Holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ once said that had there been a Prophet after him, he would have been Hazrat Umar رضی اللہ عنہا. Holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ once warned, “Maintaining bigotry towards Hazrat Umar رضی اللہ عنہا is akin to maintaining bigotry towards me and extending respect to Hazrat Umar رضی اللہ عنہا is akin to extending respect to me.” Holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ once said, “One evening in Arafat Almighty Allah felt proud of all Muslims especially Hazrat Umar رضی اللہ عنہ.” Holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said, “Almighty Allah has designated a scholar of Hadith (Muhaddis) for every saying of every Prophet, and Hazrat Umar رضی اللہ عنہا is scholar of Hadith for my Ummah.” The respectful companions asked that who Muhaddis is for. Holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said that Muhaddis is the one whose discussion is referred to by Angels.
(Life of the Companions Vol. 3, Page No. 591)
Hazrat Umar’s رضی اللہ عنہ fondness for pious acts
Once Holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ asked his companions that who among them had enjoined funeral. Hazrat Umar رضی اللہ عنہ replied that he had just attended a funeral. Holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ asked that who among them had attended a patient. Hazrat Umar رضی اللہ عنہ replied that he had just attended a patient. Holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ asked that who among them had given alms. Hazrat Umar رضی اللہ عنہ replied that he had. Holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ asked that who had fasted. Hazrat Umar رضی اللہ عنہ replied that he had fasted. Seeing his inclination towards good deeds, Holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ said that it has become obligatory for Hazrat Umar رضی اللہ عنہ to abode in Heaven.
A strange incident narrated by Jinn
One day a man passed by Hazrat Umar Bin Khatab رضی اللہ عنہ. One of the companions asked, “Caliph! Do you know who has just passed by you?” Hazrat Umar رضی اللہ عنہ replied no and asked that who he was. The companion told that he was Hazrat Sawad Bin Kaab رضی اللہ عنہ whom a jinn had communicated a glad tiding about the prophethood of Hazrat Muhammad ﷺ. Hazrat Umar رضی اللہ عنہ called him back and asked if he was Hazrat Sawad Bin Kaab رضی اللہ عنہ. He replied yes. Hazrat Umar رضی اللہ عنہ then asked if he practiced necromancy before embracing Islam. This annoyed Hazrat Sawad Bin Kaab رضی اللہ عنہ. He said, “No one has ever talked me about the practice I have forsaken ever since I embraced Islam.” Hazrat Umar رضی اللہ عنہ said, “Subhan Allah! I was a polytheist before embracing Islam, and this is a sin graver than sorcery.” “Tell me how the jinn gave you tiding about Holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ.”
To this, Hazrat Sawad رضی اللہ عنہ narrated the whole incident. “One mid-night while I was half asleep, jinn came, woke me up and said, “O Sawad Bin Qarib! Listen if you could understand. There is a Prophet from Quresh’s tribe, Luwi Bin Ghalib, who worships only one Allah and preaches monotheism.” I wondered that jinn riding white camels are in search of truth. I must also find the one who is prominent and finest of Bani Hashim. I would be the first one to seek truth, not the last one. Having determined, I asked that jinn to let me sleep as I had been feeling tired since evening. Next night that jinn appeared again and repeated the discussion. The jinn kept appearing for three nights. I realized that Allah wants me to become the first one to seek truth. I got up and rode the camel. When I reached Medina, I saw Holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ sitting with his companions. I got closer and sought permission to submit. I recited following poetic verses:
At mid-night for three consecutive nights
After I had slept for some while
A jinni would come and tell
That a true Prophet from honoured tribe
Lawi Bin Ghalib has arrived
I then embarked
Through plain fields and reached you
I bear witness that Allah is Almighty
And alone to be worshipped
O ye the most respected son!
Bind together the believers!
O ye the best of mankind!
Order that we die performing!
May the Prophet recognizes me the day,
When no one would each other by any way!
This poetry amused Holy Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and his companions.”
Hearing the incident Hazrat Umar رضی اللہ عنہ embraced Hazrat Sawad رضی اللہ عنہ and said, “I earnestly wanted to hear this incident from you. Does that jinn still visit you?” “No, ever since I have started reciting Holy Quran, he has not come.”
Hazrat Umar رضی اللہ عنہ once told, “One day during our stay at Al Zareeh tribe of Quraish, while meat of a calf just slaughtered was being chopped, we heard a strange voice from calf’s stomach. The voice was interpretted by a man as, “I bear witness that Allah is Almighty and worthy to be worshipped.”
