The Last Dawn Prayer

Late in Dhu al-Hijjah 23 AH, as 'Umar began to lead the dawn prayer, Abu Lu'lu'ah, a slave of al-Mughirah ibn Shu'bah, stabbed him with a two-edged dagger and struck others as he fled, before taking his own life. 'Umar took 'Abd al-Rahman ibn 'Awf by the hand and put him forward to complete the prayer. When told who had struck him, he said: "Praise be to Allah, who did not make my death come at the hand of a man who claims Islam" (Sahih al-Bukhari 3700).

Lying wounded, he sent his son 'Abdullah to 'A'ishah to ask permission to be buried beside his two companions. She said she had meant the place for herself, but would give it to him that day; and he asked that after his death permission be sought again, in case she had agreed only out of awe of him. A young man came to praise him; as he turned to go, 'Umar saw his garment trailing on the ground and called him back: "Son of my brother, raise your garment; it keeps it cleaner and is more mindful of your Lord."

He would not name a single successor. Instead he named six with whom the Prophet ﷺ had been pleased when he died — 'Ali, 'Uthman, al-Zubayr, Talhah, Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas and 'Abd al-Rahman ibn 'Awf — to choose one from among themselves, with his son 'Abdullah present to advise but with no share in the matter. He left counsel for the Muhajirun, the Ansar, the Bedouin and the people under protection, and died within days. He was buried beside the Prophet ﷺ and Abu Bakr, after a caliphate of about ten and a half years (Sahih al-Bukhari 3700).