Part 63

Rabee*ah [bn Abi * Abder-Rahmaan said that ~ Umar Ibn Abdul-* Azeez always dreaded wronging anyone or making any mistake, and so, Rabee’ah would always assure him that was not the case.

Anas Ibn Malik said that ~ Umar Ibn ~ Abdul-* Azeez was the one who could lead the people in Salaah just like the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, used to do; “Umar used to bow and prostrate properly during Salaah, and used to avoid spending a long time standing or kneeling during praying.

Abu An-Nadr Al-Madeeni saw Sulaymaan Ibn Yasaar coming out of “Umar Ibn ~Abdel-- Azeez's house, so, AlMadeeni asked him if he had gone to ~Umar's to teach him some juristic rulings and Islamic teachings. Sulaymaan answered in the affirmative; so, Al-Madeeni said: "* Umar is more knowledgeable than you all."

Al-Layth said: "A man who went with ~Umar's son and Ibn “Abbaas to ~Umar's place came back and told me: “Whenever we discussed any topic, we would realise “Umar knew more about it; scholars, to “Umar, are mere disciples."

Imam Malik narrates that when ~Umar Ibn ~* Abdel- * Azeez was ousted as Madenah's Ruler, in the year 93 AH, and was forced to leave it, he looked back at the city and cried, then he told his servant: " Muzaahim said, "I dread that it was Madeenah which banished us." He meant that he dreaded he was so bad and mean that Allah had expelled him from Madeenah.

Isma*eel Ibn Abi Hakeem reports that he heard ~ Umar Ibn *Abdel-* Azeez saying: "I left Madeenah as a scholar who was unparalleled, but here in the Levant, I have forgotten a lot of what I had learnt."

When Sulaymaan and “Umar were at the mount of *Arafah, there were innumerous people around, so, ~ Umar told him: "These are your citizens one day, you will be responsible for them." In another narration, “Umar added: "They will be your foes on the Day of Judgment." Sulaymaan shed tears, and said: "I seek the Help of Almighty Allah."

Az-Zuhri narrates that Al-Waleed once sent for * Umar Ibn *Abdel--Azeez, who went to meet him, only to find him rather gloomy. Al-Waleed welcomed ~ Umar told him to have a seat, and asked him: "How shall we punish a man who curses the Caliph? Shall he be executed? But, * Umar did not reply, so, Al-Waleed asked the same question again and still, ~ Umar did not comment. When he asked it a third time, “Umar said: "Did that man kill anyone, Commander of the Believers?" Al-Waleed replied: "No, but he cursed me." So, Umar replied: "He is to be only reprimanded, then." Hearing this, Al-Waleed was furious and left the place. Then, his executioner told ‘Umar to leave, so, he did. As he went out, strong winds were blowing so hard that he thought they were the Caliph's messenger pushing him to go back to him.

One day the Commander of the Believers, Sulaymaan Ibn ~Abdel Malik, took ~Umar Ibn * Abdel-- Azeez to show him the former's camp which swarmed with horses, camels, mules and many other things. Sulaymaan asked ~ Umar what he thought of all that. “Umar replied: "I see a world where all devour one another and you are responsible for it." As they approached the camp, they saw a crow holding a piece of bread by its beak, then, the crow flew uttering a loud shriek. Sulaymaan said to “Umar, "What was that?" *Umar replied, "I don't know." Sulaymaan asked again, "What do you think it said?” “Umar replied: "As if the crow said: “I wonder where this piece of bread came from and where it will end up." Sulaymaan found his reply rather odd, so, “Umar elaborated: "Iam always shooed to learn that some people believe in Allah yet, disobey Him; that some are aware of the evil of the devil, yet obey him and that some know what life is all about, yet, they trust it.'' A while later, rain and thunder shook the silence of the area, which took Sulaymaan aback, while “Umar was laughing. Sulaymaan asked “Umar: "Laughing?" ~ Umar replied: "Yes, these are signs of Allah's Mercy on us in this world. Can you imagine how his Wrath and Punishment will be like in the Hereafter?”

One night, ~Umar Ibn ~ Abdel-* Azeez saw the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, in a vision, in a green meadow, and heard him, peace and blessings be upon him, saying: "You will be my nation's ruler, so be just and spare people's blood. Your name, to people, is ‘Umar Ibn ~ Abdel- “Azeez, but to Allah, your name is Jabir (just and compassionate)."

Ibraheem As-Sukooni narrates that ~Umar said, "I have stopped lying since I realized lying was a detestable vice."

Qays Ibn Jubayr said that among the Umayyads, “Umar 379

was like the believer of Pharaoh's folks."

Maymoon Ibn Mahraan said that Allah had always sent Prophet, for the people; after that, he sent them ~Umar Ibn * Abel-~ Azeez.

Wahb Ibn Munabbih said that “Umar Ibn * Abdel-* Azeez was the nation's guiding light in his era.

