Part 32

When * Umar first became the Caliph, he declared: "I am entitled to only two garments to be paid for from the Treasury, one in winter and another in summer, as well as provisions for my household similar to the provisions of an average man from Quraysh who is not one of their wealthiest. I am only an ordinary Muslim."

It is also related that “Umar, may Allah be pleased with him, was once late for the Friday congregational salah. When he arrived at the mosque, he went up the pulpit and apologized to people saying: "I was held back because of this garment of mine. It is the only one I have got and it was being sewn." The garment was white with the sleeves hardly reaching his wrists. (Reported by Ibn Sa*d.)

Jabir Ton * Abdillah mentions: "* Umar Ibn Al-Khattaab, may Allah be pleased with him, saw me carrying some meat.

He asked me, ‘What is this, Jabir?' | answered, 'I hungered for meat so I bought some.' “Umar returned: 'Do you go out and buy whatever you hunger for?! Do you not worry about what this verse tells you:

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"Ye received your good things in the life of the world" ?' "(A\- Ahgaf: 20)

It is recounted that Hafs Ibn Abul--Aas used to be present when ~Umar ate, yet never touched the food. ~ Umar asked him, "Why is it that you never join us?" He replied, "The food you eat is rough and coarse. Back home, I will find good food prepared for me." ~Umar returned: "Do you think | am incapable of ordering a ewe to be skinned, flour to be sifted and placed in a piece of cloth then baked into tender bread, and amounts of raisins to be soaked in water." Hafs wondered, "I can see you are well-aware of what a luxurious life is all about!" ~Umar answered: "I am. I swear by Him in Whose Hands my soul is, had I not been worried that the reward for my good deeds might diminish, I would have joined you in this life of yours." (Reported by Ibn Sa*d.)

~Umar was once admonished and told: "If you eat good food, you will be more capable of discharging your duties." *“Umar returned: “My two companions followed a certain course in life. Should I digress from it, I will not enjoin a status equal to theirs."

During the Ramadah Year' (i.e. the Ash Year), ~ Umar

'“Aam Ar-Ramaadah ov the Ramaadah Year refers to the time when Arabs were

afflicted with a severe famine that lasted for almost cight months, and during which “Umar was an admirable example of austerity.

lived on bread and oil till his skin darkened. He used to say: "Damned would I be as a ruler, if I ate to my heart's content while people went hungry."

True are indeed the words of Talhah Ibn * Ubayd when he said: "“Umar was not the first among us to embrace Islam, nor the first to migrate. Yet, he outdid us all in renouncing worldly pleasures and was certainly the keenest on winning Allah's reward in the Hereafter." (Reported by [bn ~ Aasaakir.)

Though the Caliph, who was on top of an incessantly expanding state, “Umar [bn Al-Khattaab was a living example of humbleness not only to the poorest and humblest of his subjects, but also for entire generations of Muslims up to our present time.

Qatadah states: “Umar Ibn Al-Khattaab, may Allah be pleased with him, stepped out of the mosque with Al-Jarood. He saw an old woman sitting out on the street. Umar greeted her, the woman answered his greetings. She then said: "Oh, “Umar! 1 was there when you used to be called 'Little *Umar' at Soog ~Ukaaz (the *Ukaaz market), when you would brawl with little boys. Days passed by and you came to be called “Umar, and again days passed by till you came to be called the Commander of the Faithful. So, fear Allah when dealing with your subjects and remember that whoever fears death avoids sin. “Umar wept. Al-Jarood intervened: " Hey, you had the audacity to reduce the Commander of the Faithful to tears!" “Umar returned: "It is all right. Do you not know who she is? She is Khawlah Bint Hakeem whom Allah, high in the Heavens, heard complain. This is all the more reason why *Umar should listen to her words." (Quoted from Al-Misbah.)

*“Umar stepped out of his house in the hush of the night and was spotted by Talhah. ~Umar walked into a house and then headed for another. The next morning, Talhah made it to that house where he found a blind crippled old woman. He asked her: "Why does that man come to your house?" She answered: "He takes care of me; brings me what I need and guards me against harm." Talhah thought to himself: "May your mother be bereaved of you, Tulahah! Are you trying to find fault with * Umar?" (Reported by Abu Na‘ eem.)

A delegation from Iraq, among whom was Al-Ahnaf [bn Qays, came to meet * Umar Ibn Al-Khattaab on a blistering hot summer day. Shielding his head with a cloak, ~ Umar was busy covering the charity camels with tar. He called out: "Take off your clothes, Al-Ahnaf and come help the Commander of the Faithful with this camel for it is one of the charity camels, that is, the rights of orphans, widows and poor people." One of the delegates said: "May Allah forgive you, Commander of the Faithful, can you not just order one of the charity bondmen to do the job?" ‘Umar replied: "Who is more enslaved than myself or Al-Ahnaf? Whoever is in charge of Muslims’ affairs owes his subjects exactly what a bondman owes his master, namely offering sound advice and performing his duty with all honesty." (Quoted from Akhbaar *Umar.)

