It was narrated
that ‘Amr Ibn al-Haarith said: “Whilst ‘Umar bin al-Khattaab was on the minbar
delivering
the khutbah
on
a Friday, he stopped preaching, then he said: ‘O Saariyah, the mountain!’ two
or three times. Then he carried on with his khutbah. Those
who were present of the Companions of the Messenger of Allaah (sallallaahu
alayhi wa sallam) said: ‘He has
gone mad; he was delivering the khutbah then
he said, ‘O Saariyah, the mountain!’ ‘Abdur-Rahmaan Ibn ‘Awf, with whom ‘Umar
used to feel comfortable, entered upon him and said: 'The main reason I would
blame you concerning them is that you have given the people cause to talk about
you, because whilst you were delivering the khutbah you
suddenly shouted, ‘O Saariyah, the mountain!' What was that?’
‘Umar said: ‘By
Allah, I could not help it. I saw them fighting near a mountain, with the enemy
attacking from in front and from behind them, and I could not help but say, 0
Saariyah, the mountain! So that they could run to the mountain.' They waited
until the messenger came with a letter (from Saariyah) which said: 'The enemy
caught up with us on Friday and we fought them from the time of Fajr
prayer
until the time for Jumu’ah prayer
came, and the sun had passed the meridian. Then we heard someone calling out, ‘O
Saariyah, the mountain!’ twice. So we climbed the mountain and started to
inflict casualties on the enemy until Allaah caused them to be defeated and
killed.’ Then those who had criticised him said: ‘Leave this man alone, for he
receives divine help.’”[1]
[1]
Narrated
by Abu Nu'aym in Dalaa'il an-Nubuwwah, p.
210; lbn Hajar in al-Isaabah, 3/4;
Abu Ja'far at-Tabari in ar-Riyaad an-Nadirah
fi
Manaaqib al-'Asharah, 2/ 15, Maktabat Muhammad Najeeb edn.,
1372; he said: its isnaad is
hasan.
