Al-Imaam al-Khattaabee - rahimahullaah - said: "Ibn Umar - radiyallaahu an'huma - was the most wary of the Companions when it comes to shunning Fitnah (crisis between righteous Muslims), he was also the foremost person in warning the people from falling into it. He lived up to the time of issue of Ibn Zubayr (radiyallaahu an'huma), thus he never fought behind him nor defended him, though he would observe prayers behind him (at Makkah), and whenever he missed the prayer (behind him) he would observe it behind al-Hajjaaj (bn Yuusuf). He used to say: 'When they call us to Allaah, we would answer them and when they call us to Shaytaan we would forsake them.''
Ibn Umar - radiyallaahu an'huma - also advised al-Husayn bn Alee - radiyallaahu an'huma - against going to Iraaq (where he was killed along the road). He advised him to go to Madeenah rather.
Al-Imaam Al-Khattaabee recorded in his book that when Ibn Umar - radiyallaahu an'huma - heard that al-Husayn had set out heading to Iraaq, he rushed up to meet him after a journey of three days and said to him: 'Don't go over to them.' But al-Husayn refused. Ibn Umar - radiyallaahu an'huma - further said: 'Let me narrate a hadeeth to you: Jibreel indeed came to the Prophet ï·º and asked him to choose between this world and the hereafter but he ï·º chose the latter and he never desired the world. You are indeed a part of the flesh of the Messenger of Allaahï·º . By Allaah, none of you will attain this position again. It was not taken away from you except for a reason better for you.'
Yet al-Husayn - radiyallaahu an'hu - refused to heed to the advice. Ibn Umar - radiyallaahu an'huma - then embraced him and cried saying: 'I live you in the custody of Allaah if you are killed.'
See al-Uzlah p. 76 and 78
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