the most telling example of a man who few would think would cry because of Allah is Umar, may Allah be pleased with him. He was known for being strong, fearless, and uncompromising when it came to matters of faith. Yet, Abdullah ibn Isa said that Umar had two black streaks on his face because of constant weeping.
He feared Allah so much that he once said, "If someone announced from the heavens that everybody will enter Paradise except one person, I would fear that that person would be me."
Umar was one of the strongest believers. Yet he cried and feared Allah.
Source: Crying in Front of Allah-It's not impossible
See also: The Weeping of Umar (radhiAllahu 'anhu) I
Saturday, September 29, 2007
Wednesday, September 05, 2007
To know one
A man came to Umar ibn al-Khattab and spoke in praise of another. Umar asked him: “Are you his nearest neighbor such that you know his goings and his comings?”
“No.”
“Have you been his companion on a journey so that you could see evidence of his good character?”
“No.”
“Have you had dealings with him involving dinars and dirhams [money] which would indicate the piety of the man?”
“No.”
“I think you saw him standing in the mosque muttering the Quran and moving his head up and down?”
“Yes.”
“Go, for you do not know him...”
And to the man in question, Umar said, “Go and bring me someone who knows you.”
Source:quoted from Islam The Natural Way by Abdul Wahid Hamid, p. 66
“No.”
“Have you been his companion on a journey so that you could see evidence of his good character?”
“No.”
“Have you had dealings with him involving dinars and dirhams [money] which would indicate the piety of the man?”
“No.”
“I think you saw him standing in the mosque muttering the Quran and moving his head up and down?”
“Yes.”
“Go, for you do not know him...”
And to the man in question, Umar said, “Go and bring me someone who knows you.”
Source:quoted from Islam The Natural Way by Abdul Wahid Hamid, p. 66
Sunday, September 02, 2007
‘Umar and the Eloquent Woman
Ash-Sha’bi (ra) reported that Ka’b Bin Sur was sitting with ‘Umar when a woman came and said, “O Ameer al-Mu’mineen! I have never seen a man better then my husband. By Allah, he prays the night and fasts the day.” Upon hearing this, ‘Umar praised the woman and supplicated for her, and she shyly departed. Ka’b then said, “O Ameer al-Mu’mineen! Shouldn’t you have considered her accusation against her husband, for she indeed was quite eloquent in her complaint!” ‘Umar replied, “Why do you not judge between them, for you have understood about her situation that which I did not.”
[After he judged], ‘Umar said, “By Allah, your first understanding (of her situation) is not more amazing then the second (the judgement). I hereby appoint you as judge over Al-Basrah, and indeed, you are a remarkable judge.”
Source: Recorded by Ibn Abi Shaybah and others
Taken from: Al’ ilmun Nafi’
[After he judged], ‘Umar said, “By Allah, your first understanding (of her situation) is not more amazing then the second (the judgement). I hereby appoint you as judge over Al-Basrah, and indeed, you are a remarkable judge.”
Source: Recorded by Ibn Abi Shaybah and others
Taken from: Al’ ilmun Nafi’
Friday, August 31, 2007
Captives of Badr
About the fate of the captives of Badr, Abu Bakr and Umar held contrary views. Abu Bakr took the lenient view, while Umar took the sterner view.
After taking into consideration both the views, the Holy Prophet said: "Almighty God softens the hearts of some people-softer than milk. And He hardens the hearts of some people-harder than stone."
Turning to Abu Bakr who had counselled a lenient view, the Holy Prophet said: "Abu Bakr you are like Abraham who said, 'He who follows me is one of us, and he who disobeys me, then O God, You are gracious enough to forgive'. And Abu Bakr you are also like Jesus who said, 'If you punish them they are Your servants, and if You forgive them, You are All Powerful, Mighty and Wise."
Turning to Umar, the Holy Prophet said: Umar, you are like Noah who said, 'O God, do not leave on the earth a single unbeliever.' And Umar you are also like Moses who said, 'O God destroy their properties and harden their hearts so that they are not converted till they have suffered punishment."
The Holy Prophet accepted the advice of Abu Bakr and acted accordingly.
The following day, Umar visited the Holy Prophet, and saw that both the Holy Prophet and Abu Bakr were weeping.
