Sayyidah Ummul Momineen Ayesha siddiqua رضیﷲ عنها said:
من رأى عمر علم أنه خلق غنى للإسلام قالت كان والله أحوزيا نسيج وحده قد أعد للأمور أقرانها
Whoever saw Umar رضیﷲ عنه he knew that he was born for the triumph of Islam, I swear by Allah. he was unmatched in his time and he has the knowledge of the affairs to handle them alone.
[Tarikh Damishq 30/312 sanad sahih]
Saydna Abdullah ibn Masood رضیﷲ عنه cry a lot whenever he mentions Umar ibn al Khattab رضیﷲ عنه and used to say:
إن عمر كان للإسلام حصنًا حصينًا يدخل فيه الإسلام ولا يخرج منه، فلما قتل عمر انثلم الحصن،
Saydna Umar رضیﷲ عنه was indeed a strong fortress of Islam. One would enter Islam but won't not leave it. However, when Umar was killed, the fortress was breached.
[Musannaf ibn Abi Shaybah #34145, sanad Sahih]
He also said:
إِذَا ذُكِرَ الصَّالِحُونَ فَحَيَّهَلَا بِعُمَرَ، إِنَّ إِسْلَامَهُ كَانَ نَصْرًا، وَإِنَّ إِمَارَتَهُ كَانَتْ فَتْحًا، وَايْمُ اللَّهِ، مَا أَعْلَمُ عَلَى الْأَرْضِ شَيْئًا إِلَّا وَقَدْ وَجَدَ فَقْدَ عُمَرَ حَتَّى الْعِضَاهُ، وَايْمُ اللَّهِ إِنِّي لَأَحْسَبُ بَيْنَ عَيْنَيْهِ مَلَكًا يُسَدِّدُهُ وَيُرْشِدُهُ، وَايْمُ اللَّهِ لَوْ أَعْلَمُ أَنَّ كَلْبًا يُحِبُّ عُمَرَ لَأَحْبَبْتُهُ»
If pious pious people are mentioned then begin with Saydna Umar, his acceptance of Islam was a great initiative and victory for muslims and his caliphate was full of mercy and conquests. By Allah! His death affected everything on this earth, even the trees and thorns. by Allah! I always think he has an Angel in between his eyes guiding him and keeping him upright. I swear by Allah if I knew that a dog loved Umar then I will love that dog.
[Musannaf ibn Abi Shaybah #31989, sanad Sahih]
Ibn Abbas رضیﷲ عنه went out and whenever he passed by a gathering of people, they were all crying and he said:
مَا أَتَيْتُ عَلَى مَلإٍ مِنَ الْمُسْلِمِينَ إلا وَهُمْ يَبْكُونَ، كَأَنَّمَا فَقَدُوا الْيَوْمَ … أبكارَ أَوْلادِهِمْ
I have not come across any group of Muslims except that they were all weeping, as if they have lost their firstborn sons.
[al Moajjam al Awsat Tabarani #579, sanad hasan]
Saydna Abu Talha al Ansari رضیﷲ عنه said:
فوالله ما من أهل بيت من المسلمين إلّا وقد دخل عليهم في موت عمر نَقْصٌ في دينهم وفي دنياهم،
By Allah there was not a single household of muslims except that they suffered a loss in their deen and duniya when Umar رضیﷲ عنه died.
[Tabqat al Kubra Ibn Sa'ad 3/347 sanad sahih]
Saydna Huzaifa ibn Yaman رضیﷲ عنه said:
كان الإسلام في زمن عمر كالرجل المُقبل لا يزداد إلّا قُرْبًا، فلمّا قُتل عمر، ﵀، كان كالرجل المُدْبر لا يزداد إلّا بُعْدًا
Islam during the caliphate of Umar was like a man moving forward and keep moving ahead and it is only increased, and when Umar رضیﷲ عنه died, Islam was like moving away and keep moving behind and increased only in distance.
[Tabqat al Kubra 3/346, Ibn Asakir pg. 346, sanad sahih]
When Umar ibn al Khattab رضیﷲ عنه was stabbed, Amr ibn Maymoon رحمہ اللہ said
وَكَأَنَّ النَّاسَ لَمْ تُصِبْهُمْ مُصِيبَةٌ قَبْلَ يَوْمَئِذٍ، فَقَائِلٌ يَقُولُ لاَ بَأْسَ. وَقَائِلٌ يَقُولُ أَخَافُ عَلَيْهِ
And the people were as if they had never suffered a calamity before. Some said, "Do not worry (he will be Alright soon)." Some said: they're scared for him.
[Sahih al Bukhari #3700]
