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In Sunni Islam, Ibn Umar is a significant figure due to his role as a transmitter of hadith and association with the early Muslim community. His narrations are central to Sunni hadith literature, and hence often referenced by Sunni scholars and jurists, as his reports are part of the foundation for certain jurisprudential rulings and practices in Sunni Islam. From a Shia perspective, however, Ibn Umar's actions — or rather, his lack of action — during critical events affecting the Prophet’s family (Ahl al-Bayt) are points of serious criticism. His neutrality in conflicts involving Imam Ali’s claim to leadership and later during the tragedy of Karbala, where he did not support Imam Husayn against Yazid, are viewed as failures to stand for justice. In Shia thought, loyalty to the Prophet’s family is paramount, and Ibn Umar’s avoidance of direct involvement in defending them against perceived oppression is seen as a significant shortcoming.

Umar noted his son’s incompetence

We read in Tarikh al-Medina Vol. 2, pg. 81 Hadith # 1587 & 1589:

حدثنا هارون بن معروف، قال: حدثنا جرير بن عبد الحميد، عن الأعمش، عن إبراهيم، قال: قال عمر رضي الله عنه: «تأمرونني أن أبايع لرجل لم يحسن يطلق امرأته

Harun b. Ma’ruf narrated to us, saying: Jarir b. Abd al-Hamid narrated to us, from al-A’mash, from Ibrahim, who said: Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said:

“You are asking me to pledge allegiance to a man who does not know how to properly divorce his wife.”

Umar flogged his son for drinking

We read in Ibn Shabba’s Tarikh al-Medina Vol 2, pg. 36:

حَدَّثَنَا عَفَّانُ، قَالَ: أَنْبَأَنَا عَبْدُ الْوَاحِدِ بْنُ زِيَادٍ، قَالَ: حَدَّثَنَا مَعْمَرٌ، عَنِ الزُّهْرِيِّ، عَنِ السَّائِبِ بْنِ يَزِيدَ قَالَ: صَلَّى عُمَرُ رضي الله عنه عَلَى جِنَازَةٍ، ثُمَّ أَقْبَلَ عَلَيْنَا بِوَجْهِهِ فَقَالَ: «‌إِنِّيٍ ‌وَجَدْتُ ‌مِنْ ‌عَبْدِ ‌اللَّهِ ‌بْنِ ‌عُمَرَ ‌رِيحَ ‌شَرَابٍ، وَإِنِّي سَأَلْتُهُ عَنْهُ فَزَعَمَ أَنَّهُ خَلٌّ، وَإِنِّي سَائِلٌ عَنْهُ، فَإِنْ كَانَ مُسْكِرًا جَلَدْتُهُ» ، قَالَ السَّائِبُ: فَأَنَا شَهِدْتُهُ جَلَدَهُ الْحَدَّ

Affan narrated to us, saying: 'Abd al-Wahid b. Ziyad informed us, saying: Ma'mar narrated to us from al-Zuhri, from al-Sa'ib b. Yazid, who said:

Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) prayed over a funeral, then he turned to us and said: "I found the smell of alcohol on 'Abd Allah b. 'Umar. I asked him about it, and he claimed it was vinegar. I will inquire about it, and if it turns out to be intoxicating, I will have him flogged." Al-Sa'ib said: "I was present when he was flogged with the legal punishment."

Ali (as) condemned Ibn Umar

We read in Ansab al-Ashraf Vol 3, pg. 8 - 9:

قال (الشعبيّ)... وأتي علي بعبد اللَّه بْن عمر بْن الخطاب ملببًا والسيف مشهور عَلَيْهِ، فَقَالَ لَهُ: بايع. فَقَالَ: لا أبايع حَتَّى يجتمع النَّاس عليك. قَالَ: فأعطني حميلا ألا تبرح. فَقَالَ: لا أعطيك حميلا. فَقَالَ الأشتر: إن هَذَا رجل قد أمن سوطك وسيفك فأمكني منه. فقال عليّ: [دعه أنا حميله فوالله ما علمته [1] إلا سيئ الخلق صغيرًا وكبيرًا]... قال: فبايع أهل المدينة عَلِيًّا فأتاه ابْن عُمَرَ فَقَالَ لَهُ: يَا علي اتق اللَّه وَلا تنتزين عَلَى أمر الأمة بغير مشورة. ومضى إِلَى مَكَّة

