Truth about Khatm-e-Nabuwat — Page 103
he was merely pointing out to this distinguishing merit of Hazrat Omar and he meant that since the times called for a new law and if he had not been raised Omar would have been appointed, Hazrat Omar poS6essed such an highly developed sense'-- of judiciousness as to compel the admiration of sever• al noted European historians. Not only therefore the Holy Prophet's tradition means 'Had I not be~m raitted, Omar would have been", even Hazrat Omar's own life points to the fact that the Holy Prophet's statement under reference, of a certainty emphasized this distinguishing feature of Hazrat Omar who stood head and shoulders above the other companions in this field. What lends further support to our stand is the fact that in general terms Hazrat Abu Bakr· ~as ~onsidered to be by consensus of OJ?inion as the moss eminent companion. Even the words of the Holy Prophet (peace be on him) confirm the view· that Hazrat Abu Bakr wa$ the rop most companion. A tradition· has already been quot. ed in this connec- 1:ion which em bodies the Holy Prophet's (Allah bless him) statement: "Abu Bakr holds the highest rank in my followers except if there be a prophet later oil. . . Notw. ithstanding this when the Holy Prophet (peace be on him) leaves Abu Bakr out when he says that "Had there been a prophet inst. ead of him, it ~ukl h~ve been Omar", it clearly consti- tutes decisively conclusive evidenee of the fact that the object here was an emphasis on a particular trait of Hazrat Omar in which specifically he ex- -ceeded even Hazrat Abu Bakr and it was no other qualification than his lega. 1-mind,edness. He had fur- nished ample evidence of this during the life of the Holy Prophet and dul'ing the term ·of his caliphate this partieulaT ability manifested itself with: still :greater prominenee. Viewed from any angle, the tradition undeT discussion is capable of only one 108