What is the status of this incident?
Sayyiduna ‘Umar ibn Khattab (radiyallahu ‘anhu) would take care of a blind elderly woman on the outskirts of Madinah Munawwarah at night. He would make arrangements for her water and take care of her needs. When he would go to see to her needs he would find that someone already took care of it. He wanted to find out who this was, so he set out earlier than usual one evening waiting in anticipation. Suddenly he sees Sayyiduna Abu Bakr (radiyallahu ‘anhu) who was the Khalifah at the time being the one would come and take care of this woman. Sayyiduna ‘Umar (radiyallahu ‘anhu) took an oath and said, ‘It is you!’
Answer
Hafiz Ibn ‘Asakir (rahimahullah) has recorded this incident with an extremely weak chain.
(Tarikh Ibn ‘Asakir, vol. 30 pg. 322. Refer: Lisanul Mizan, vol. 2 pg. 418, -number: 1758-, Mizanul I’tidal, vol. 2 pg. 47 and Bayanul Wahmi Wal Iham, Hadith: 855)
And Allah Ta’ala Knows best.
Answered by: Moulana Suhail Motala
Approved by: Moulana Muhammad Abasoomar
Checked by: Moulana Haroon Abasoomar