I came to Medina when an epidemic had broken out. While I was sitting with ʿUmar bin Al-Khattab a funeral procession passed by and the people praised the deceased. ʿUmar said, "It has been affirmed to him." And another funeral procession passed by and the people praised the deceased. ʿUmar said, "It has been affirmed to him." A third (funeral procession) passed by and the people spoke badly of the deceased. He said, "It has been affirmed to him." I (Abu Al-Aswad) asked, "O chief of the believers! What has been affirmed?" He replied, "I said the same as the Prophet ﷺ had said, that is: if four persons testify the piety of a Muslim, Allah will grant him Paradise." We asked, "If three persons testify his piety?" He (the Prophet) replied, "Even three." Then we asked, "If two?" He replied, "Even two." We did not ask him regarding one witness.  

عُمَرُ ؓ وَجَبَتْ ثُمَّ مُرَّ بِأُخْرَى فَأُثْنِيَ عَلَى صَاحِبِهَا خَيْرًا فَقَالَ عُمَرُ ؓ وَجَبَتْ ثُمَّ مُرَّ بِالثَّالِثَةِ فَأُثْنِيَ عَلَى صَاحِبِهَا شَرًّا فَقَالَ وَجَبَتْ فَقَالَ أَبُو الأَسْوَدِ فَقُلْتُ وَمَا وَجَبَتْ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ قَالَ قُلْتُ كَمَا قَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ أَيُّمَا مُسْلِمٍ شَهِدَ لَهُ أَرْبَعَةٌ بِخَيْرٍ أَدْخَلَهُ اللَّهُ الْجَنَّةَ فَقُلْنَا وَثَلاَثَةٌ قَالَ وَثَلاَثَةٌ فَقُلْنَا وَاثْنَانِ قَالَ وَاثْنَانِ ثُمَّ لَمْ نَسْأَلْهُ عَنِ الْوَاحِدِ  

Once I went to Medina where there was an outbreak of disease and the people were dying rapidly. I was sitting with ʿUmar and a funeral procession passed by. The people praised the deceased. ʿUmar said, "It has been affirmed" (Paradise). Then another funeral procession passed by. The people praised the deceased. ʿUmar said, "It has been affirmed." (Paradise). Then another funeral procession passed by. The people praised the deceased. ʿUmar said, "It has been affirmed (Paradise)." Then a third funeral procession passed by and the people talked badly of the deceased. ʿUmar said, "It has been affirmed (Hell)." I asked ʿUmar, "O chief of the believers! What has been affirmed?" He said, "I have said what the Prophet ﷺ said. He said, 'Allah will admit into paradise any Muslim whose good character is attested by four persons.' We asked the Prophet, 'If there were three witnesses only?' He said, 'Even three.' We asked, 'If there were two only?' He said, 'Even two.' But we did not ask him about one witness."  

أَتَيْتُ الْمَدِينَةَ وَقَدْ وَقَعَ بِهَا مَرَضٌ وَهُمْ يَمُوتُونَ مَوْتًا ذَرِيعًا فَجَلَسْتُ إِلَى عُمَرَ ؓ فَمَرَّتْ جِنَازَةٌ فَأُثْنِيَ خَيْرٌ فَقَالَ عُمَرُ وَجَبَتْ ثُمَّ مُرَّ بِأُخْرَى فَأُثْنِيَ خَيْرًا فَقَالَ وَجَبَتْ ثُمَّ مُرَّ بِالثَّالِثَةِ فَأُثْنِيَ شَرًّا فَقَالَ وَجَبَتْ فَقُلْتُ مَا وَجَبَتْ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ قَالَ قُلْتُ كَمَا قَالَ النَّبِيُّ ﷺ أَيُّمَا مُسْلِمٍ شَهِدَ لَهُ أَرْبَعَةٌ بِخَيْرٍ أَدْخَلَهُ اللَّهُ الْجَنَّةَ قُلْنَا وَثَلاَثَةٌ قَالَ وَثَلاَثَةٌ قُلْتُ وَاثْنَانِ قَالَ وَاثْنَانِ ثُمَّ لَمْ نَسْأَلْهُ عَنِ الْوَاحِدِ  

"I came to Al-Madinah and sat with 'Umar bin Al-Khattab. A funeral passed by and the deceased was praised, and 'Umar said: 'It is granted.' Then another passed by and the deceased was praised, and 'Umar Said: 'It is granted.' Then a third passed by, and the deceased was criticized, and 'Umar said: 'It is granted.' I said: What is granted, O commander of the believers?' He said: 'I said what the Messenger of Allah said: Any Muslim for whom four people bear witness and say good things, Allah will admit him to Paradise.' We said: 'Or three?' He said: 'Or three.' We said: 'Or two?' He said: 'Or two."'  