“Umar before Becoming the Caliph:

Many people used to blame * Umar Ibn * Abdel-> Azeez for his wealth and famous strutting and proud gait. * Umar and his brother had inherited a lot of money, properties and animals from their father.

One day, “Umar Ibn *Abdel-- Azeez went to see his uncle ~Abdel-Malik who noticed that “Umar was kind of limping. So, * Abdel-Malik asked him why he was not strutting as usual, and “Umar replied: "J have a small wound." ~ AbdelMalik asked him: "Where?". “Umar replied: "Between my inner thigh and scrotum." *Abdel-Malik was surprised at his openness and said to Rooh Ibn Zinba': "By Allah, if I asked one of your folks that question, he would never give me such an open answer."

“Umar and *Abdel-Malik were very close, and it is narrated that upon ~ Abdel-Malik's death, “Umar was so upset and sad that he wore rags under Ins clothes for seventy days.

“Umar Ibn ~Abdel--Azeez became the Caliph in the month of Safar, 99 AH, and remained in power for two years and five months, a period similar to the Caliphate of Abu Bakr,

may Allah be pleased with him.

During his reign, *Umar's justice was tasted everywhere; he settled all disputes, not to mention introducing praiseworthy innovations.

When receiving the decree of his predecessor, naming him the new Caliph, ~Umar was dismayed, and said: "I never invoked Allah to make me the Caliph." When he was offered the horse of the Caliph, ~Umar insisted on mounting nothing but his mule. Asked what to do with the Caliph’s stallion, he told its keepers to sell it and deposit the money in the Bayt AlMaal, because he wanted to go around on his mule.

After the funeral of his predecessor, “Umar was seen rather gloomy. His servant asked him why he was so sad and worried, “Umar replied: "Anyone in my shoes should be so; I must deliver and grant all the nation's citizens all their rights, whether they demand them, or not."

*Amr Ibn Muhaajir says: "When “Umar became Caliph he gathered the people, praised Allah, then said: "O people there is no Book but the Quran, and there is no Prophet after Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him. I will not impose injustice on you, I will only execute Allah's Orders. Also, I am not an innovator of blameworthy innovations, rather, I follow Allah's teachings. I am no better than any of you, rather, 1 shoulder a very heavy responsibility. Mind you, he who flees from an unjust Imam, is not unjust; Lo! No one should be obeyed at the expense of disobeying the Creator."

Az-Zuhri is reported to have said: “Umar Ibn ~ Abdel- ~Azeez wrote to Salim [bn ~ Abdellaah asking to tell him what “Umar Ibn Al-Khattaab did regarding charity. Ibn ~ Abdellaah replied to “Umar and furnished him with all the information he

asked for, and added: "If you do with the help of those around you, what *Umar did in his time and age, with the help of those around him, you will be better than him."

“Umar burst into tears when he ascended to the throne and asked a man_ if he was worried about his future under his caliphate; so the man asked if “Umar loved money. ‘Umar said, "No"; the man told him not to worry, for Allah would help him.

When ~ Umar became the Caliph he gathered the sons of Marawaan and told them: "The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, had money which he might have spent to support the young ones of Banu Haashim and helped their men to pay marriage expenses. When his daughter Faatimah asked him to give some to her, he refused. That continued in the times of Abu Bakr and “Umar, but, Marawaan_ took it. Now it is mine, and since the Prophet refused to give it to Faatimah, I cannot keep it, so, bear witness that things will be just like they were in the days of the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him.

So, ~ Umar started with his folk and family; he took their possessions and gave their money to the treasury.

One day, ~Anbasah Ibn Sa*eed Ibn Al-- Aas went to meet * Umar Ibn ~ Abdel-* Azeez. He told him: "O Commander of the Believers, your predecessors used to provide for us, but you stopped that; I have children and a farm, do you permit me to farm my land to support my children?" * Umar replied: "The best of you, O people, is he who does without the state's allowance; my good man, remember death often, and if you cannot make ends meet, work hard to better your condition, and if you are solvent, do not be a spendthrift."

Furaat Ibn As-Saa'ib narrates that * Umar told his wife

Faatimah Bint ~Abdel-Malik, who had matchless precious jewels that were a present from her father, to return her then to the state's treasury, or to let me part with you", for he could not be with her and the jewels in one house. She said to him: "I choose you over these jewels and much more." So, “Umar ordered the jewels to be taken to the treasury. After ~Umar's death, Yazeed told Faatimah that he could give her the jewels back, but she refused and said, "I would never do what ~ Umar did not condone when he was alive.

* Abdel-* Azeez narrates that some of ~Umar's men wrote him to let him know that their city needed a lot of restoration and asked for money to fund that. “Umar replied saying: "When you read this message, start by fortifying your city with justice and_ rid it of injustice, that will restore it, peace be with you!"