I am reporting to you from the Prophet and you are reporting...

I am reporting to you from the Prophet and you are reporting to me from Abu-Bakr and `Umar!”[^3] According to a third narration, `Abdullah ibn `Abbas said, “I am reporting to you from the Prophet and you are bringing to me what was said by Abu-Bakr and `Umar!” According to a fourth narration, `Abdullah ibn `Abbas said, “I see coming that you shall be inflicted by stones from the heavens!”[^4] Yet, `Urwah answered, “I swear by Allah that Abu-Bakr and `Umar were more knowledgeable than you are as regards the Sunnah of the Messenger of Allah.”[^5] On this statement, al-Khatib al-Baghdadiy commented, “`Urwah was right.

Yet it is unacceptable to follow anybody in violating what has been authentically proven as said by the Messenger of Allah.”[^6] It has been also narrated that `Abdullah, son of `Umar ibn al-Khattab, learnt people that Almighty Allah has revealed the temporary marriage and the Holy Prophet passed it. Some objected to him that he was disagreeing with his father.

His answer was “You should have followed the Holy Prophet’s Sunnah, not `Umar’s!”[^7] According to another narration, he answered, “Whose commandment should I follow? The Holy Prophet’s or my father’s? Indeed, the Holy Prophet did it.”[^8]  It has been narrated on the authority of `Abd al-A`la that Zayd ibn Arqam, while leading a Deceased Prayer, repeated the Takbir (the statement of Allahu Akbar ) five times.

Hence, Abu-`Īsa `Abd al-Rahman ibn Abi-Layla, the official jurisprudent of the State, hurried towards Zayd, took him from the hand, and said, “Have you forgotten (the number of the Takbir )?” “No, I have not,” answered Zayd, “I personally followed my dear, the Holy Prophet, in such a prayer when he repeated the Takbir five times only.

I therefore shall never leave it.”[^9] A similar narration has been narrated from `Īsa, the manumitted slave of Hudhayfah ibn al-Yaman, who confirmed that his master reported to him that the Holy Prophet repeated the Takbir five times only while he was offering a Deceased Prayer.[^10] Wabrah ibn `Abd al-Rahman narrated that a man came to `Abdullah ibn `Umar and asked whether it is valid to circumambulate the Holy Ka`bah while being Muhrim (entering into Ihram : putting the pilgrimage uniform and entering the state of being performing the obligatory rites of the ritual Hajj).

“Nothing prevents you from it,” answered `Abdullah ibn `Umar.