Part 65

Abu ~Amr reports that one day, Usamah Ibn Zayd's daughter went to see “Umar Ibn * Abdel-* Azeez; on seeing her, he got up and went to receive her, then he humbly sat before

her and granted all her requests.

Al-Hajjaaj_ Ibn ~Anbasah narrates that the Marawaan once agreed to try to influence “Umar by being funny and humorous with him. So they went to see him and one of them started joking. Then “Umar looked at the joker, but another man started to joke, too. “Umar asked them if they had come to joke around; he criticized their attitude, and urged them to discuss and talk about the Quran and its teachings wherever they zather, and if not the Quran, then the Sunnah or if not, the explanations of the Prophet's sayings.

“Umar Ibn Hafs said that ‘Umar Ibn * Abdel-* Azeez once told him to always think well of anything a Muslim told him, as long as his words were not to read mischievous meanings between the lines.

Shu*ayb said that, one day ~ Umar's son, * Abdul-Malik, went to see his father and asked him: "O Commander of Believers, what will you answer Allah if he asks you in the Hereafter about the blameworthy innovations you never abolished and the praiseworthy ones you never encouraged?" “Umar; his father, replied: "May Allah bless you and have mercy upon you! You are sucha good son! Your people (the Marawans) are very adamant and demanding about keeping their wealth; 1 did not wish to take much from them by force lest this would lead to bloodshed and massacres. By Allah, I would rather the world ended then have a few drops of blood shed because of me. Don't you want your father to keep abolishing blameworthy innovations — and_—_ encouraging praiseworthy ones?

Mu’ maar narrates that “Umar said: "The real winners are those who abstain from idle arguments, wrath and greed."

Arta'ah Ibn Al-Mundher reports that ~Umar Ibn * Abdel- *Azeez was once advised to take guards and be careful lest his food was poisoned, but he said: "If you think I fear anything before Doomsday, then you should not feel secure around me."

“Adyy Ibn Al-Fadl reports that in one of *Umar's speeches the latter said: "O people, fear Allah, and when you invoke Him and ask for things from Him, do not keep any wish back, for Allah may grant you anything, even if you think your request is impossible!"

Some of ~Umar's Speeches:

Hajib [bn Khaleefah Al-Burjumyy reports that he once listened to “Umar Ibn ~ Abdel-Azeez giving one of his speeches, during his reign; ~ Umar said: "The Prophetic tradition, and the traditions of Abu Bakr and ‘Umar Ibn Al-Khattab are like doctrines we must follow; as for the traditions of other, they be put aside."

[bn Abi *Ablah narrates that he went once on the first day of the Bairam to see “Umar Ibn * Abdel-* Azeez; he found many people at his house who kept wishing that Allah would accept his, and their good deeds. ‘Umar humbly wished them the same. Ibn Abi * Ablah was impressed by this, and realized it was the way how all Muslims should exchange greetings on special occasions and feasts.

When ~Umar Ibn ~Abdel-- Azeez assigned ~Amr [bn Qays to be the ruler of As-Saa'ifah, he told him thus: "Honor those who do good, forgive those who do wrong, do not address the people while in front, lest you would get killed, and do not be at the rear, lest you would fail; you would better address the people while in the middle of the crowd, so that they can see

and hear you well.

One day, Al-Jarraah Ibn * Abdellaah wrote to ~ Umar telling him that the people of Khurasan had gone really bad and must he harshly disciplined. He meant to ask the permission of the commander of believers to employ the ironfist strategy. But, ~Umar wrote back this reply: "I got your message telling me that the people of Khurasan bad gone really bad and must be harshly disciplined. I do not agree with you, but I think Justice and truth will correct them, spread these principles among them, Peace be with you!"

Umayyah Ibn Zayd Al-Qurashi said that ~Umar [bn * Abdel-* Azeez would always say: "O Allah I seek refuge in you from uttering wrong, evil words" before dictating his scribes.

Jareer Ibn ~Uthman Ar-Rahbi once went with his father to meet ‘Umar Ibn * Abdel* Azeez, ~ Umar asked how Jareer was and advised his father to teach him the best of all wisdom. When the father asked what that was, ‘Umar replied: “To be content and to never harm anybody."

*Umar Ibn * Abdel-* Azeez once asked Muhammad Ibn Ka*‘ab Al-Qurazy to tell him what justice was. The latter said: "Oh! That is a difficult question, but I may say that it is to be a father for the young, a son for the elderly, a brother to the youth and to women. It is also to punish people according to their mistakes and their build, and never to whip any one out of anger lest one would be a transgressor."

Az-Zuhri narrates that “Umar Ibn * Abdel-* Azeez used to perform Wudoo' after holding anything that fire touches,

Wuhayb narrates that “Umar Ibn * Abdel-* Azeez said: "You would all better speak a little and act a lot."