~“Umar was reported to have entered Jerusalem riding a workhorse, which kept swaggering. “Umar started lashing it with his outfit and then said: "May whoever taught you this be damned! This is a sign of arrogance." “Umar then dismounted it and said: "You had me carried on a devil's back. Once ] dismounted, I had no feeling of ostentation. (Reported by AtTabari.)

It is also narrated that “Umar Ibn Al-Khattaab called out: "Come to salah in congregation." “Umar went up the pulpit and

sat where Abu Bakr used to place his feet. When people gathered, *Umar stood up. He started off by praising Allah and glorifying Him, as befits the Lord. He then invoked peace and blessings on the Prophet. ~Umar proceeded saying: "I saw in my dream that I was shepherding the sheep of my aunts of the Banu Makhzoom tribe. They handed me a handful of dates and raisins, which sustained me for the whole day, tough as they may be." When *Umar finished, he stepped down the pulpit. *Abdur-Rahmaan_ Ibn * Awf told him: "You insist on censuring yourself, Commander of the Faithful?" ~Umar replied: "Woe unto you, Ibn *Awf! When I am on my own, I think: ‘I am the Commander of the Faithful. Who could possibly be better than me?’ That is why I mean to show myself who I really am.” (Reported by Ibn Sa*d.)

Al-Hasan reports: "‘Umar went out ona hot summer day, with his garment pulled over his head. A young boy riding on a donkey passed him by, ‘Umar called out: "Take me along, boy.' The boy jumped off his donkey and_ said: 'Get on it, Commander of the Faithful!' * Umar returned: "No, you do, and 1 will ride behind you. You want me to sit on the soft part while you sit on the hard part!" Thus, * Umar rode into the city sitting behind the boy, hence causing all people to stare." (Quoted from Hayatus-Sahabah, The Lives of the Companians.)

Abu Mahdhoorah states: "I was at *Umar Ibn AL Khattaab's, may Allah be pleased with him, when Safawaan Ibn ‘Umayyah brought a bowl wrapped ina cloak. It was placed before *Umar. ~Umar called a host of poor people to join him, then said: "Damned are those who refuse to eat with poor people!’ Safawaan returned: 'It is not that we refuse to let them join us; I swear by Allah that we simply cannot afford fine food both for ourselves and them, too,' " (Reported by Al-Bukhari.)

There is no better evidence of his indisputable

humbleness than his story with Al-Hurmudhaan (a Persian king) after Muslims' conquering Persia. A delegation of Muslims, among whom were Anas Ibn Malik, Al-Ahnaf Ibn Qays along with Al-Hurmudhaan arrived at Madinah bringing one-fifth of the booty. They walked in the city, asked to be directed to the house of the Commander of the Faithful, where they found no one. The delegation thereupon turned and left. On their way. they came across some boys playing so they asked them where they could find “Umar. The boys answered: "He is asleep at the mosque, resting his head on his hooded cloak. The delegation headed for the mosque where they did find ~ Umar asleep, with his head resting on his hooded cloak, which he had put on to receive the delegation in, and with his Dirah in his hand. There was no one else in the mosque. Al-Hurmudhaan asked, "Where is Umar?" Muslims replied, "There he is." People whispered to one another so as not to wake him up. Yet, Al-Hurmudhaan kept wondering, "Where are his chamberlains?! Where are his guards?!" Muslims answered, "He has got no chamberlains, no guards, no scribe and no Diwan (consultative assembly)." AlHurmudhaan returned, "He must be a Prophet!" Muslims returned; "No, but he acts like one." (Reported by Ibn Katheer.)

*Umar Follows the Example of the Prophet:

“Umar spared no effort in following the example of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, and walking closely in his footsteps. History abounds in instances where he could not have been keener on abiding by the Prophet's Tradition.

*Atikah Bint Zayd Ibn ~ Amr, *Umar's wife, mentions that whenever she asked ~Umar's permission to go to the mosque, he would be silent. ~ Umar used to tell her: "You know that I hate that you go out." ‘Umar was a man of enormous Ghayrah (i.e. he was very protective of his women out of self-

respect). His wife would return: "I swear by Allah I will go out unless you prevent me." Yet, ‘Umar never did. (Reported by Malik.) Even the day ~Umar was stabbed, his wife was in the mosque.

In another narration: It is reported that ~Umar's wife used to perform the morning (Fajr) and the night salah (*Ishaa') in congregation at the mosque. She was asked: "Why do you go out when you know he hates that on account of his Ghairah?" *“Umar's wife replied: "Why can he not forbid me to?" They answered: “He would never do because of the Prophet's saying: ‘If your women ask permission to 80 to the mosque at night, allow them." " (Reported by Al-Bukhari.)