Al-Sha'bi said: "Ali was brought ‘Abdullah b. ‘Umar b. al-Khattab, seized by his collar, with a sword drawn over him. Ali said to him: 'Pledge allegiance.' Ibn ‘Umar replied: 'I will not pledge allegiance until the people unite around you.' Ali then said: 'Give me a guarantee that you will not leave.' Ibn ‘Umar replied: 'I will not give you a guarantee.' Al-Ashtar said: 'This man has felt safe from your whip and sword, so let me deal with him.' But Ali said: '[Leave him, I will be his guarantor, for by Allah, I have only known him to be of ill character, both when young and old.]'

The people of Medina pledged allegiance to Ali, and Ibn ‘Umar came to him and said: 'O Ali, fear Allah, and do not take control of the affairs of the nation without consultation.' Then he departed to Mecca."

We also read a similar report in Tarikh al-Tabari Vol 16 pg. 3 - 4 (Arabic):

According to Umar b. Shabbah - Ali b. Muhammad - Abu Bakr al-Hudhali - Abu al-Mulayh:

On Saturday, 18 Dhu al-Hijjah (June 17), when Uthman was killed, Ali went out to the market. A crowd followed him and hurried up to him, so he went into the courtyard of Banu Amr b. Mabdhul and said to Abu Amrah b. Amr b. Mihsan, "Lock the door!" The crowd then came and knocked at the door, and Talhah and al-Zubayr entered with them and said, "Stretch out your hand, Ali!" and the two of them gave allegiance to him. Habib b. Dhu'ayb was looking at Talhah when he gave allegiance and said, "It is a withered hand that first gave allegiance. No good will come of this!"

Ali then went out to the mosque and ascended the minbar, his sandals in his hand, wearing a waist wrap and a cape and a silk turban, supporting himself on a bow. All those there gave him allegiance. Then they brought Sad, and Ali said, "Give allegiance." But he replied, "I won't do so until the people have, but, believe me, you've nothing to fear from me." Ali said, "Let him go." Then they brought Ibn Umar, and Ali said, "Give allegiance." And he replied, "I won't do so until the people have." "Bring me a guarantor," Ali said to him. "I don't see why I should," replied Ibn Umar. "Let me cut his head off," said al-Ashtar, to which Ali replied, "No, leave him alone! I'll be his guarantor. I knew it; you are as rude as a man as you were as a child."

We also read in Sharh Nahj al-Balagha Vol 2, pg. 229:

قال ابن أبي الحديد:لمّا بايع الناس عليّا-عليه السّلام-و تخلّف عبد اللّه بن عمر،أتاه في اليوم الثاني،فقال له:إنّي لك ناصح! إنّ بيعتك لم يرض بها كلّهم،فلو نظرت لدينك و رددت الأمر شورى.فقال عليّ عليه السّلام: ويحك!و هل ما كان عن طلب منّي له؟ ألم يبلغك صنيعهم؟قم عنّي يا أحمق ما أنت و هذا الكلام!

Ibn Abi Al-Hadid reported: When people pledged allegiance to Ali (AS), 'Abdullah b. 'Umar abstained. He came to him on the second day and said, "I am advising you sincerely! Not everyone is pleased with your pledge, so consider your religion and return the matter to consultation."

'Ali (AS) replied, "Woe to you! Was it something I sought? Haven't you heard about what they did? Leave me, you fool! What do you have to do with this matter?"

Ibn ‘Umar did not give bay’ah to ‘Ali (as)

We read in al-Isti’ab pg. 669:

وقيل لنافع: ‌مَا ‌بال ‌ابْن ‌عُمَر بايع مُعَاوِيَة. ولم يبايع عليا؟ فَقَالَ: كَانَ ابْن عُمَر يعطي يدا فِي فرقة، ولا يمنعها من جماعة، ولم يبايع مُعَاوِيَة حَتَّى اجتمعوا عَلَيْهِ

It was said to Nafi': "Why did Ibn 'Umar give allegiance to Mu'awiya and not to Ali?" He replied: "Ibn 'Umar would give his hand (in allegiance) during discord but would not withhold it from unity, and he did not pledge allegiance to Mu'awiya until the people had united upon him."

