Umar's Battlefield Retreats in Sunni Sources

Umar’s Battlefield Retreats in Sunni Sources — And the Superiority of Imam Ali a.s

Many people use Bay‘at al-Ridwan as a shield and say:

“Allah was pleased with those under the tree, so no criticism is allowed.”

But they forget one important point:

Bay‘at al-Ridwan was not only a virtue.

It was a covenant.

And Sunni books themselves say that the pledge beneath the tree was a pledge not to flee from battle.

1. Bay‘at al-Ridwan was a pledge not to flee

Arabic:

كنا يوم الحديبية ألفا وأربعمائة، فبايعناه، وعمر آخذ بيده تحت الشجرة، وهي سمرة، وقال: بايعناه على أن لا نفر، ولم نبايعه على الموت.

English:

“We were one thousand and four hundred on the day of Hudaybiyyah. We pledged allegiance to him while Umar was holding his hand under the tree, and it was a samurah tree. He said: We pledged to him that we would not flee, and we did not pledge to him upon death.”

Reference:

Sahih Muslim, hadith 1856.

So the Bay‘ah was not just a slogan.

It was:

على أن لا نفر

“That we would not flee.”

2. Another narration says the pledge was upon death

Arabic:

قلت لسلمة بن الأكوع: على أي شيء بايعتم رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم يوم الحديبية؟ قال: على الموت.

English:

“I asked Salamah ibn al-Akwa‘: Upon what did you pledge allegiance to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ on the day of Hudaybiyyah? He said: Upon death.”

Reference:

Sahih al-Bukhari, hadith 2960; also reported in the chapters of Hudaybiyyah.

These two wordings are not contradictory.

“Not to flee” and “upon death” mean:

Stand firm.

Do not run.

Even if death comes.

3. Sunni commentary explains the meaning

Arabic:

وهذا خلاف لفظي، وأما المعنى فمتفق عليه؛ لأن من بايع على ألا يفر حتى يفتح الله عليه أو يقتل فقد بايع على الموت.

English:

“This is only a difference in wording, while the meaning is agreed upon. Whoever pledges not to flee until Allah grants victory or he is killed has indeed pledged upon death.”

Reference:

Al-Qurtubi, al-Mufhim lima Ashkala min Talkhis Kitab Muslim, chapter on pledging not to flee and upon death.

So Bay‘at al-Ridwan means:

Do not flee even if death comes.

Now compare this covenant with the battlefield reports about Umar ibn Khattab.

4. Fleeing from battle is a destructive sin

Arabic:

اجتنبوا السبع الموبقات. قالوا: يا رسول الله وما هن؟ قال: الشرك بالله، والسحر، وقتل النفس التي حرم الله إلا بالحق، وأكل الربا، وأكل مال اليتيم، والتولي يوم الزحف، وقذف المحصنات المؤمنات الغافلات.

English:

“Avoid the seven destructive sins.” They said: “O Messenger of Allah, what are they?” He said: “Associating partners with Allah, sorcery, killing a soul which Allah has forbidden except by right, consuming usury, consuming the wealth of the orphan, turning away on the day of battle, and slandering chaste believing women who are unaware.”

Reference:

Sahih al-Bukhari, hadith 2766; Sahih Muslim.

So fleeing from battle is not a small mistake.

It is one of the destructive sins.

5. Hunayn happened after Bay‘at al-Ridwan

Arabic:

لما كان يوم حنين ... وانهزم المسلمون وانهزمت معهم، فإذا بعمر بن الخطاب في الناس، فقلت له: ما شأن الناس؟ قال: أمر الله، ثم تراجع الناس إلى رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم.

English:

“When it was the day of Hunayn… the Muslims were defeated/retreated, and I was defeated/retreated with them. Then there was Umar ibn al-Khattab among the people. I said to him: What is the matter with the people? He said: It is the command of Allah. Then the people returned to the Messenger of Allah ﷺ.”

Reference:

Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab al-Maghazi, Battle of Hunayn, hadith 4322.

Careful point:

This narration does not say Umar alone fled.

It says there was a general retreat, and Umar was found among the people during that retreat.

But Hunayn happened after Bay‘at al-Ridwan.

And Bay‘at al-Ridwan was a pledge:

“That we would not flee.”