عُمَرُ وَجَبَتْ ثُمَّ مُرَّ بِأُخْرَى فَأُثْنِيَ عَلَى صَاحِبِهَا خَيْرًا فَقَالَ عُمَرُ وَجَبَتْ ثُمَّ مُرَّ بِالثَّالِثِ فَأُثْنِيَ عَلَى صَاحِبِهَا شَرًّا فَقَالَ عُمَرُ وَجَبَتْ فَقُلْتُ وَمَا وَجَبَتْ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ قَالَ قُلْتُ كَمَا قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ أَيُّمَا مُسْلِمٍ شَهِدَ لَهُ أَرْبَعَةٌ قَالُوا خَيْرًا أَدْخَلَهُ اللَّهُ الْجَنَّةَ قُلْنَا أَوْ ثَلاَثَةٌ قَالَ أَوْ ثَلاَثَةٌ قُلْنَا أَوِ اثْنَانِ قَالَ أَوِ اثْنَانِ  

When I came to Madinah, sickness was occurring in the city. ʿAbdus-Samad said: They were dying quickly. I sat with ʿUmar bin al-Khattab and a funeral passed by. Good things were said about (the deceased) and ‘Umar said: It is due. Then another (funeral) passed by: good things were said about (the deceased) and he said: It is due, Then another funeral passed by: bad things were said about the deceased and ‘Umar said: It is due, I said: What is due, O Ameer al Muʿmineen? He said: I say what the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: “Any Muslim in whose favour four people testify, Allah will admit him to Paradise.ʿ We said: Or three? He said: “Or three.ʿ We said: Or two? He said: “Or two.ʿ Then we did not ask him about one.  

أَتَيْتُ الْمَدِينَةَ وَقَدْ وَقَعَ بِهَا مَرَضٌ قَالَ عَبْدُ الصَّمَدِ فَهُمْ يَمُوتُونَ مَوْتًا ذَرِيعًا فَجَلَسْتُ إِلَى عُمَرَ بْنِ الْخَطَّابِ فَمَرَّتْ بِهِ جَنَازَةٌ فَأُثْنِيَ عَلَى صَاحِبِهَا خَيْرٌ فَقَالَ وَجَبَتْ ثُمَّ مُرَّ بِأُخْرَى فَأُثْنِيَ عَلَى صَاحِبِهَا خَيْرٌ فَقَالَ وَجَبَتْ ثُمَّ مُرَّ بِأُخْرَى فَأُثْنِيَ عَلَيْهَا شَرٌّ فَقَالَ عُمَرُ وَجَبَتْ فَقَالَ أَبُو الْأَسْوَدِ فَقُلْتُ لَهُ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ مَا وَجَبَتْ؟ فَقَالَ قُلْتُ كَمَا قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ أَيُّمَا مُسْلِمٍ شَهِدَ لَهُ أَرْبَعَةٌ بِخَيْرٍ إِلَّا أَدْخَلَهُ اللهُ الْجَنَّةَ قَالَ قُلْنَا وَثَلاثَةٌ ؟ قَالَ وَثَلاثَةٌ قُلْنَا وَاثْنَانِ؟ قَالَ وَاثْنَانِ قَالَ وَلَمْ نَسْأَلْهُ عَنِ الْوَاحِدِ  

I came to Madinah and found that sickness was occurring in it and death was widespread. I sat with 'Umar bin al-Khattab and a funeral passed by him. People spoke well of the deceased and ‘Umar said: It is guaranteed. Then another funeral passed by and people spoke well of the deceased and ‘Umar said: It is guaranteed. Then a third funeral passed by and people spoke badly of the deceased and ‘Umar said: It is guaranteed. Abul-Aswad said: What is guaranteed, O Ameer al-Mu'mineen? He said: I am saying what the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: ʿAny Muslim in whose favour four people testify, Allah will admit him to Paradise.ʿ We said: And three? He said: ʿAnd three.ʿ We said: And two? He said: ʿAnd two ʿ Then we did not ask him about one.  

