This article is excerpted from Morning and Evening Invocations, a collection of du’a and adhkar from the Qur’an, Sunnah, and righteous scholars published by IGI in 2021. Available both in paperback and as a free ebook.
‘Abd Allah b. ‘Umar b. al-Khattab, Abu ‘Abd ar-Rahman رضي الله عنه was noble sahabi who was born after the mission of the Prophet ﷺ had begun.
He رضي الله عنه embraced Islam while still a child and migrated with his parents رضي الله عنهم.
He رضي الله عنه presented himself to the Prophet ﷺ on the day of Uhud, but the Prophet ﷺ deemed him too young and sent him back.
His رضي الله عنه Participation in the Battles of the Prophet ﷺ
He رضي الله عنه presented himself to the Prophet ﷺ on the day of Badr. As he was only 13 years, the Prophet ﷺ deemed him too young and sent him back.
The same thing happened a year later on the day of ‘Uhud.
Three of the reports included in The Forty Hadith of Imam al-Nawawi are narrated from Ibn ‘Umar رضي الله عنه.
The following year—when he was 15—the Prophet ﷺ permitted him رضي الله عنه to partake at Khandaq (the Battle of the Trench).
After that, he رضي الله عنه participated in all the battles of the Prophet ﷺ.
His Adherence to the Sunnah رضي الله عنه
He رضي الله عنه is from amongst the young companions who benefited tremendously from the companionship of the Prophet ﷺ.
He رضي الله عنه adhered to the Prophetic Sunna strictly and is considered the most stringent of the companions in imitating the Prophet ﷺ.
It has been reported that the Prophet ﷺ said about him رضي الله عنه:
“‘Abd Allah is a righteous man.”
His Status رضي الله عنه as a Narrator of Hadith
He رضي الله عنه possessed vast knowledge, was a hafiz of the Qur’an and related 1,630 ahadith.
Among the most famous narrations from him رضي الله عنه, recorded in Sahih Bukhari and Sahih Muslim and included in The Forty Hadith of Imam al-Nawawi. is the hadith that mentions the “Five Pillars of Islam”:
Imam al-Tirmidhi’s Al-Shama’il al-Muhammadiyya contains several ahadith reported from Sayyiduna Abd ‘Allah Ibn ‘Umar رضي الله عنه.
Abu ‘Abd al-Rahman ‘Abdullah ibn Umar ibn al-Khattab رضي الله عنهم said,
‘I heard the Messenger of Allah ﷺ saying:
‘“Islam was built upon five: testifying that there is nothing worthy of worship except Allah and that Muhammad is the Messenger of Allah, being steadfast in offering prayer, paying zakat, performing the pilgrimage to the House, and fasting in the month of Ramadan.”’
A famous narration from the Shama’il of Imam al-Tirmidhi describes how he رضي الله عنه observed the Prophet ﷺ very closely while he was still a boy, such that he رضي الله عنه even counted the number of white hairs on the Prophet’s head ﷺ:
‘Muhammad ibn 'Umar in al-Walid al-Kindi al-Kufi narrated to us, 'Yahya ibn Adam informed us on the authority of Sharik, on the authority of 'Ubaydullah ibn 'Umar, on the authority of Nafi', on the authority of Abdullah ibn 'Umar رضي الله عنه, who reported:
‘"The blessed white hairs of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ were only around twenty or so in number."‘
His Death رضي الله عنه
He رضي الله عنه entered the isthmus in Mecca in the year 73 AH (692/3 or 693/4) at the age of eighty-four.
His maqam رضي الله عنه is north of the Haram, on the outskirts of the city.
Du’a and Dhikr Transmitted from Him رضي الله عنه
IGP’s Morning and Evening Invocations contains a du’a that the Prophet ﷺ gave to Sayyiduna Abu Huraira رضي الله عنه. (Available both in paperback and as a free ebook)
Invocation 28 from Morning and Evening Invocations is known as:
Sayyiduna ‘ABD ALLAH B. ‘UMAR’S رضي الله عنه ENCOMPASSING SUPPLICATION:
O Allah, I ask You for security in this world and in the Hereafter.
O Allah, I ask You for forgiveness and security in my religion, my worldly affairs, my family and my wealth. O Allah, conceal my faults and keep me safe from the things which I fear.
O Allah, guard me in my front, my back, my right, my left, above me, and I seek in You greatness from receiving unexpected harm from below me.
Ibn ‘Umar رضي الله عنه said:
‘The Messenger of Allah ﷺ would not leave these prayers in the evening and morning:
‘“O Allah, I ask You for security in this world and in the Hereafter. O Allah, I ask You for forgiveness and security in my religion…”’
Reported by Abu Dawud, 5074; an-Nasa’i, 8/282; Ibn Hibban, 3356 Mawarid, who graded it Sahih; al-Bukhari in Al-Adab al-Mufrad and others.
Imam an-Nawawi said in al-Adhkar, 183 that its chains were sahih.
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Morning and Evening Invocations contains two famous du’a transmitted from Sayyiduna ‘Abd Allah Ibn ‘Umar رضي الله عنه. (Also available as a free ebook)