6. The Qur’an itself describes the retreat at Hunayn

Arabic:

وَيَوْمَ حُنَيْنٍ إِذْ أَعْجَبَتْكُمْ كَثْرَتُكُمْ فَلَمْ تُغْنِ عَنكُمْ شَيْئًا وَضَاقَتْ عَلَيْكُمُ الْأَرْضُ بِمَا رَحُبَتْ ثُمَّ وَلَّيْتُم مُّدْبِرِينَ

English:

“And on the day of Hunayn, when your great number pleased you, but it did not benefit you at all, and the earth, vast as it was, became tight for you; then you turned back fleeing.”

Reference:

Qur’an, Surah al-Tawbah 9:25.

The Qur’an says:

ثُمَّ وَلَّيْتُم مُّدْبِرِينَ

“Then you turned back fleeing.”

So no one can deny that retreat happened after Hudaybiyyah.

The question is:

Who stood firm?

Who fled?

Who fulfilled the covenant?

Who failed the test?

7. Khaybar happened after Bay‘at al-Ridwan — Umar returned defeated

Arabic:

سار رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم إلى خيبر، فلما أتاها بعث عمر ومعه الناس إلى مدينتهم أو إلى قصرهم، فقاتلوهم فلم يلبثوا أن انهزم عمر وأصحابه، فجاء يجبنهم ويجبنونه، فساء ذلك رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم، فقال: لأبعثن إليهم رجلا يحب الله ورسوله ويحبه الله ورسوله، يقاتلهم حتى يفتح الله له؛ ليس بفرار.

English:

“The Messenger of Allah ﷺ marched to Khaybar. When he reached it, he sent Umar with the people to their city or fortress. They fought them, but it was not long before Umar and his companions were defeated. He came back accusing them of cowardice, and they accused him of cowardice. This upset the Messenger of Allah ﷺ, so he said: I will send against them a man who loves Allah and His Messenger, and Allah and His Messenger love him. He will fight them until Allah grants victory through him; he is not one who flees.”

Reference:

Ibn Abi Shaybah, al-Musannaf, Kitab al-Maghazi, Ghazwat Khaybar.

This is after Hudaybiyyah.

After the pledge not to flee.

The report says:

انهزم عمر وأصحابه

“Umar and his companions were defeated.”

And it says:

فجاء يجبنهم ويجبنونه

“He came back accusing them of cowardice, and they accused him of cowardice.”

8. Al-Hakim also records the Khaybar report

Arabic:

أن النبي صلى الله عليه وآله وسلم دفع الراية يوم خيبر إلى عمر رضي الله عنه، فانطلق، فرجع يجبن أصحابه ويجبنونه.

English:

“The Prophet ﷺ gave the banner on the day of Khaybar to Umar. He went out, then returned accusing his companions of cowardice, and they accused him of cowardice.”

Reference:

Al-Hakim, al-Mustadrak ‘ala al-Sahihayn, Kitab Ma‘rifat al-Sahabah / Ghazwat Khaybar.

Grading note:

Al-Hakim authenticated the report. Later Sunni scholars disputed some routes. So the honest wording is:

This report is found in Sunni sources, authenticated by al-Hakim, while some later scholars disputed its chain.

9. After Umar’s return, the Prophet gave the banner to Imam Ali a.s

Arabic:

لأعطين الراية غدا رجلا يفتح الله على يديه، يحب الله ورسوله، ويحبه الله ورسوله.

English:

“Tomorrow I will give the banner to a man at whose hands Allah will grant victory; he loves Allah and His Messenger, and Allah and His Messenger love him.”

Reference:

Sahih al-Bukhari, hadith 3009; Sahih Muslim, Khaybar narration.

This is the central comparison.

Others returned without victory.

Then the Prophet ﷺ gave the banner to Imam Ali a.s.

And Allah gave victory through him.

10. Some Sunni reports describe Imam Ali a.s as “not one who flees”

Arabic:

ليس بفرار

English:

“He is not one who flees.”

Reference:

Ibn Abi Shaybah, al-Musannaf, Kitab al-Maghazi, Ghazwat Khaybar.

This is the perfect comparison:

Umar is reported returning defeated at Khaybar.

Imam Ali a.s is described as:

ليس بفرار

“Not one who flees.”

If Bay‘at al-Ridwan was a pledge not to flee, then Imam Ali a.s is the one who fulfilled the spirit of that pledge.

