Question
Is the following narration suitable to quote? Kindly provide the reference also.
“The Byzantine Emperor sent a message to Sayyiduna Umar (radiyallahu ‘anhu) saying, “I have a headache which never leaves me at ease, so please send me some medicine.’ In response, Sayyiduna Umar (radiyallahu ‘anhu) sent him a cap. When the emperor wore the cap, his headache disappeared, but when he took it off, the pain returned. The emperor was astonished and searched inside the cap, where he found a paper with ‘Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim’ written on it.”
Answer
Imam Fakhrud Din Razi (rahimahullah) has mentioned this in his Tafsir without citing a source.
He writes: “Caesar wrote to ‘Umar (radiyallahu ‘anhu) saying, “I suffer from a persistent headache that does not subside. Please send me a remedy.” ‘Umar (radiyallahu ‘anhu) sent him a hat. Whenever Caesar placed it on his head, the headache would cease, but when he removed it, the headache would return. Astonished by this, he examined the cap and found a piece of paper inside it inscribed with: ‘Bismillahir Rahmanir Rahim'” (In the name of Allah, the Most Merciful, the Most Compassionate).
(Tafsir Razi, vol. 1, pg. 158. Also see: Al Lubab fi ‘Ulumil Kitab, vol. 1, pg. 158)
I have not come across this incident in any primary source.
And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.
Answered by: Mawlana Suhail Motala
Approved by: Mawlana Muhammad Abasoomar
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التخريج من المصادر العربية
تفسير الرازي: مفاتيح الغيب (١/ ١٥٨)
الباب الحادي عشر في بعض النكت المستخرجة من قولنا بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
السادسة عشرة: كتب قيصر إلى عمر رضي الله عنه أن بي صُداعاً لا يسكن فابعث لي دواء، فبعث إليه عمر قلنسوة فكان إذا وضعها على رأسه يسكن صداعه، وإذا رفعها عن رأسه عاوده الصداع، فعجب منه ففتش القلنسوة فإذا فيها كاغد مكتوب فيه: بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم.
اللباب في علوم الكتاب: (١/ ١٥٨)
كتب قيصر إلى عمر – رضي الله تعالى عنه – أن بي صداعا لا يسكن، فابعث لي دواء، فبعث إليه عمر قلنسوة، فكان إذا وضعها على رأسه سكن صداعه، وإذا رفعها عن رأسه عاد الصداع، فتعجب منه ففتش القلنسوة، فإذا فيها مكتوب ” بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم.