Part 66

worldly affairs and pleasures. Don't trade security for fear, and what is much for what is less. If you do that, you will join the losers of your doomed predecessors, and other righteous ones will follow you, and so on, till Allah no one else but Him will be alive, today you bury one of your kith and kin who returns to Allah. You cover him with earth, in an uncomfortable grave after he is departed with his loved ones. Then he will be reckoned, and judge according to his deeds.

So, fear Allah before you die, and be pious before, your time for departing this world comes; and I am only saying this..." Then, he cried, and this made others cry. He resumed his speech: "I believe that I am the one who has the largest number of bad deed and sins and I seek Allah's Forgiveness." He continued crying till he wet his beard then, returned to his court and shortly afterwards, he passed away.

*Umar's Caliphate and Status:

Scholars have unanimously agreed that “Umar Ibn *Abdel-* Azeez was one of the just Imams, Righty-Guided Caliphs, and_ is said to be one of the twelve eminent Muslim Imams mentioned in this authentic Prophetic saying: "This nation's affairs will always be on the right path till they have twelve caliphs, all from Quraysh."

*Umar was the Caliph for a relatively short period, but he was able to spread justice and restore the rights of all people. One of his men used to roam the streets everyday and call aloud: "Where are the poor? Where are those who wish to be married, but, can't afford it? Where are the downtrodden? Where are the orphans?" And he would give

these people enough money to live on.

Most scholars agree that ‘Umar Ibn * Abdel-* Azeez is superior to Mu*awiyah Ibn Abi Sufyaan, for his matchless justice, modesty and asceticism.

“Umar wrote to his deputies in the: different Arab provinces to be conscious of Allah, as this will make them get Divine acceptance and Allah will show them mercy and reward them generously. He used to remind them that many preach people to be God-conscious, yet very few listen and obey.

“Umar Ibn * Abdel-* Azeez also told them that he who does not act as much as he talks will commit many sins, and he who worships Allah without being knowledgeable about Islam will err more than act right.

“Ali Ibn Zayd said: "Two men only of those I met in my life were created not to enter Hell: Al-Hassan and ~ Umar Ibn * Abdel-* Azeez.

~Umar Ibn ~Abdel-*Azeez used to give a hundred dinars each year to anyone who devoted himself to studying Islam and reciting the Quran in mosques,

“Umar Ibn *Abdel-- Azeez used to order his men to employ only those who were scholars of the Quran senior posts, for they are righteous.

Furthermore, ~Umar Ibn * Abdel-* Azeez renounced all the luxury he had enjoyed before, including posh clothes, sumptuous food and luxury furniture. He even stopped having sexual intercourse with his beautiful wife Faatimah

Bint *Abdel-Malik, who was known to be one of the most beautiful women of her time. An example of his asceticism is that “Umar Ibn * Abdel-* Azeez, before becoming the Caliph, used to find soft, silky clothes too rough, whereas after becoming the Caliph, he wore rough, mended clothes and said they were too soft. Furthermore, he ate very simple, basic food and served himself.

- At-Tabari, Abu Ja* far Muhammad Ibn Jareer, Tareekh ArRosol Wal Mulook, Cairo, Dar Al-Ma‘aarif, 1998.

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