Narrated It was narrated that Nafi’ bin 'Abdul-Harith met 'Umar bin al-Khattab in ‘Usfan, when he was his governor in Makkah. Umar asked:
Whom have you appointed as your deputy over the people of the valley? He said: I have appointed Ibn Abza over them, ‘Umar said: Who is Ibn Abza? Nafiʼ said: One of our freed slaves. ‘Umar said: Have you appointed a freed slave over them? Nafi’ said: He has great knowledge of the Book of Allah, is well versed in the rules of inheritance (al-fara'id) and is a (good) qadi (judge). 'Umar said. Indeed your Prophet (ﷺ) said, “Allah raises some people (in status) by means of this Book and brings others low by means of it.”
‘Umar said to Abu ‘Ubaidah bin al-Jarrah: Stretch out your hand so that I may give my allegiance to you, for I heard the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) say: “You are the trustee of this ummah.” Abu ‘Ubaidah said: I will not put myself ahead of someone whom the Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) told to lead us in prayer and he led us in prayer until he died.