Ibn Hajar explains Ibn ‘Umar’s strange political position in his explanation of Sahih al-Bukhari 2343, 2344 in Fath al-Bari Vol. 7, pg. 455, Hadith # 2343:

وَإِنَّمَا لَمْ يَذْكُرِ بن عُمَرَ خِلَافَةَ عَلِيٍّ لِأَنَّهُ لَمْ يُبَايِعْهُ لِوُقُوعِ الِاخْتِلَافِ عَلَيْهِ كَمَا هُوَ مَشْهُورٌ فِي صَحِيحِ الْأَخْبَارِ وَكَانَ رَأَى أَنَّهُ لَا يُبَايِعُ لِمَنْ لَمْ يَجْتَمِعْ عَلَيْهِ النَّاسُ وَلِهَذَا ‌لَمْ ‌يُبَايِعْ أَيْضًا لِابْنِ الزُّبَيْرِ وَلَا لِعَبْدِ الْمَلِكِ فِي حَالِ اخْتِلَافِهِمَا وَبَايَعَ لِيَزِيدَ بْنِ مُعَاوِيَة ثم لعبد الملك بن مروان بعد قتل بن الزبير

Ibn Umar did not mention the caliphate of ‘Ali because he did not pay allegiance to Ali due to the opposition to his caliphate. This is famous in authentic narrations. Ibn Umar opined not to pay allegiance to someone about whom there is no consensus of people and that is why he did not pay allegiance to Ibn Zubayr and Abdul Malik because of their opposition. But he paid allegiance to Yazid b. Mu’awiya and then to ‘Abd al-Malik b. al-Marwan after Ibn Zubayr’s death.

We see that Ibn ‘Umar did not give allegiance to ‘Ali (AS), but later he gave allegiance to Yazid, who multiple groups came out against. This negates the argument that there must be ijma’ on a caliph in order for their caliphate to be legitimate.

Ibn Umar did not fight the rebellious party as Allah commanded

Often we hear our opponents chanting that during the Fitna, ‘Abdullah b. ‘Umar took the best path by remaining neutral. Firstly, we shall present evidence for the fact that Ibn ‘Umar knew fully well that the correct position with regards to the fitna was to fight the rebellious party. We read in al-Sunan al-Kubra Vol 8, pg. 298, Hadith # 16706:

