The Book of the Sunnah

"The Messenger of Allah came out standing between Abu Bakr and 'Umar and said: 'Thus will I be resurrected,'"

"The Messenger of Allah said: 'Abu Bakr and 'Umar are the leaders of the mature people of Paradise, the first and the last, except for the Prophets and the Messengers.'"

"It was said: 'O Messenger of Allah, which of the people is most beloved to you?' He said: "Aishah.' It was asked, 'And among men?' He said: 'Her father.'"

That he mentioned the Khawarij, and said: "Among them there will be a man with a defective hand, or a short hand, or small hand. If you were to exercise restraint (i.e., not become overjoyed), I would tell you of what Allah has promised upon the lips of Muhammed for those who kill them." I ('Ubaidah) said: "Did you hear that from Muhammed?" He said: "Yes, by the Lord of the Ka'bah!' - three times."

"The Messenger of Allah said: 'At the end of time there will appear a people with new teeth (i.e., young in age), with foolish minds. They will speak the best words ever uttered by mankind and they will recite the Qur'an, but it will not go any deeper than their collarbones. They will pass through Islam like an arrow passes through its target. Whoever meets them, let him kill them, for killing them will bring a reward from Allah for those who kill them."

"I said to Abu Sa'eed Khudri: 'Did you hear the Messenger of Allah mention anything about the Haruriyyah (a sect of Khawarij)?' He said: 'I heard him mention a people who would appear to be devoted worshippers: "Such that anyone of you would regard his own prayer and fasting as insignificant when compared to theirs. But they will pass through Islam like an arrow passing through its target, then he (the archer) picks up his arrow and looks at its iron head but does not see anything, then he looks at the shaft and does not see anything, then he looks at the band: that which is wrapped around the iron head where it is connected to the shaft, then he looks at the feather and is not sure whether he sees anything or not."

"The Messenger of Allah said: 'There will be people among my Ummah (nation) after me who will recite the Qur'an, but it will not go any deeper than their throats. They will pass through Islam like an arrow passing through its target, then they will never return to it. They are the most evil of mankind and of all creation.' " 'Abdullah bin Samit said: "I mentioned to Rafi' bin 'Amr, the brother of Hakam bin 'Amr Ghifari and he said: 'I also heard that from the Messenger of Allah.'"

"The Messenger of Allah said: 'There are those who recite the Qur'an but it does not go any deeper than their collarbones. They will pass through Islam like an arrow passing through its target.'"

"The Messenger of Allah was in Ji'ranah and he was distributing gold nuggets and spoils of war which were in Bilal's lap. A man said: 'Do justice, O Muhammed!' He said: 'Woe to you! Who will do justice after me if I do not do justice?' 'Umar said: 'O Messenger of Allah! Let me strike the neck of this hypocrite!' The Messenger of Allah said: 'This man has some companions who recite the Qur'an but it does not go any deeper than their collarbones. They will pass through Islam like an arrow passing through its target.'"

"The Messenger of Allah said: 'The Khawarij are the dogs of Hell.'"

The Messenger of Allah said: "There will emerge people who will recite the Qur'an but it will not go any deeper than their collarbones. Whenever a group of them appears, they should be cut off (i.e. killed)." Ibn 'Umar said: "I heard the Messenger of Allah say: 'Whenever a group of them appears, they should be killed' - (he said it) more than twenty times- 'until Dajjal emerges among them.'"

"The Messenger of Allah said: 'At the end of time or among this nation (Ummah) there will appear people who will recite the Qur'an but it will not go any deeper than their collarbones or their throats. Their distinguishing feature will be their shaved heads. If you see them, or meet them, then kill them.'"

"(The Khawarij) are the worst of the slain who are killed under heaven, and the best of the slain are those who were killed by them. Those (Khawarij) are the dogs of Hell. Those people were Muslims but they became disbelievers." I said: "O Abu Umamah, is that your opinion?" He said: "Rather I heard it from the Messenger of Allah."

"I said to 'Aishah: 'Which of the (Prophet's) Companions was most beloved to him?' She said: 'Abu Bakr.' I said: 'Then which of them?' She said: ''Umar.' I said: 'Then which of them?' She said: 'Abu 'Ubaidah.'"

"When 'Umar became Muslim, Jibril came down and said: 'O Muhammed! The people of heaven are rejoicing because of 'Umar's Islam.'"

"The Messenger of Allah said: 'The first person with whom Allah will shake hands will be 'Umar, (and he is) the first person to be greeted with the Salam, and the first person who will be taken by the hand and admitted into Paradise.'"

"The Messenger of Allah said: 'O Allah! Strengthen Islam with 'Umar bin Khattab in particular.'"

"I heard 'Ali say: 'The best of people after the Messenger of Allah is Abu Bakr, and the best of people after Abu Bakr is 'Umar.'"

"We were sitting with the Prophet and he said: 'While I was sleeping I saw myself in Paradise (in a dream), and I saw a woman performing ablution beside a palace. I asked: "Whose palace is this?" She said: "'Umar's." I remembered his protective jealousy, so I turned away and left.'" Abu Hurairah said: ''Umar wept and said: 'May my father and mother be sacrificed for you, O Messenger of Allah! Would I feel any protective jealousy against you?'"

"I heard the Messenger of Allah say: 'Allah has placed the truth on the tongue of 'Umar, and he speaks with that (truth).'"