Q 4: What do you know about the authenticity of the Hadith relating the overt Hijrah (migration to Madinah) of `Umar ibn Al-Khattab and his saying what means: “Whoever desires his mother to be bereaved of him or his wife to be widowed, let him meet me in this valley”?

A: This Athar (narration from the Companions) was narrated by Taqy Al-Din Al-Fasy, in vol. 6 of his book (Part No. 26; Page No. 40) "Al-‘Iqd Al-Thamin fi Tarikh Al-Balad Al-Amin (The Precious Necklace in the History of the Secure City)". He said: "When `Umar decided to undertake Hijrah to Al-Madinah, he girded his sword, shouldered his bow and unsheathed his arrows, and went to the Ka‘bah, where the chiefs of Quraysh were in its courtyard. He performed Tawaf (circumambulation around the Ka‘bah) seven times, offered two Rak‘ahs (unit of Prayer) at the Maqam (the Station of Ibrahim), and then went round their gathering circles, one-by-one, and then said, 'May the faces be disfigured! Anyone who desires his mother to be bereaved of him, his child be left an orphan, and his wife be left a widow, let him meet me behind this valley.' But none of them followed him." The author said: "We related this on the authority of `Aly ibn Abu Talib (may Allah be pleased with him), who is reported to have said, 'I never knew anyone who performed Hijrah unless secretly, except `Umar ibn Al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him). When he performed Hijrah, he girded his sword...' and then he mentioned the Athar. Al-Suyuty said in "Tarikh Al-Khulafa’ (The History of Caliphs)", p. 115, that it was related by Ibn ‘Asakir on the authority of `Aly, Then he mentioned the Athar.However, we do not know any Sahih (authentic) origin for this Athar.May Allah grant us success. May peace and blessings be upon our Prophet Muhammad, his family, and Companions.