Hadhrat ' Umar (Radhiyallaho Anho) And The Fear Of Allah (Azawajal)

[Eccedentesiast]

Naarion ka Daor Tha Dil Jal Raha Tha Noor Ka

Tum ko Dekha Hogya Thanda Kalaija Noor Ka

(Hadaiq-e-Bakhshish)

 

 

 

Hadhrat Umar (Radhiyallaho anho) would 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 Hewas busy with some important work when a person came to him and,complaining about some petty grievance, requested for its redress.Hadhrat Umar (Radhiyallaho anho) laid a lash across his shoulders,saying:

 

"When I sit for that purpose, youdo not come to me but when I am engaged in other important work youcome with your grievances to interrupt me."

 

The person walked away. But Hadhrat 'Umar (Radhiyallaho anho) sent for him and, handing his whip over to him, said:

"You now lash me to even the matter."

 

He kept on chiding himself thus for a very long time.

He said: "I forgive you for the sake of Allah."

 

Hadhrat Umar (Radhiyallaho anho) went home, prayed a Salaat of two rakaats in repentance and upbraided himself saying:

"0,Umar!You were low but Allah elevated you. You were wandering astray butAllah guided you. You were base but Allah ennobled you and gave yousovereignty over His people. Now one of them comes and asks you forredress of the wrong done to him, and you beat him? What answer haveyou to give before Allah?"

 

He kept on chiding himself thus for a very long time.

 

Once Hadhrat Umar (Radhiyallaho anho) was going on his usualround towards Harrah (a suburb of Madinah) with his slave Aslam, whenhe saw a distant fire in the desert. He said:

"Thereseems to be a camp. Perhaps, it is a caravan that could not enter thetown due to night fall. Let's go and look after them and arrange fortheir protection during the night."

 

When he reachedthere, he found a woman and some children.The children were crying. Thewoman had a pan of water over the fire. Hadhrat 'Umar (Radhiyallahoanho) greeted her with salaam and, with her permission, went near her.

 

Hadhrat Umar (Radhiyallaho anho) : "Why are these children crying?"

The Woman: "Because they are hungry."

Hadhrat Umar (Radhiyallaho anho) : "What is in the pan?"

The Woman: "Onlywater to soothe the children, so that they may go to sleep in thebelief that food is being prepared for them. Ah! Allah will judgebetween Umar (Radhiyallaho anho) and me, on the Day of Judgement, forneglecting me in my distress."

Hadhrat Umar (Radhiyallaho anho)(weeping): "May Allah have mercy on you! How can Umar know of your distress?"

The Woman: "When he is our Amir, he must keep himself informed about us."

 

Hadhrat'Umar (Radhiyallaho anho) returned to the town and straightway went toBaitul-Mal to fill a sack with flour, dates, fat and clothes, and alsodrew some money. When the sack was ready, he said to Aslam:

"Now put this sack on my back, Aslam."

Aslam: "No please, Amir-ul-Mo'mineen! I shall carry this sack."

 

HadhratUmar (Radhiyallaho anho) refused to listen to Aslam, even on hispersistent requests to allow him to carry the sack, and remarked:

"What! Will you carry my load on the Day of Judgement?

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 Umar's (Radhiyallaho anho)back, who carried it with a swift pace right to the woman's tent. Aslamfollowed at his heels. He put a little flour and some dates and fat inthe pan and began to stir. He blew (with his mouth) into the fire tokindle it.

 

Aslam says: "I saw the smoke passing through his thick beard."

 

Aftersome time, the pottage was ready. He himself served it to the family.When they had eaten to their fill, he made over to them the little thatwas left for their next meal. The children were very happy after theirmeal 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."

Umar consoled her and said: "When you come to see the Khalifah, you will find me there."

 

Hesat 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: "Doyou know why I sat there, Aslam? I had seen them weeping in distress; Iliked to, see them laughing and happy for some time."

 

 

It is said that Hadhrat Umar (Radhiyallaho anho) while leading FajrSalaat used to recite 'Kahf', 'Taha' and other such Soorahs in hisSalaat, and would weep so much that his crying could be heard way backto several rows.

 

Once he was reciting Surah 'Yusuf' in Fajr. When he came to the verse: "I only plead for my distress and anguish unto Allah"

 

Hewept so much that he could not recite any further. In Tahajjud, hewould sometimes fall to the ground and would get indis osed withexcessive weeping. Such was the fear of Allah in Hadhrat Umar(Radhiyallaho anho) whose name struck terror in the hearts of themightiest monarchs of his time. Even today, the people are filled withawe 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?