Hadith No: 2
Ibn Hajar al-Asqalani - al-Isabah fi Tamyiz al-Sahabah - Letter Qaf - Part One - Qaf followed by Dal
Volume: (5) - Page Number: (322/324)
[The text is lengthy, so only the relevant excerpt is provided here]
7103 - Qudamah ibn Mudhlun ibn Habib ibn Wahb ibn Hudhafah ibn Jumah al-Qurashi al-Jumahi, the brother of Uthman. He was nicknamed Abu Amr and was one of the early converts who accepted Islam. He was one of the first to embrace Islam and was one of the early Muslims. He emigrated in both migrations and witnessed the Battle of Badr.
Al-Bukhari stated that he had companionship with the Prophet. Ibn al-Sakhn also said he was nicknamed Abu Amr and had converted to Islam early.... Umar appointed Qudamah as the governor of Bahrain during his caliphate, and there was an incident involving him.... Abd al-Razzaq narrated the entire account, saying: Ma'mar narrated to us from Ibn Shihab, who was informed by Abdullah ibn Amir ibn Rabi'ah: that Umar appointed Qudamah ibn Mudhlun as the governor of Bahrain, and he was the maternal uncle of Hafsa and Abdullah, the children of Umar. Then al-Jarud, the leader of Abd al-Qays, came to Umar from Bahrain.
He said, "O Commander of the Faithful, Qudamah has drunk and is intoxicated." He reported that he had seen a limit set by Allah that he believed was right to raise to you. Umar asked, "Who will testify with you?" He replied, "Abu Huraira." So he called Abu Huraira and said, "What do you testify?" Abu Huraira said, "I did not see him drink, but I saw him drunk with vomit." Umar said, "You have been overly demanding in your testimony," and then he wrote to Qudamah to come to him from Bahrain. Qudamah came, and al-Jarud said, "Umar, uphold this as the command of Allah." Umar replied, "Are you a prosecutor or a witness?" He said, "A witness." Umar said, "You have fulfilled your testimony." Al-Jarud fell silent, then the next day he went to Umar and said, "Umar, uphold this as the limit of Allah." Umar said, "I see you only as a prosecutor, and the only one testifying with you is a single man." Al-Jarud said, "I beseech you by Allah." Umar replied, "You will either hold your tongue or I will reprimand you." Al-Jarud said, "O Umar, it is not right that your nephew drinks alcohol and you be upset with me." Abu Huraira said, "O Commander of the Faithful, if you doubt our testimonies, send for the daughter of al-Walid and ask her, for she is Qudamah's wife." So Umar sent for Hind bint al-Walid to inquire of her, and she confirmed her husband's testimony. Umar then said to Qudamah, "I am going to impose a punishment on you." Qudamah replied, "If I had drunk as you say, you would not find me here." Umar asked, "Why?" Qudamah said, "Allah, the Almighty, said: {There is no blame upon those who believe and do righteous deeds for what they have eaten} (Surah al-Ma'idah 5:93)." Umar said, "You have misunderstood the interpretation. If you fear Allah, you should avoid what Allah has prohibited." Then Umar turned to the people and said, "What do you think about flogging Qudamah?" They replied, "We do not think you should flog him as long as he is ill." So, he remained silent on that for several days. Then he woke up one morning, having resolved to lash him, and said, "What do you think about flogging Qudamah?" They replied, "We do not think you should flog him as long as he is unwell."
Umar said, "I would prefer him to meet Allah under lashes than to meet Him with this on my conscience. Bring me a complete whip." He ordered him to be lashed, and he was lashed. Umar was angry with Qudamah and did not speak to him. Qudamah went on pilgrimage, and Umar also performed Hajj while remaining angry with him. When they both returned from their pilgrimage and Umar was staying in al-Suqiya, he fell asleep. When he woke up from his sleep, he said, "Hasten to Qudamah, for by Allah, an angel came to me in my dream and said, 'Salvage Qudamah, for he is your brother. Hurry and bring him to me.'" When they came to him, he refused to come. Umar ordered that he be brought to him, and he spoke with him, seeking forgiveness for him.
- Abu Ali ibn al-Sakhn narrated this from the direction of Ali ibn Asim, from Abu Rayhahana, from al-`Alqamah the eunuch, who said: When al-Jarud came to Umar,
he said, "Qudamah has drunk alcohol." Umar asked, "Who will testify with you?" Al-`Alqamah the eunuch replied, "Al-`Alqamah the eunuch." So he sent for Umar, who said, "Do you testify against Qudamah?" Al-`Alqamah replied, "If you permit a eunuch's testimony." Umar said, "As for you, we will accept your testimony."
Al-`Alqamah said, "I testify against Qudamah that I saw him drinking alcohol." Umar replied, "He did not vomit it up until he drank it." They brought Ibn Mudhlun to the place of purification, and they struck him with the prescribed punishment, and he was taken out and lashed.- Abd al-Razzaq also said from Ibn Jurayj, from Ayyub,
"No one from the people of Badr was punished for drinking alcohol except Qudamah ibn Mudhlun," meaning after the Prophet (peace be upon him and his holy progeny).