He, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, would listen to their opinions and accept their suggestions

“We were sitting around the Messenger of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. Abu Bakr and ‘Umar were with us, among others. The Messenger of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, got up and departed. He took a long time, and we were worried that he may have been attacked, and we became alarmed. We stood up, and I was the first to stand up to help. I went to search for the Messenger of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, until I came to a garden belonging to the tribe of Bani An-Najjaar. I went around it to find a door but found none. I saw a small creek going through an opening in the wall from a well outside it, so I drew myself together like a fox, and I entered upon the Messenger of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam. He, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “Abu Hurayrah?” I said: “Yes, O Messenger of Allah.” He, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “What happened to you?” I said: “You were among us, then you left and were late coming back. We were worried that you may be attacked so we became alarmed, and I was the first one to stand up. I came upon this wall, so I drew myself together like a fox, and there are other people coming after me.” He, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “O Abu Hurayrah,” (and he had given me his sandals) “Take these two sandals. Whomever you meet behind this wall that bears witness that there is none is worthy of worship except Allah, with certainty from his heart, then give him the glad tidings of Paradise.” The first person I met was ‘Umar, and he asked me, “What are these two sandals, Abu Hurayrah?” I said: “These are the sandals of the Prophet of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, he gave them to me and told me to give the glad tidings of Paradise to whoever bears witness that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, with certainty from his heart.” ‘Umar hit me in the chest until I fell on the ground, and said: “Go back, Abu Hurayrah!” So I went back to the Prophet of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, and started crying. ‘Umar had followed me and came in behind me. The Prophet of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “What is wrong with you, O Abu Hurayrah?” I said: “I met ‘Umar and told him what you sent me with, so he hit me on the chest and I fell to the ground, and he told me to return.” The Prophet of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said to him: “O ‘Umar, what made you do that?” ‘Umar said: “O Messenger of Allah, may my parents be sacrificed for you! Did you send your sandals with Abu Hurayrah, and told him to give glad tidings of Paradise to whomever he met that witnessed that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, with certainty from his heart?” He, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “Yes.” ‘Umar said: “Do not do that, for I fear that people may de- pend upon it. Leave them to do (good) deeds.” The Messenger of Allah, sallallaahu ‘alayhi wa sallam, said: “Then leave them.”