Download PDF: [S] Hadrat Umar and the Poor Family (Islamic story)

One cold night Ameerul Mo’mineen, Hadrat Sayyiduna ‘Umar – may Allah be pleased with him – saw a light at a distance. The light appeared as if someone was burning a fire. He went to investigate and he was also accompanied by another blessed companion, namely Hadrat Sayyiduna Abdur Rahman bin Auf – may Allah be pleased with him.

 

When Hadrat Sayyiduna ‘Umar – may Allah be pleased with him – reached the place where he saw the fire, he noticed a woman sitting near the fire and around her, she was surrounded by three little girls. The first child was telling her, “O beloved, please have kindness on our tears and give us something to eat.” The second child was saying, “O beloved mother! It seems that we will finally die from this hunger.” The third child was saying, “O beloved mother! Will we not be able to eat something before death approaches us?”

 

The great Muslim then approached this female and asked her, “O slave of Allah! Who is responsible for this state of yours?”

 

The female replied, “By Allah! The person who is responsible for this state of ours is none other than Ameerul Mo’mineen, Hadrat Sayyiduna ‘Umar – may Allah be pleased with him.” (Obviously, she had no idea who she was talking to).

 

Hadrat Sayyiduna ‘Umar – may Allah be pleased with him – then asked, “Has anyone informed ‘Umar of your condition?”

 

She replied, “He is our leader but is unaware of our state. How can he be a true leader when he has no idea about the state and condition of his subjects?”

 

When Hadrat Sayyiduna ‘Umar – may Allah be pleased with him – heard this, he immediately returned to the Baitul Maal and opened the doors. The person who was on guard asked him whether everything was well. Without saying anything further, Hadrat Sayyiduna ‘Umar – may Allah be pleased with him – grabbed a large container of ghee, honey and flour and tried to place it on his back. However, his servant said that he should place these goods on his back. But Hadrat Sayyiduna ‘Umar – may Allah be pleased with him – did not agree to this and insisted that these good be placed on his back.

 

The servant replied that he could stand on one side while such a large burden was placed on the back of Hadrat Sayyiduna ‘Umar – may Allah be pleased with him. When Hadrat Sayyiduna ‘Umar – may Allah be pleased with him – heard this, he asked the person, “May your mother be aware of you. Please place these goods on my back. Will you be able to carry the burden of my sins around your neck on the Day of Judgement?”

 

Saying this, Hadrat Sayyiduna ‘Umar – may Allah be pleased with him – then carried all of these goods by himself. When he reached thelady, he personally gave the food for these people and then after adding ghee and honey, he made sure that everyone consumed as much as they could. All the time, Hadrat Sayyiduna ‘Umar – may Allah be pleased with him – was sitting on one side looking at this family.

 

After their hunger had been satisfied, the lady turned to the great Muslim leader and declared, “I swear by Allah ALmighty that you are much more entitled for the position of Khilaafah than ‘Umar himself.”

 

 

When Hadrat Sayyiduna ‘Umar – may Allah be pleased with him – heard this, he informed her that she should come to Madina Shareef tomorrow and meet ‘Umar herself. He also mentioned that ‘Umar will be there and he would present her case in front of him.

 

After saying this, he then found a little mount to sit on so that he could further see the children. However, Hadrat Sayyiduna Abdur Rahman bin Auf – may Allah be pleased with him – mentioned to him that the night was becoming cold and that they should return as quickly as possible.

 

However, Hadrat Sayyiduna ‘Umar – may Allah be pleased with him – replied, “I swear by Allah Almighty that I will not move from this place until I do not see these children laughing as I saw them crying when I arrived.”

 

The next day, after sunrise, this same female arrived in Madina Shareef. She noticed that there were two people sitting around the same person who had brought her food the previous night. The two people around him were Hadrat Sayyiduna Ali – may Allah be pleased with him – and Hadrat Sayyiduna Abdullah ibn Mas’ud – may Allah be pleased with him. They were also addressing this person as “Ameerul Mo’mineen”. She also remembered her words where she had mentioned that the reason for their state was because of ‘Umar. Obviously, she was extremely embarrassed for saying these words. In fact, as she drew nearer, it was like the ground had disappeared from under her feet.

 

The great Muslim leader could see that this female was extremely uncomfortable and embarrassed and he said to her, “There is no need to concern yourself, you would not have known who I was. Tell me, how much will you sell your complaint for?”

 

However, she continued to tender her apology. However, Hadrat Sayyiduna ‘Umar – may Allah be pleased with him – insisted, “I swear by Allah! You cannot move from this spot until you do not sell to me your complaint.”

 

Finally, the great Muslim purchased this complaint for six hundred Dirhams which he handed to her from his own personal money. He then instructed Hadrat Sayyiduna Ali – may Allah be pleased with him – to bring some piece of item to write and some ink. After these items were brought forward, he asked him to write the following, “I, Ali and ibn Mas’ud hereby bear witness that a certain female has sold her complaint to Ameerul Mo’mineen, Hadrat Sayyiduna ‘Umar – may Allah be pleased with him”.

 

The great Muslim leader than took this recorded message and ordered them that when he passes away, this should be placed in his kafan. He wanted to meet Allah Almighty having this in his possession. (Al Bidaayah wan Nihaayah, Ibn Katheer)

 

Abdur Rahman bin Auf – may Allah be pleased with him.

 

He is one of the blessed companions that is included among the “Ash’arah Mubashirah” or the blessed ten that were given glad tidings of Jannah while they were in this world. He was also among those six blessed companions who were chosen by Hadrat Sayyiduna ‘Umar – may Allah be pleased with him – to nominate the next leader of the Muslims. He was born ten years after the Year of the Elephant.

 

Hadrat Sayyiduna Abdur Rahman bin Auf – may Allah be pleased with him – was also among those who accepted Islam prior to the establishment of the Daar Arqaam. He took part in two migrations. He took part in the Battle of Badr and in all the other battles of Islam. After the battle of Daumatul Jandal, Hadrat Sayyiduna Abdur Rahman bin Auf – may Allah be pleased with him – married the daughter of that region, namely Asba’a bin Thalabah. He was also responsible for the conquering of this area and during one journey of the Holy Prophet – may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – he was nominated as the person to perform the Fajr Salaah.

 

Hadrat Sayyiduna Abdur Rahman bin Auf – may Allah be pleased with him – passed away at the age of 72 in the 31st year of migration. He was buried in Jannatul Baqi and his Janaza Salaah was performed by Hadrat Sayyiduna ‘Uthman Ghani – may Allah be pleased with him –.

 

This incident also proves the immense concern a true leader of Islam has about his subjects. In other words, the blessed Ashaab were not name-sake Muslims. They were Muslims who were Muslims in the true sense of the word. In today’s time, if we have to tell any so-called Muslim leader to carry a can of baked beans and give it to another poor Muslim, he would look at us like we are mad. Again, there is no cure for being a “wannabi Muslim leader”.