Umar RA narration of prohibiting Tamatuu

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Fatwa ID: 02649

Answered by:  Molana Muhammad Adnan

Question

Question: I would like explanations regarding the Ahadith below.

Narration 1.

"'Imran Ibn Sawad says, "I said the morning prayers with 'Umar and then,
followed him."
He asked, "You have a request?"
I said, "Yes, advice!"
He said, "Bravo! Go on!"
I said, "People find faults with you in several things."
Holding his lash under his chin, 'Umar said, "Well?"
I said, "You have forbidden the lesser pilgrimage (the 'Umra Hajj)
during the months of Hajj while Prophet Muhammad said it was permitted;
neither did Abu Bakr act like you."
'Umar said, "This was to show people that they were not exempt from the
main Hajj by doing the 'Umra."
I asked, "You have banned the temporary marriage of women while the
Prophet had allowed it?"
_'UMAR SAID, “I AM EQUAL TO MUHAMMAD; I MAKE THEM FULL AND DO SO AND
SO FOR THEM. IF I DO NOT DO SO, I'LL ABANDON THE TRUTH (THIS IS IRONICAL
OF HIS HAVING RIGHT TO DO SO).”_
Tarikh at-Tabari, vol. IV, p. 225; Ibn Abi l-Hadid, al-Fa'iq fi gharib
al-hadith, vol. I, pp 433-434

Question: Is the narration authentic, and what did Umar mean, I am equal
to the Prophet (SAW)?

Abu Musa, (Allah be pleased with him) reported that he used to deliver
a religious verdict in favor of Hajj Tamattu'. A person said to him:
_Exercise restraint in delivering some of your religious verdicts, for
you do not know what the Commander of Believers has introduced in the
rites (of Hajj) after you (when you were away in Yemen). He (Abu Musa, )
met him (Hadrat Umar) subsequently and asked him (about it), whereupon
'Umar said: __I KNOW THAT ALLAH'S APOSTLE (MAY PEACE BE UPON HIM) AND
ALSO HIS COMPANIONS DID THAT (OBSERVED TAMATTU'), BUT I DO NOT APPROVE__
that the married persons should have intercourse with their wives under
the shade of the trees, and then set out for Hajj with water trickling
down from their heads._

Sahih Muslim
Book 7, Hadith 2814

Question: Why did Umar (RA) forbid Tamattu when the Prophet (SAW)
allowed it.

Jazak'Allah.

Answer

Narration 1:

The reference given for Tareekh Tabari is incorrect as the 4th volume is about the ancient kingdoms and the 5th volume is about the Sasanids and Byzantines etc. Similarly, the reference for Allamah Zamakhshari’s al-fa’iq fi gharib al-hadith wal-aathar is also problematic so please get a proper reference so we can check.

Narration 2:

It is reported in the Two Sahihs that `Imran bin Husayn said, "We performed Hajj At-Tamattu` in the lifetime of Allah's Messenger and then the Qur'an was revealed (regarding Hajj At-Tamattu`). Nothing was revealed to forbid it, nor did he (the Prophet ) forbid it until he died. And somebody said what he wished (regarding Hajj At-Tamattu`) according to his own opinion.'' Al-Bukhari said that `Imran was talking about `Umar. It is reported in an authentic narration that `Umar used to discourage the people from performing Tamattu`. He used to say, "If we refer to Allah's Book, we should complete it,'' meaning:

(…whosoever performs the `Umrah (in the months of Hajj), before (performing) the Hajj, he must slaughter a Hady such as he can afford,)

However `Umar did not say that Tamattu` is unlawful. He only prevented them so that the people would increase their trips to the House for Hajj (during the months of Hajj) and `Umrah (throughout the year), as he himself has stated.

(Tafsir Ibn Kathir)

And Allah Ta'ala knows best

Molana Muhammad Adnan

Checked and approved by Mufti Mohammed Tosir Miah

Darul Ifta Birmingham

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