11. Umar himself wished for the banner that was given to Imam Ali a.s

Arabic:

قال عمر بن الخطاب: ما أحببت الإمارة إلا يومئذ، قال: فتساورت لها رجاء أن أدعى لها، قال: فدعا رسول الله صلى الله عليه وسلم علي بن أبي طالب، فأعطاه إياها.

English:

“Umar ibn al-Khattab said: I never loved leadership except on that day. I rose up hoping that I would be called for it. Then the Messenger of Allah ﷺ called Ali ibn Abi Talib and gave it to him.”

Reference:

Sahih Muslim, Khaybar narration of the banner.

Umar wanted that rank.

But the Prophet ﷺ gave it to Imam Ali a.s.

This is not a small virtue.

It is a public distinction.

12. Uhud: the Qur’an says those who turned away were made to slip by Satan

Arabic:

إِنَّ الَّذِينَ تَوَلَّوْا مِنكُمْ يَوْمَ الْتَقَى الْجَمْعَانِ إِنَّمَا اسْتَزَلَّهُمُ الشَّيْطَانُ بِبَعْضِ مَا كَسَبُوا وَلَقَدْ عَفَا اللَّهُ عَنْهُمْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ غَفُورٌ حَلِيمٌ

English:

“Indeed, those of you who turned away on the day the two armies met, Satan only made them slip because of some of what they had earned. And Allah has certainly pardoned them. Indeed, Allah is Forgiving, Forbearing.”

Reference:

Qur’an, Surah Aal Imran 3:155.

This verse is about Uhud.

Allah says:

إِنَّمَا اسْتَزَلَّهُمُ الشَّيْطَانُ

“Satan only made them slip.”

Yes, Allah pardoned them.

But pardon means there was something needing pardon.

So no one should turn fleeing into bravery.

13. Al-Tabari quotes Umar saying: “I fled until I climbed the mountain”

Arabic:

قال عمر: لما كان يوم أحد هزمناهم، ففررت حتى صعدت الجبل، فلقد رأيتني أنزو كأنني أروى، والناس يقولون: قتل محمد، فقلت: لا أجد أحدا يقول قتل محمد إلا قتلته، حتى اجتمعنا على الجبل، فنزلت: إن الذين تولوا منكم يوم التقى الجمعان، الآية كلها.

English:

“Umar said: When it was the day of Uhud, we defeated them, then I fled until I climbed the mountain. I saw myself leaping like a mountain goat, while the people were saying: Muhammad has been killed. I said: I would not find anyone saying Muhammad has been killed except that I would kill him, until we gathered on the mountain. Then the verse was revealed: ‘Indeed, those of you who turned away on the day the two armies met…’ the whole verse.”

Reference:

Al-Tabari, Jami‘ al-Bayan, Tafsir of Surah Aal Imran 3:155.

This is the famous “mountain goat” report.

The wording is very direct:

ففررت حتى صعدت الجبل

“I fled until I climbed the mountain.”

And:

أنزو كأنني أروى

“I was leaping like a mountain goat.”

Status note:

This is a tafsir/historical report, not a Sahih al-Bukhari-level narration. Some Sunni critics discuss its chain. But the wording exists in Sunni tafsir literature and it directly attributes the statement to Umar.

14. Al-Razi also says Umar was among those who retreated at Uhud

Arabic:

ومن المنهزمين عمر، إلا أنه لم يكن في أوائل المنهزمين ولم يبعد، بل ثبت على الجبل إلى أن صعد النبي صلى الله عليه وسلم.

English:

“Among those who were defeated/retreated was Umar, except that he was not among the first of those who retreated and he did not go far; rather, he remained on the mountain until the Prophet ﷺ climbed up.”

Reference:

Fakhr al-Din al-Razi, Mafatih al-Ghayb, Tafsir of Surah Aal Imran 3:155.

Even al-Razi, while trying to soften the issue, still says:

ومن المنهزمين عمر

“Among those who retreated was Umar.”

So the debate is not whether he was first or last.

The point is:

He was among those who retreated.

15. Ibn Abi al-Hadid records a supporting historical report

Arabic:

واحتج من رأى أن عمر فر يوم أحد بما روي أنه جاءت في أيام خلافته امرأة تطلب بردا من برود كانت بين يديه، وجاءت معها بنت لعمر تطلب بردا أيضا، فأعطى المرأة ورد ابنته، فقيل له في ذلك، فقال: إن أبا هذه ثبت يوم أحد ولم يفر، وإن أبا هذه فر يوم أحد ولم يثبت.

