Question

In your answer here, regarding Sayyiduna ‘Amr ibnul ‘As (radiyallahu ‘anhu) being appointed as the leader of the army of Dhatus Salasil, he asked Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) “Who is the most beloved person to you?”

What is the correlation between him being appointed as the leader and his question?

 

Answer

Hafiz Ibn Hajar (rahimahullah) has explained that a narration recorded by Imam Ibn Sa’d explains the reason for his query. Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam) appointed him as the leader of the army in which Sayyiduna Abu Bakr and Sayyiduna ‘Umar (radiyallahu ‘anhuma) were also part of.  The thought crossed Sayyiduna ‘Amr’s ibnul ‘As (radiyallahu ‘anhu) mind that perhaps he holds a higher rank than them in the sight of Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam). Therefore he asked Nabi (sallallahu ‘alayhi wa sallam), “Who is the most beloved person to you?”

(Fathul Bari, Hadith: 3662 and ‘Umdatul Qari, Hadith: 3662)

 

See the complete Hadith in question here.

 

And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.

 

Answered by: Moulana Suhail Motala

 

Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar