Tabaqat Al Kubra. Vol. 3 Pg. 269 H. 3714
Translating the classical Arabic of this entry, Ibn Sa‘d writes:
: at-Tabaqat al-Kubra (The Major Classes) is one of the oldest and most comprehensive biographical dictionaries in Islamic history, authored by Muhammad ibn Sa'd (d. 230 AH).
Ibn Sa‘d narrates via his chain: Muhammad ibn ‘Umar (al-Waqidi) ← ‘Abd al-Rahman ibn ‘Abd al-‘Aziz ← ‘Abdullah ibn ‘Ubayd ibn ‘Umayr ← Ibn ‘Abbas : “When Surah al-Nasr was revealed, the Prophet (PBUH) said, ‘My death has been announced to me.’ ‘Umar said to Ibn ‘Abbas: ‘Do you know what it means? It means his term (ajal) has come.’ Ibn ‘Abbas said, ‘I know it as you do.’” tabaqat al kubra. vol. 3 pg. 269 h. 3714
It demonstrates that even the most powerful companions of the Prophet openly wrestled with the complexities of Quranic inheritance law, highlighting that early jurisprudence was shaped by careful deliberation rather than rigid consensus.
Most of us spend our lives hiding our "indifferences" or our "old ways." We fear that if people saw the parts of us that haven't fully changed, they would reject the parts that have. Umar’s legacy suggests the opposite: that authority isn't built on perfection, but on the relentless pursuit of truth—even when that truth is uncomfortable. The Takeaway Translating the classical Arabic of this entry, Ibn
If you are referencing Tabaqat al-Kubra, Vol. 3, p. 269, h. 3714 in your research, follow these guidelines:
In the grand design of Kitab al-Tabaqat al-Kubra , Ibn Sa'd utilizes an exhaustive methodology to build a panoramic view of major events. He does not simply write a flowing, singular biography of Umar. Instead, he presents a raw, mosaic-like chronicle compiled from dozens of interconnected chains of transmission ( asānīd ). It means his term (ajal) has come
: For anyone studying the life of the Prophet Muhammad or the biographies of his Companions, Ibn Sa'd’s work is the first stop. It is a crucial primary source, providing details and perspectives found nowhere else. For instance, search results show that al-Ṭabaqāt al-Kubrā is cited as a source for key incidents in the lives of Companions like `Umar ibn al-Khattab and Bilal ibn Rabah. Scholars of the Companions consistently rely on Volume 3 for foundational data.
In this narration, Umar ibn al-Khattab ascended the pulpit (minbar) and summoned the people with the call "As-Salatu Jamiah" (Prayer is gathered). Once the people assembled, he shared a personal memory from his youth:
This entry summarizes and contextualizes the report indexed as hadith 3714 in volume 3, page 269, of Tabaqat al-Kubra. It provides the text (Arabic transliteration and English translation), source and chain of transmission (isnād), biographical notes on narrators, commentary on authenticity and variants, and its legal and historical significance.