English:

“Those who held that Umar fled on the day of Uhud used as evidence what was narrated: during his caliphate, a woman came asking for a cloak from the cloaks before him, and Umar’s daughter came with her also asking for a cloak. He gave the woman and refused his daughter. He was asked about that, so he said: The father of this woman stood firm on the day of Uhud and did not flee, while the father of this one fled on the day of Uhud and did not remain firm.”

Reference:

Ibn Abi al-Hadid, Sharh Nahj al-Balaghah, vol. 15, p. 22.

Status note:

This is a historical report, not a hadith from Sahih al-Bukhari. Use it as supporting material, not the main proof.

16. Ibn Abi al-Hadid records the “Satan cried Muhammad has been killed” version

Arabic:

وروى الواقدي: إن عمر كان يحدث فيقول: لما صاح الشيطان قتل محمد، أقبلت أرقى في الجبل كأني أروية.

English:

“Al-Waqidi narrated: Umar used to narrate and say: When Satan cried out, ‘Muhammad has been killed,’ I began climbing the mountain as if I were a mountain goat.”

Reference:

Ibn Abi al-Hadid, Sharh Nahj al-Balaghah, vol. 15, p. 22, citing al-Waqidi.

Status note:

Al-Waqidi is heavily criticised in Sunni hadith grading, so this version should not be used as the main proof.

But as historical material, it matches the Qur’anic wording:

إِنَّمَا اسْتَزَلَّهُمُ الشَّيْطَانُ

“Satan only made them slip.”

And it matches the Tabari report of climbing the mountain.

17. The comparison: Umar versus Imam Ali a.s

Now compare the two records.

About Umar:

At Uhud:

Al-Tabari quotes him saying:

ففررت حتى صعدت الجبل

“I fled until I climbed the mountain.”

Al-Razi says:

ومن المنهزمين عمر

“Among those who retreated was Umar.”

At Khaybar:

Ibn Abi Shaybah says:

انهزم عمر وأصحابه

“Umar and his companions were defeated.”

Al-Hakim records:

فرجع يجبن أصحابه ويجبنونه

“He returned accusing his companions of cowardice, and they accused him of cowardice.”

At Hunayn:

Sahih al-Bukhari says:

وانهزم المسلمون وانهزمت معهم، فإذا بعمر بن الخطاب في الناس

“The Muslims retreated, and I retreated with them, and there was Umar ibn al-Khattab among the people.”

Now about Imam Ali a.s:

At Khaybar, the Prophet ﷺ said:

لأعطين الراية غدا رجلا يفتح الله على يديه، يحب الله ورسوله، ويحبه الله ورسوله

“Tomorrow I will give the banner to a man at whose hands Allah will grant victory; he loves Allah and His Messenger, and Allah and His Messenger love him.”

And in the fuller report:

ليس بفرار

“He is not one who flees.”

This is the difference.

One is repeatedly connected with retreat, defeat, and cowardice accusations.

The other is described as the one through whom Allah granted victory.

18. Final challenge

Bay‘at al-Ridwan was a pledge:

على أن لا نفر

“That we would not flee.”

Another wording says:

على الموت

“Upon death.”

Meaning:

Do not flee, even if death comes.

So why is Bay‘at al-Ridwan used to defend those who later retreated?

Why is it not used to honour the one whom the Prophet ﷺ described as:

ليس بفرار

“Not one who flees”?

The Qur’an says fleeing happened at Hunayn.

Sahih al-Bukhari places Umar among the people during the retreat.

Al-Tabari quotes Umar saying he fled at Uhud and climbed the mountain like a mountain goat.

Al-Razi admits Umar was among those who retreated at Uhud.

Ibn Abi Shaybah reports Umar and his companions were defeated at Khaybar.

Al-Hakim records Umar returning while cowardice accusations were exchanged.

But Imam Ali a.s was the one who stood firm.

Imam Ali a.s was the one given the banner.

Imam Ali a.s was the one Allah gave victory through.

Imam Ali a.s was the one described as:

ليس بفرار

“Not one who flees.”

So the real question is not:

“Who is defended by slogans?”

The real question is:

“Who fulfilled the covenant when the battlefield tested men?”

Bay‘at al-Ridwan was not a political shield.

It was a covenant.

And a covenant is judged by fulfillment.