عُمَرُ وَجَبَتْ ثُمَّمُرَّ بِأُخْرَى فَأُثْنِيَ عَلَى صَاحِبِهَا خَيْرٌ فَقَالَ عُمَرُ وَجَبَتْ ثُمَّ مُرَّ بِالثَّالِثَةِ فَأُثْنِيَ عَلَيْهَا شَرٌّ فَقَالَ عُمَرُ وَجَبَتْ فَقَالَ أَبُو الْأَسْوَدِ مَا وَجَبَتْ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ؟ قَالَ قُلْتُ كَمَا قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ أَيُّمَا مُسْلِمٍ شَهِدَ لَهُ أَرْبَعَةٌ بِخَيْرٍ أَدْخَلَهُ اللهُ الْجَنَّةَ قَالَ فَقُلْنَا وَثَلاثَةٌ؟ قَالَ فَقَالَ وَثَلاثَةٌ قَالَ قُلْنَا وَاثْنَانِ قَالَ وَاثْنَانِ قَالَ ثُمَّ لَمْ نَسْأَلْهُ عَنِ الْوَاحِدِ  

I came to Madinah and found that sickness was occurring in it and death was widespread. I sat with 'Umar bin al-Khattab and a funeral passed by him. People spoke well of the deceased and ‘Umar said: It is guaranteed. Then another funeral passed by and people spoke well of the deceased and ‘Umar said: It is guaranteed. Then a third funeral passed by and people spoke badly of the deceased and ‘Umar said: It is guaranteed. Abul-Aswad said: What is guaranteed, O Ameer al-Mu'mineen? He said: I am saying what the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: ʿAny Muslim in whose favour four people testify, Allah will admit him to Paradise.ʿ We said: And three? He said: ʿAnd three.ʿ We said: And two? He said: ʿAnd two ʿ Then we did not ask him about one. (Using translation from Aḥmad 139)   

عُمَرُ وَجَبَتْ ثُمَّ مُرَّ بِأُخْرَى فَأُثْنِيَ عَلَى صَاحِبُهَا شَرًّا فَقَالَ عُمَرُ وَجَبَتْ قَالَ أَبُو الْأَسْوَدِ وَمَا وَجَبَتْ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ قَالَ كَمَا قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ ﷺ «أَيُّمَا مُسْلِمٍ يَشْهَدُ لَهُ أَرْبَعَةٌ بِخَيْرٍ إِلَّا أَدْخَلَهُ اللَّهُ الْجَنَّةَ» قَالَ قُلْنَا وَثَلَاثَةٌ قَالَ «وَثَلَاثَةٌ» قَالَ فَقُلْنَا وَاثْنَانِ قَالَ «وَاثْنَانِ» وَلَمْ نَسْأَلَهُ عَنِ الْوَاحِدِ  

I came to Madinah and found that sickness was occurring in it and death was widespread. I sat with 'Umar bin al-Khattab and a funeral passed by him. People spoke well of the deceased and ‘Umar said: It is guaranteed. Then another funeral passed by and people spoke well of the deceased and ‘Umar said: It is guaranteed. Then a third funeral passed by and people spoke badly of the deceased and ‘Umar said: It is guaranteed. Abul-Aswad said: What is guaranteed, O Ameer al-Mu'mineen? He said: I am saying what the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: ʿAny Muslim in whose favour four people testify, Allah will admit him to Paradise.ʿ We said: And three? He said: ʿAnd three.ʿ We said: And two? He said: ʿAnd two ʿ Then we did not ask him about one. (Using translation from Aḥmad 139)   

