Question

Did Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) call Sayyiduna ‘Umar (radiyallahu ‘anhu) ‘Al Faruq’?

 

Answer

The following narrations state that Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) did indeed call Sayyiduna ‘Umar (radiyallahu ‘anhu) using the title ‘Al Faruq’:

1) Ayyub ibn Musa (rahimahullah) says, Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) said: “Allah Ta’ala has placed the truth (haq) on the tongue and heart of ‘Umar (radiyallahu ‘anhu) and he is ‘Al Faruq’ [the distinguisher], Allah Ta’ala distinguishes between correct and incorrect through him.”

(Tabaqat Ibn Sa’d, vol. 3 pg. 205. The first part of this Hadith is recorded in many other Hadith collections, see here)

 

2) Sayyidah ‘Aaishah (radiyallahu ‘anha) was asked, ‘Who called ‘Umar: ‘Al Faruq’? She replied,  ‘Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam).’

(Tabaqat Ibn Sa’d, vol. 3 pg. 205)

 

3) Imam Abu Nu’aym (rahimahullah) has recorded a lengthy narration wherein Sayyiduna ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Abbas (radiyallahu ‘anhuma) asked Sayyiduna ‘Umar (radiyallahu ‘anhu) as to why he was called ‘Al Faruq’? Sayyiduna ‘Umar (radiyallahu ‘anhu) responded with the incident of how he accepted Islam. Sayyiduna ‘Umar (radiyallahu ‘anhu) also stated in this narration that Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) called him ‘Al Faruq.’

(Hilyatul Awliya, vol. 1 pg. 40)

 

These narrations corroborate each other.

 

Also see Fathul Bari, Hadith: 2359- 2360, vol. 5 pg. 38

 

And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.

 

Answered by: Moulana Suhail Motala

 

Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar

 

Checked by: Moulana Haroon Abasoomar