أَخْبَرَني حَمْزَةُ بْنُ عَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ عُمَرَ،: أَنَّهُ بَيْنَمَا هُوَ جَالِسٌ مَعَ عَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ عُمَرَ إِذْ جَاءَهُ رَجُلٌ مِنْ أَهْلِ الْعِرَاقِ، فَقَالَ: يَا أَبَا عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ إِنِّي وَاللهِ لَقَدْ حَرَصْتُ أَنِ اتَّسَمْتُ بِسَمْتِكَ، وَأقْتَدي بِكَ فِي أَمْرِ فُرْقَةِ النَّاسِ، وَأَعْتَزِلَ الشَّرَّ مَا اسْتَطَعْتُ، وَإِنِّي أَقْرَأُ آيَةً منْ كِتَابِ اللهِ مُحْكَمَةً قَدْ أَخَذَتْ بِقَلْبِي، فَأَخْبِرْنِي عَنْهَا، أَرَأَيْتَ قَوْل اللهِ تبارك وتعالى: " {وَإِنْ طَائِفَتَانِ مِنَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ اقْتَتَلُوا فَأَصْلِحُوا بَيْنَهُمَا، فَإِنْ بَغَتْ إِحْدَاهُمَا عَلَى الْأُخْرَى فَقَاتِلُوا الَّتِي تَبْغِي حَتَّى تَفِيءَ إِلَى أَمْرِ اللهِ، فَإِنْ فَاءَتْ فَأَصْلِحُوا بَيْنَهُمَا بِالْعَدْلِ، وَأَقْسِطُوا إِنَّ اللهَ يُحِبُّ الْمُقْسِطِينَ} [الحجرات: 9] أَخْبِرْنِي عَنْ هَذِهِ الْآيَةِ، فَقَالَ عَبْدُ اللهِ: وَمَالَكَ وَلِذَلِكَ، انْصَرِفْ عَنِّي، فَانْطَلَقَ حَتَّى تَوَارَى عَنَّا سَوَادُهُ، أَقْبَلَ عَلَيْنَا عَبْدُ اللهِ بْنُ عُمَرَ فَقَالَ: مَا وَجِدْتُ فِي نَفْسِي مِنْ شَيْءٍ مِنْ أَمْرِ هَذِهِ الْأُمَّةِ مَا وَجِدْت فِي نَفْسِي أَنِّي لَمْ أُقَاتِلْ هَذِهِ الْفِئَةَ الْبَاغِيَةَ كَمَا أَمَرَنِي اللهُ عز وجل. زَادَ الْقَطَّانُ فِي رِوَايَتِهِ: قَالَ حَمْزَةُ: فَقُلْنَا لَهُ: وَمَنْ تَرَى الْفِئَةَ الْبَاغِيَةَ؟ قَالَ ابْنُ عُمَرَ: ‌ابْنُ ‌الزُّبَيْرِ ‌بَغَى ‌عَلَى هَؤُلَاءِ الْقَوْمِ، فَأَخْرَجَهُمْ مِنْ دِيَارِهِمْ، وَنكَث عَهْدَهُمْ. فَفِي قَوْلِ عَبْدِ اللهِ بْنِ عُمَرَ هَذَا دَلَالَةٌ عَلَى جَوَازِ اسْتِعْمَالِ الْآيَةِ فِي قِتَالِ الْفِئَةِ الْبَاغِيَةِ

Hamza b. Abdullah b. Umar narrated: While he was sitting with Abdullah b. Umar, a man from Iraq came to him and said:

"O Abu Abdurrahman, by Allah, I have strived to emulate your demeanor and follow your example in matters of dissension among people, avoiding evil as much as I can. However, there is a clear verse from the Book of Allah that has deeply moved my heart, and I seek your explanation regarding it. The verse is:

And if two groups among the believers fight, then make peace between them. But if one of them oppresses the other, then fight against the one that oppresses until it returns to the command of Allah. And if it returns, then make peace between them with justice and act justly. Indeed, Allah loves those who act justly.' (Al-Hujurat: 9)

He then asked, 'What do you say about this verse?' Abdullah replied, 'What concern do you have with this? Leave me.' The man departed until his figure disappeared from sight. Abdullah b. Umar then turned to us and said, 'I have never regretted anything regarding the affairs of this Ummah as much as I regret not fighting against the rebellious faction as Allah commanded me.'

Al-Qattan added in his narration: Hamza said, 'We asked him, "Who do you consider the rebellious faction?" Abdullah b. Umar replied, "b. al-Zubayr rebelled against these people, expelled them from their homes, and broke his covenant with them." This statement of Abdullah b. Umar indicates the permissibility of applying this verse to fighting against a rebellious faction.

He (Hamza) said: While he was sitting with 'Abdullah b. 'Umar, a man from the people of 'Iraq came to him and said: "O Abu 'Abd al-Rahman, by Allah, I have strived to adopt your demeanor and follow you in the matter of the people's division, avoiding evil as much as I could. I read a decisive verse from the Book of Allah that has deeply touched my heart. Please inform me about it. Allah, Blessed and Exalted, says: '{And if two parties of the believers fight, then make peace between them. But if one of them oppresses the other, then fight the one that oppresses until it returns to the command of Allah. Then if it returns, make peace between them justly and act equitably. Indeed, Allah loves those who act equitably.} [Al-Hujurat: 9] Inform me about this verse." Abdullah said: "What is your concern with that? Leave me alone." He (the Iraqi man) went away until we could no longer see his silhouette. Abdullah bin Umar then turned to us and said: "I have never regretted anything regarding this Ummah more than that I did not fight against this rebellious faction as Allah has commanded me."

