Saying of Umar (RA)

Umar’s (Radi’Allahu Anhu) Desire For The Renegades To Return To Islaam :

Anas (Radi’Allahu Anhu) - narrates that Abu Moosa Ash'ari (Radi’Allahu Anhu) sent him to give the news of the conquest of Tustar to Umar (Radi’Allahu Anhu). He says that Umar (Radi’Allahu Anhu) asked him about what had happened to six members of the Bakr bin Waa'il tribe who had forsaken Islaam and proceeded to live with the Mushrikeen. Anas (Radi’Allahu Anhu) replied, "0 Ameerul Mu'mineen! They have renounced Islaam and joined up with the Mushrikeen. Their only treatment is their execution." To this Umar (Radi’Allahu Anhu) said, "I prefer getting hold of them alive and well to all the gold and silver in the world." Anas (Radi’Allahu Anhu) asked, "0 Ammerul Mu'mineen! What would you do with them if you got hold of them alive?" Umar (Radi’Allahu Anhu) replied, "I would present to them the door from which they left so that they may re-enter it. If they accept, I would accept it from them, otherwise I would hand them over to the prison." [Abdur Razzaaq as quoted in Kanzul Ummaal (Vol.1 Pg.79). Bayhaqi as also reported a similar Hadith (Vo1.8 Pg.207]

Abdur Rahmaan Al Qaari reports that Abu Moosa Ash'ari (Radi’Allahu Anhu) once sent a person to Umar (Radi’Allahu Anhu). When Umar (Radi’Allahu Anhu) asked the person about the condition of the people, he duly replied. When Umar (Radi’Allahu Anhu) asked the person if there were any recent developments, he said, "Yes, O Ameerul Mu'mineen! A person who had become a Muslim, reverted to kufr." 'What did you do with him," asked Umar (Radi’Allahu Anhu). 'We called him and executed him," came the reply. Umar (Radi’Allahu Anhu) said, "Why did you rather not imprison him for three days, feed him bread each day and encourage him to repent? He may then have repented and re-entered Allaah's Deen. O Allaah! I was not present there. I did not command it and am not pleased with it now that it has come to my notice." [Maalik, Shaafi'ee, Abdur Razzaaq, Abu Ubayd in his Ghareeb and Bayhaqi (Pg.207)]

Amr bin Al Aas (Radi’Allahu Anhu) once wrote to Ammerul Mu'mineen Umar (Radi’Allahu Anhu) to ask him what was to be done about a person who had reverted to kufr after accepting Islaam, then accepted Islaam again, only to return to kufr. This he had done several times already. "Should his Islaam be accepted from him again?" was the question Amr bin Al Aas (Radi’Allahu Anhu) posed. In response, Umar (Radi’Allahu Anhu) wrote back, "As long as Allaah accepts the Islaarn of a person, you should do the same. You should therefore present Islaam to him again. If he accepts, you should set him free, otherwise you may execute him." [Kanzul Ummaal (Vol. 1 Pg.79), reporting from Musaddad bin Abdil Hakam who narrates from Amr' bin Shu'ayb, quoting from his father and grandfather]