Q: A lecturer came to our school to give a talk on the miracles of Awliya' (pious people). He mentioned in his lecture that while `Umar ibn Al-Khattab was giving a Khutbah (sermon), he called out to the detachment he had sent out to war saying, "O, Sariyah (meaning detachment)! Move to the mountain!" The detachment then heard him and moved towards the mountain, though (Part No. 26; Page No. 41) there was a long distance between them. Is this tale true or not? Is it considered a Karamah (an extraordinary event caused by Allah for or through a pious person)?

A: This Athar (narration from the Companions), narrated by `Umar (may Allah be pleased with him), is true. But what occurred was that `Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) sent out a detachment and appointed a commander named Sariyah. While `Umar was delivering a Khutbah from the Minbar (pulpit), he began to shout, "O, Sariyah! Move to the mountain! O, Sariyah! Move to the mountain!" When the messenger of the army came, he said, "O, Amir Al-Mu’minin (Commander of the Believers)! When we met our enemy, we were defeated, but then we heard a voice calling, 'O, Sariyah! Move to the mountain!' We moved to the mountain and turned our backs to it, and then we defeated them." Narrated by Ahmad in "Fada'il Al-Sahabah", Abu Nu`aym in "Dala'il Al-Nubuwwah", Al-Diya' in his "Al-Muntaqa min Al-Masmu`at", Ibn `Asakir in his "Tarikh", Al-Bayhaqy in "Dala'il Al-Nubuwwah" and Ibn Hajar in "Al-Isabah" with a good Isnad (chain of narration). It was also narrated by Ibn Kathir in his "Tarikh" with a good Isnad, and by Al-Haythamy in "Al-Sawa`iq Al-Muhriqah" with a good Isnad as well.This was an inspiration by Allah and a special Karamah for `Umar (may Allah be pleased with him), for he was an inspirational speaker as authentically reported from the Prophet (peace be upon him). It was not mentioned in the Athar that he (may Allah be pleased with him) saw the army according to other weak narrations claimed by Sufis about knowing the Ghayb (the Unseen). This is false, as knowing the Ghayb is one of the Attributes of Allah (Glorified and Exalted be He). What was mentioned in the question, that `Umar (Part No. 26; Page No. 42) (may Allah be pleased with him) called the detachment themselves, so they heard him and moved to the mountain, is a misunderstanding of the Hadith.May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.