Abu Rafi’ narrates: A man named Abu Lu’lu’ was the slave of Sayyiduna Mughirah bin Shu’bah (may Allah be pleased with him). He used to make mills. Sayyiduna Mughirah (may Allah be pleased with him) used to take four dirhams as tax from him daily. Abu Lu’lu’ met Sayyiduna Umar bin Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) and said: O Leader of the Believers, Sayyiduna Mughirah (may Allah be pleased with him) has imposed a very heavy tax on me, please speak to him so that he may reduce it for me. Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said to him: Fear Allah and treat your master well. At this, the slave became angry and said: Your justice is for everyone except me. He resolved in his mind to martyr Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him). He took a dagger which was double-edged and poisoned it. Then he went to Hormuzan with it and said: What do you think about this? He said: Whoever you strike with this, you will kill him. So Abu Lu’lu’ intended to (martyr) Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him). He came to Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) at the time of the morning prayer and stood behind him. It was the habit of Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) that when the iqamah for prayer was called, he would say: Straighten your rows. He said this statement as per his habit. Then when he said the takbir, Abu Lu’lu’ struck him on his shoulder and on his side, so Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) fell down. With that dagger, he wounded thirteen other men, of whom seven died.

Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) was lifted and taken towards his house. People began to scream and cry, until the time of sunrise approached. Then Sayyiduna Abdur Rahman bin Awf (may Allah be pleased with him) announced among the people: O people! Prayer, prayer! The narrator says: So the people hurried anxiously towards the prayer. Sayyiduna Abdur Rahman bin Awf (may Allah be pleased with him) stepped forward and led the people in prayer with the shortest surahs of the Qur’an. When they completed the prayer, they came to Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him). Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) asked for a drink so that the extent of the wound could be assessed. Nabidh (a drink) was brought. Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) drank it, but it came out from his wound, but it could not be determined whether it was nabidh or blood. Then Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) asked for milk and drank it, and it came out from his wound. The people said: O Leader of the Believers, there is no harm upon you. Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said: If being killed is harm, then I have been killed. Then the people began to praise him and say: O Leader of the Believers, may Allah reward you with good. You were such and such, and such and such. Then those people left and others came and continued to praise him. Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said: By Allah! Despite what you are saying, I wish that I could be freed from this (government) matter on equal terms, with nothing due from me and nothing for me. Indeed, being a companion of the Messenger of Allah is sufficient for my safety.

Then Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both), who was present at his bedside, began to speak. He was so close to Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) as if he were a member of his family. Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) used to recite the Qur’an to him. Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) said: No, by Allah! You will not leave this matter on equal terms. You kept the company of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), you were with the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him), and the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was as pleased with you as he could be with the best of those who were with him. Your status in the presence of the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) was this, this, and this, until when the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) passed away, he was pleased with you. After that, you were with the Caliph of the Messenger of Allah, you implemented his rule, you did this for him and that for him.

O Leader of the Believers! After that, you became the ruler, and you became as good a ruler as anyone could be. You did this and that. Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) felt comfort from the words of Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both). Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said to him: Repeat your words to me. Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Abbas (may Allah be pleased with them both) repeated them before him. Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said: By Allah! Despite what you are saying, (I believe) that if all the earth were turned to gold for me, I would give it as ransom today against the terror of death. I have established a council of six men: Uthman, Ali bin Abi Talib, Talhah bin Ubaidullah, Zubair bin al-Awwam, Abdur Rahman bin Awf, and Sa’d bin Abi Waqqas (may Allah be pleased with them). Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) appointed Sayyiduna Abdullah bin Umar (may Allah be pleased with them both) as an advisor to them, but did not make him a member. He gave them three days’ respite (to select a caliph from among themselves within three days). Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) instructed Sayyiduna Suhaib (may Allah be pleased with him) to lead the people in prayer. May Allah’s mercy and His pleasure descend upon Sayyiduna Umar (may Allah be pleased with him).