In al-Qattan's narration, Hamza said: "We asked him: 'Whom do you consider the rebellious faction?' Ibn Umar said: 'Ibn al-Zubayr rebelled against these people, expelled them from their homes, and broke their covenant.'" Abdullah b. Umar's statement indicates the permissibility of applying the verse to fighting against the rebellious faction.

We read in Tabaqat Ibn Sa’ad, Vol. 4 pg. 141:

قال: أخبرنا الفضل بن دكين قال: حدثنا عبد العزيز بن سياه قال: حدثني حبيب بن أبي ثابت قال: بلغني عن ابن عمر في مرضه الذي مات فيه قال: ما أجدني آسى على شيء ‌من ‌أمر ‌الدنيا ‌إلا أني لم أقاتل الفئة الباغية.

He said: Al-Fadl b. Dukayn narrated to us, saying: 'Abd al-'Aziz b. Siyyah narrated to us, saying: Habib b. Abi Thabit narrated to me, saying: It reached me that during the illness in which Ibn 'Umar died, he said: "I do not find myself regretting anything of worldly matters except that I did not fight the rebellious group."

Ibn ‘Abd al-Barr in al-Isti’ab, pg. 420 - 421 reported that ‘Abdullah b. ‘Umar said:

حدثنا أبو القاسم خلف بن القاسم الحافظ، قال : حَدَّثنا عبد الله بن عمر بن إسحاق بن مَعْمَرٍ الجوهري ، قال : حدثنا أبو جعفر أحمد بن محمد ابن الحجاج بن رشدين ، قال : حَدَّثنا أبو سعيد يحيى بن سليمان الجعفي ، قال : حدثنا أسباط بن محمد ، قال : حَدَّثنا عبد العزيز بن سياه ، عن الله حبيب بن أبي ثابت ، عن عبد الله بن عمر، قال : ما أسى على شيء إلا أني لم أُقاتل مع علي رضي الله عنه الفئة الباغية.

وحدثنا خلف بن قاسم ، حدثنا ابن الورد ، حدثنا يوسف بن يزيد ، حَدَّثنا أسد بن موسى ، حدثنا أسباط بن محمد ، عن عبد العزيز بن سياه ، عن حبيب بن أبي ثابت ، قال : قال ابن عمر : ما أجدني أسى على شيء فاتني من الدنيا ، إلا أني لم أقاتل الفئة الباغية مع علي .

وذكر أبو زيد عمر بن شبة ، قال : حدثنا أبو القاسم الفضل بن دكين وأبو أحمد الزبيري ، قالا : حدثنا عبد الله بن حبيب بن أبي ثابت ، عن أبيه . عن ابن عمر أنه قال حين حضرته الوفاة : ما أجد في نفسي من أمر الدُّنيا شيئاً ، إلا أني لم أقاتل الفئة الباغية مع علي بن أبي طالب .

وقال : حَدَّثنا أبو أحمد ، حدثنا عبد الجبار بن العباس، عن أبي العَنْبَس، عن أَبي بكر بن أبي الجهم ، قال : سمعت ابن عمر يقولُ : مَا أسى على شيء إلا تركي قتال الفئة الباغية مع علي .

The first narration is from ‘Abdullah b. ‘Umar, who said: "I did not grieve over anything as much as not fighting with Ali (may Allah be pleased with him) against the rebellious faction."

The second narration is from Ibn ‘Umar again, who said: "I do not regret anything I missed in this world, except not fighting the rebellious faction with Ali (AS)."

The third narration is from Ibn ‘Umar's nephew Habib b. Abu Thabit, who heard from his father that Ibn ‘Umar said on his deathbed: "I do not find anything in myself from the affairs of this world, except not fighting the rebellious faction with Ali b. Abi Talib."

The fourth narration is from Abu Bakr b. Abu al-Jahm, who said that he heard Ibn ‘Umar say: "I did not grieve over anything except leaving Ali's side in the battle against the rebellious faction."

