Hadhrat
Umarwould often hold a straw in his hand and say: "I wish I were
a straw like this." Sometimes he would say: "I wish my
mother had not given birth to me." Once he was busy with some
important work when a person came to him complaining about some petty
grievance, and requested for its redress. Hadhrat Umarlashed him
across his shoulders, saying: "When I sit for that purpose, you
do not come to me, but when I am engaged in other important work you
come with your grievances to interrupt me." The person walked
away. But Hadhrat 'Umarsent for him and handing his whip over to him,
said: "You lash me now to even the matter." The person
said: "I forgive you for the sake of
Allah ."
| Saiyidina Umar Al Khatab RA-Righteous Leader. |
Hadhrat
Umarwent home, prayed a Salaah of two rakaats in repentance and
reprimanded himself, saying: "O, Umar! You were low but Allah
elevated you. You were wandering astray but Allahguided you. You were
an ordinary person but Allah ennobled you and gave you rule over the
people. Now one of them comes and asks you for redress of the wrong
done to him, and you beat him? What answer have you to give before
Allah ?" He kept on scolding himself thus for a very long time.
Once when Hadhrat Umarwith his slave Aslam was going towards Harrah
(a suburb of Madinah), on his usual rounds, he saw a distant fire in
the desert. He said: "There seems to be a camp. Perhaps, it is a
caravan that could not enter the town due to nightfall. Let's go and
look after them and arrange for their protection during the night."
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| The mother and her hungry children. |
When
he reached there, he found a woman and some children. The children
were crying. The woman had a pan of water over the fire. Hadhrat
'Umargreeted her with salaam and with her permission, went near her.
Umarasked: "Why are these children crying?" The Woman
replied: "Because they are hungry." Umaragain asked: "What
is in the pan?" The Woman replied: "Only water, to soothe
the children, so that they may go to sleep in the belief that food is
being prepared for them. Ah! On the Day of Qiyaamah, Allah will judge
between Umarand me, for neglecting me in my distress."
'Umar
(weeping) said: "May Allahhave mercy on you! How can Umar know
of your distress?"
The
Woman replied: "When he is our Amir, he must keep himself
informed about us." Hadhrat 'Umar returned to the town and
immediately went to Baitul-Mal to fill a sack with flour, dates, fat
and clothes, and
also drew some money. When the sack was ready, he said to Aslam: "Now
put this sack on my back, Aslam." Aslam protested: "No
please, Amir-ul-Mo'mineen! I shall carry this sack."
Hadhrat
'Umarrefused to listen to Aslam, even on his persistent requests to
allow him to carry the sack, and remarked: "What! Will you carry
my load on the Day of Qiyaamah? I must carry this bag, for it is I
who would be questioned (in the Hereafter) about this woman."
Aslam most reluctantly placed the bag on Hadhrat Umar's back and he
carried it with a swift pace right to the woman's tent. Aslam
followed at his heels. He put a little flour and some dates and fat
in the pan and began to stir. He blew (with his
mouth) into the fire to kindle it.
Aslam
says: "I saw the smoke passing through his thick beard."
After some time, the food was ready. He himself served it to the
family. After they had eaten to their fill, he made over to them the
little that was left for their next meal. The children were very
happy after their meal and began to play about merrily.
The woman felt very grateful and remarked: "May Allah reward you
for your kindness! In fact you deserve to take the place of Khalifah
instead of 'Umar."
'Umarconsoled
her and said: "When you come to see the Khalifah, you will find
me there."
He
sat for a while at a place close by and kept on watching the
children. He then returned to Madinah. On his way back, he said to
Aslam: "Do you know why I sat there, Aslam? I had seen them
weeping in distress; I liked to see them laughing and happy for some
time." It is said that Hadhrat Umarused to recite Surah Kahf,
Surah Taha and other such Soorahs when leading Fajr Salah and would
weep so much, that his crying could be heard way back to several
rows.
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| The Khalifah who care for his people. |
Once he was reciting Surah 'Yusuf in Fajr,
when he came to the verse: "I only compain of my distress and
anguish unto Allah," (S12 : V86)
He
wept so much, that he could not recite any further. In Tahajjud
Salaah, he would sometimes fall to the ground and would get
indisposed with excessive weeping.
Such
was the fear of Allah in Hadhrat Umar , whose name struck terror in
the hearts of the mightiest kings of his time. Even today, the people
are filled with awe when they read about him. Is there any person in
power today who is prepared to show such kindness to the people in
his charge?
