounted from his camel and prayed two rak'ahs, so would Ibn Umar do the same while traveling to the same place. That was how strictly he followed the Sunnah.
Ibn Umar was also known for his great respect for the Prophetic traditions (Hadith). Ibn Umar never related a hadith unless he remembered it to the letter. His contemporaries said, "None of the Companions of the Prophet was more cautious not to add or subtract something from a hadith than Abdallah Ibn Umar." In the same way he was very cautious when giving a fatwah (legal formal opinion in Islamic Law).
Ibn Umar was a very generous human being and had a high level of asceticism. Maimuun Ibn Muhraan once said, "I entered Ibn Umar's house and tried to evaluate all that was inside such as the bed, the blanket, the mat and so on. Indeed, everything. I didn't find it worth even 100 dirhams."
Ibn Umar said in his last days: "I never felt sorry about something that I missed except that I didn't fight on the side of Ali against the unjust party". When he passed, it was said: "Umar lived in a time when similar ones could be found, and Ibn Umar lived in a time when there was no one similar to him." He died in the year A.H. 73. May Allah have mercy on him and grant him the highest level of Jannah. Aameen yaa rabb.