Umar addressing the Holy Prophet said: "What is it that makes you weep. Tell me, so that if there is any matter to be grieved over, I may also weep with you."
The Holy Prophet said: "Umar, there is nothing for you to be grieved over. On the other hand you should rejoice that God has upheld the view that you had taken about the captives of Badr, and admonished those who had taken a contrary view."
Umar's curiosity was awakened and he wanted know what exactly was the revelation. The Holy Prophet recited the verses that had been revealed:
Source: Khalifa Umar bin al-Khattab
After taking into consideration both the views, the Holy Prophet said: "Almighty God softens the hearts of some people-softer than milk. And He hardens the hearts of some people-harder than stone."
Turning to Abu Bakr who had counselled a lenient view, the Holy Prophet said: "Abu Bakr you are like Abraham who said, 'He who follows me is one of us, and he who disobeys me, then O God, You are gracious enough to forgive'. And Abu Bakr you are also like Jesus who said, 'If you punish them they are Your servants, and if You forgive them, You are All Powerful, Mighty and Wise."
Turning to Umar, the Holy Prophet said: Umar, you are like Noah who said, 'O God, do not leave on the earth a single unbeliever.' And Umar you are also like Moses who said, 'O God destroy their properties and harden their hearts so that they are not converted till they have suffered punishment."
The Holy Prophet accepted the advice of Abu Bakr and acted accordingly.
The following day, Umar visited the Holy Prophet, and saw that both the Holy Prophet and Abu Bakr were weeping.
Umar addressing the Holy Prophet said: "What is it that makes you weep. Tell me, so that if there is any matter to be grieved over, I may also weep with you."
The Holy Prophet said: "Umar, there is nothing for you to be grieved over. On the other hand you should rejoice that God has upheld the view that you had taken about the captives of Badr, and admonished those who had taken a contrary view."
Umar's curiosity was awakened and he wanted know what exactly was the revelation. The Holy Prophet recited the verses that had been revealed:
"It is not fitting for an Apostle
That he should have prisoners of war,
Until he has thoroughly subdued the land.
Ye look on the temporal goods of this world,
But God looks to the Hereafter,
And God is Exalted, Mighty, and Wise." (8:67)
That he should have prisoners of war,
Until he has thoroughly subdued the land.
Ye look on the temporal goods of this world,
But God looks to the Hereafter,
And God is Exalted, Mighty, and Wise." (8:67)
Source: Khalifa Umar bin al-Khattab
Monday, August 27, 2007
Witnesses
Narrated ‘Umar bin Al-Khattab:
People were (sometimes) judged by the revealing of a Divine Inspiration during the lifetime of Allah’s Apostle but now there is no longer any more (new revelation). Now we judge you by the deeds you practice publicly, so we will trust and favor the one who does good deeds in front of us, and we will not call him to account about what he is really doing in secret, for Allah will judge him for that; but we will not trust or believe the one who presents to us with an evil deed even if he claims that his intentions were good.
Taken from: Witnesses
Source: Volume 3, Book 48, Number 809 : Sahih Bukhari
Sunday, August 19, 2007
Accountability
According to Thabit ibn Hajjaj, Umar ibn Khattab once said, "Weigh your actions before they are weighed, and reckon with yourself before you are reckoned with, for today's reckoning will be easier than tomorrow's. And prepare yourself for the great appearance (of the Judgement Day)".
Source: Hilyat Al-Auliya, Pg 48, An Islamic treasury of virtues by Maulana Wahiduddin Khan
Source: Hilyat Al-Auliya, Pg 48, An Islamic treasury of virtues by Maulana Wahiduddin Khan
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
'Umar b. al-Khattab’s Words on Salah
`Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) became unconscious after he was stabbed, and according to Al Miswar bin Makhramah, it was said: “Nothing would wake him up except the call to prayer, if he is still alive.”
They said to him, “The prayer has finished, O Chief of the Faithful!”
He woke up and said, “The prayer, by Allah! Verily, there is no share in Islam for whoever abandons the prayer.”
He performed the prayer while his wound was bleeding.
Source: Sifat as Safwah 2/131
Taken from: ‘Umar b. al-Khattab’s Words on Salah
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