He is the great Companion, Sariya the son of Zanim, the son of Abdullah, the son of Jaber; his lineage extends to Kinana.
He was the one whom master ‘Umar Ibn al-Khattab called out to saying, “O Sariya! To the mountain!”
Ahmed the son of Uthman the son of Abu ‘Ali al-Zarzari narrated through Ibn ‘Umar who said, ‘One day, our master ‘Umar was delivering the Friday sermon on the pulpit of the Messenger of Allah when he [suddenly] cried out, ‘O Sariya! To the mountain! To the mountain! Whoever attracts the attention of the wolf has committed an excess.” [Perplexed], the people looked at one another.
After the prayer ended, Imam ‘Ali told Umar, ‘What came over you during the sermon?”
‘Umar replied, “What?”
‘Ali said, “You said, ‘O Sariya! To the mountain! Whoever attracts the attention of the wolf has committed an excess.”
‘Umar said, “Did I say this?”
“Yes,” replied ‘Ali.
‘Umar said, “It came to my attention that the disbelievers defeated our brothers and were in an advantageous position up on the mountain. If our army remain below the mountain, they will be defeated but if they climb the mountain and fight, they will be victorious. So, these words escaped my mouth.”
Ibn ‘Umar continued and said, “A month later, a deliverer of good news informed us that on that same day and hour when the army was going past the mountain, Sariya heard a voice that resembled ‘Umar’s saying, “O Sariya! To the mountain! To the mountain!” So we changed our course and Allah gave us victory.”