The Umayyads used to abuse “Ali Ibn Abi Taalib in speeches, but when “Umar Ibn Abdul-* Azeez became the Caliph, he put an end to that by writing to his provincial rulers, ordering them to stop that tradition and quoted the verse: "

"Allah commands justice, the doing of good, and liberality to kith and kin, and he forbids all shameful deeds, and injustice and rebellion: he instructs you, that ye may receive admonition." (An-Nahl: 90) This verse was always quoted in their speeches from then onwards.

*Abdullaah Ibn Al-* Alaa’ reports that he heard ~ Umar Ibn *Abdel-* Azeez_ say in the outset of his Khutbah: "Praise be to Allah, we thank Him, seek His Assistance and Forgiveness. We seek refuge in Allah from the evils within ourselves and the evils of our bad deeds. Whosoever Allah guides can never be misled, and whosoever He misleads will never find guidance. I bear witness that there is no god but Allah, and that Muhammad is his Messenger and bondman. Whoever obeys Allah will succeed, and whoever disobeys him will go astray." Then he used to advice people to fear Allah and be conscious of Him, then he used to discuss the topic of the Khutbah. Then he used to finish the Khutbah with the verse:

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"Say: O my Servants who have transgressed against their souls. Despair not of the Mercy of Allah: for Allah forgives all sins: for He is Oft-Forgiving, Most Merciful." (AzZum ir: 53)

“Umar's Terminal Illness and Death:

“Umar Ibn *Abdel-- Azeez was once offered to be buried in Madeenah, next to the graves of Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, Abu Bakr, and *Umar Ibn Al-Khattab, but he commented saying: "By Allah, I would rather be tortured by Allah in Hell-Fire than do what would mean that I find myself worthy of being buried there."

When ~*Umar's terminal illness worsened, all kept urging him to seek medical treatment, but he replied saying: "T feel that my time is up; if I would be cured by touching my earlobe or by smelling some perfume, I would not do that."

*Ubayd Ibn Hasan reports that when ‘Umar felt he had few moments to live, he ordered all those with him to leave him alone. Maslamah and Faatimah went out and stayed next to the door. Soon, they heard him saying: "Welcome to these faces, you are not humans or jinn." Then, he recited a Qur'anic verse:

"That Home of the Hereafter we shall give to those who intend not high handedness or mischief on earth: and the End is (best) for the righteous." (Al-Qasas: 83) They then entered his room to find him dead,

When people knew “Umar Ibn * Abdel-- Azeez had died, Al-Hassan Al-Basri said: "The best man on earth passed away."

Yoosuf Ibn Malik is reported to have said: "When we were burying “Umar Ibn *Abdel-* Azeez, a piece of paper feel from the sky with this inscription: In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful. Allah grants “Umar Ibn * Abdel-~ Azeez protection from Hell-Fire."

“Umar's Advice to the New Caliph:

Qatadah reports that ~ Umar wrote to his successor: "In the Name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful, from Allah's servant “Umar to Yazeed Ibn Abdel-Malik, peace be with you! All Praise and thanks are due too Allah, the One Who has no associate; there is no god but him! I am writing to you while I am suffering pains of severe illness. You know that I am responsible for my caliphate and Allah will reckon me for what I have done. I will not be able to hide anything from Him, and if Allah is pleased with me I will have succeeded, and_ will be spared eternal humiliation; and if He is enraged with me, I will be consigned to eternal Hell-Fire. So I invoke Allah, there is no god but Him, to protect me, with this Mercy, from Hell and to admit me to Paradise. I, hereby, urge you to be conscious and mindful of Allah, and to take good care of the people, for your caliphate will not last forever, peace be with you!

The Caliph Passes Away:

*Umar Ibn * Abdel-* Azeez, may Allah be pleased with him, died at the Sim* aan Monastery near Horns, Syria in the month of Rajab, 101 AH, at the age of thirty nine years and six months. He was poisoned by the Umayyads who lost a lot of vealth and status at his hands; ‘Umar returned all state wea ‘th to the public treasury. They managed to poison him for he ate whatever food he was given.

“Umar Ibn * Abdul-* Azeez once asked Mujahid about what people would say about his terminal condition, Mujahid said: "They say you are spellbound." ‘Umar commented "No, I am not. I know when I was exactly poisoned." Then, “Umar called one of his young male servants and asked him why he had poisoned him. He answered: "For 1000 dinars and a promise of my emancipation." ‘Umar asked him to get him that money. The servant brought it and ‘Umar put it in the public treasury and told the boy to keep a low profile till things cooled down.

Tbn As-Sa‘eed Ibn Al-* Aas narrates that ~ Umar Ibn *Abdel-* Azeez, said in his last speech to the people: "O Muslims, you were not created for fun, and are not left to lead a vain life. Ona predestined day, Allah will judge and reckon you all. Those who will not be shown mercy by Almighty Allah will lose, and will be deprived of entering a Paradise that is as wide as heaven and earth. Don't you know that only he who fears the Hereafter will be safe on the Day of Judgment? You must work for your immortal after life and strive to get eternal bliss by not being only concerned about