Ibn ‘Umar accepted a bribe from Mu’awiya

Ibn Sa’ad recorded this narration via his chain from Nafi’ in Tabaqat Ibn Sa’ad Vol 4, pg 138 who said:

عَنْ نَافِعٍ أَنَّ مُعَاوِيَةَ بَعَثَ إِلَى ابْنِ عُمَرَ بِمِائَةِ أَلْفٍ. فَلَمَّا أَرَادَ أَنْ يُبَايِعَ لِيَزِيدَ بْنِ مُعَاوِيَةَ قَالَ: أَرَى ذَاكَ أَرَادَ. ‌إِنَّ ‌دِينِي ‌عِنْدِي ‌إِذًا ‌لَرَخِيصٌ

"Mu’awiya sent currency amounting to 100 thousand to Abdullah b. ‘Umar. He intended on securing the pledge of allegiance for Yazid bin Mu’awiya. Ibn Umar said: I assumed that this must be the motive of Muawiyah. Does he think my religion is for such a low price?"

We read in Ibn Hajar’s commentary on Sahih al-Bukhari 7111 in Fath al-Bari Vol. 23, pg. 138 - 139, Hadith # 7111:

الحديث الأول: قوله: (لما خلع أهل المدينة يزيد بن ‌معاوية) في رواية أبي العباس السراج في تاريخ عن أحمد بن منيع، وزياد بن أيوب، عن عفان، عن صخر بن جويرية، عن نافع لما انتزى أهل المدينة مع عبد الله بن الزبير وخلعوا يزيد بن ‌معاوية جمع عبد الله بن عمر بنيه ووقع عند الإسماعيلي من طريق مؤمل بن إسماعيل، عن حماد بن زيد في أوله من الزيادة عن نافع أن ‌معاوية أراد ابن عمر على أن يبايع ليزيد، فأبى وقال لا أبايع لأميرين، فأرسل إليه ‌معاوية بمائة ألف درهم فأخذها، ‌فدس ‌إليه رجلا فقال له ما يمنعك أن تبايع؟ فقال: إن ذاك ‌لذاك - يعني عطاء ذلك المال لأجل وقوع المبايعة - إن ديني عندي إذا لرخيص، فلما مات ‌معاوية كتب ابن عمر إلى يزيد ببيعته، فلما خلع أهل المدينة فذكره.

The first hadith: His statement: (When the people of Medina renounced allegiance to Yazid b. Mu'awiya) — In the narration of Abu al-Abbas al-Sarraj in Tarikh from Ahmad b. Mani', and Ziyad b. Ayyub, from 'Affan, from Sakhr b. Juwairiya, from Nafi': When the people of Medina joined 'Abd Allah b. al-Zubayr and renounced Yazid b. Mu'awiya, 'Abd Allah b. 'Umar gathered his sons. It is also mentioned by al-Isma'ili through the chain of Mu'mmil b. Isma'il, from Hammad b. Zayd, with an additional part from Nafi' at the beginning, stating that Mu'awiya wanted Ibn 'Umar to give allegiance to Yazid, but he refused, saying, "I will not pledge allegiance to two leaders." So Mu'awiya sent him a hundred thousand dirhams, which he accepted. Then Mu'awiya secretly sent someone to him, asking, "What prevents you from pledging allegiance?" Ibn 'Umar replied, "It is that — meaning, receiving that money for the sake of allegiance. My religion would indeed be cheap to me if I did that." When Mu'awiya died, Ibn 'Umar wrote to Yazid pledging his allegiance. When the people of Medina renounced it, he mentioned it.

Ibn ‘Umar was the mufti of the killers of Husayn (as)

We read in Sahih al-Bukhari 5994:

I was present when a man asked Ibn `Umar about the blood of mosquitoes. Ibn `Umar said, "From where are you?" The man replied. "From Iraq." Ibn `Umar said, "Look at that! He is asking me about the blood of Mosquitoes while they (the Iraqis ) have killed the (grand) son of the Prophet. I have heard the Prophet (ﷺ) saying, "They (Hasan and Husain) are my two sweet-smelling flowers in this world."

This report demonstrates that the killers of Husayn were ‘Uthmanis, as they were seeking Fatwa from a well known Uthmani as opposed to one of the Shia Imam or one of their well known supporters. The Shia of the Ahl al-Bayt do not seek fatwa from the likes of ‘Abdullah b. ‘Umar, as he was not one of the Shia of ‘Ali, but rather a major supporter of the Umayyads.