خَرَجْتُ إِلَى الْمَدِينَةِ وَقَدْ وَقَعَ بِهَا مَرَضٌ فَجَلَسْتُ إِلَى عُمَرَ ؓ فَمَرَّتْ بِهِمْ جِنَازَةٌ فَأُثْنِيَ عَلَى صَاحِبِهَا خَيْرًا فَقَالَ عُمَرُ ؓ وَجَبَتْ ثُمَّ مُرَّ بِأُخْرَى فَأُثْنِيَ عَلَى صَاحِبِهَا خَيْرًا فَقَالَ عُمَرُ ؓ وَجَبَتْ ثُمَّ مُرَّ بِالثَّالِثِ فَأُثْنِيَ عَلَى صَاحِبِهَا شَرًّا فَقَالَ عُمَرُ وَجَبَتْ فَقَالَ أَبُو الْأَسْوَدِ فَقُلْتُ مَا وَجَبَتْ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ قَالَ قُلْتُ كَمَا قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ أَيُّمَا مُسْلِمٍ شَهِدَ لَهُ أَرْبَعَةٌ بِخَيْرٍ أَدْخَلَهُ اللهُ الْجَنَّةَ قَالَ قُلْنَا وَثَلَاثَةٌ؟ قَالَ وَثَلَاثَةٌ قَالَ قُلْنَا وَاثْنَانِ؟ قَالَ وَاثْنَانِ قَالَ لَمْ نَسْأَلْهُ عَنِ الْوَاحِدِ  

I came to Madinah and found that sickness was occurring in it and death was widespread. I sat with 'Umar bin al-Khattab and a funeral passed by him. People spoke well of the deceased and ‘Umar said: It is guaranteed. Then another funeral passed by and people spoke well of the deceased and ‘Umar said: It is guaranteed. Then a third funeral passed by and people spoke badly of the deceased and ‘Umar said: It is guaranteed. Abul-Aswad said: What is guaranteed, O Ameer al-Mu'mineen? He said: I am saying what the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said: ʿAny Muslim in whose favour four people testify, Allah will admit him to Paradise.ʿ We said: And three? He said: ʿAnd three.ʿ We said: And two? He said: ʿAnd two ʿ Then we did not ask him about one. (Using translation from Aḥmad 139)   

عُمَرُ ؓ وَجَبَتْ ثُمَّ مُرَّ بِأُخْرَى فَأُثْنِيَ عَلَيْهَا خَيْرًا فَقَالَ عُمَرُ وَجَبَتْ ثُمَّ مُرَّ بِالثَّالِثَةِ فَأُثْنِيَ عَلَى صَاحِبِهَا شَرًّا فَقَالَ عُمَرُ ؓ وَجَبَتْ قَالَ أَبُو الْأَسْوَدِ فَقُلْتُ مَا وَجَبَتْ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ؟ قَالَ قُلْتُ كَمَا قَالَ رَسُولُ اللهِ ﷺ أَيُّمَا مُسْلِمٍ شَهِدَ لَهُ أَرْبَعَةٌ بِخَيْرٍ أَدْخَلَهُ اللهُ الْجَنَّةَ قَالَ قُلْنَا وَثَلَاثَةٌ؟ قَالَ وَثَلَاثَةٌ قَالَ قُلْنَا وَاثْنَانِ؟ قَالَ وَاثْنَانِ ثُمَّ لَمْ نَسْأَلْهُ عَنِ الْوَاحِدِ  

"عن أبي الأسود قال: أتيتُ المدينةَ فَوَافَيْتُهَا وَقَدْ وَقَعَ فيها مرضٌ، فهم يموتونَ موتًا ذَريعًا، فجلست إلى عمرَ بنِ الخطابِ فَمرَّتْ بِهِ جنازةٌ فَأُثْنِيَ عَلَى صاحبهَا

خَيرًا فَقَالَ عمر! وَجَبَتْ، ثمَّ مُرَّ بأخْرَى فَأُثْنِي بِشَرٍّ، فَقَالَ عمرُ: وجَبَتْ، قُلْتُ: فَبِمَ وَجَبَتْ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤمنينَ؟ قَالَ: قُلْتُ كَمَا قَالَ رَسُولُ الله ﷺ : أَيُّمَا مُسلمٍ شَهِدَ له أربعة بخيرٍ أدخلهُ الله الجنةَ، فَقُلْنَا: وثلاثةٌ؟ قَالَ: وثلاثةٌ، قلنا: وَاثْنانِ؟ قَالَ: وَاثْنانِ، ثُمَّ لَمْ نَسْأَلْهُ عَنِ الواحدِ".