Download PDF: [S] My Donkey is Sufficient for me (Islamic story)

After the death of Waleed bin Abdul Malik in the month of Jamadiul Ukhrah 96 A.H. people swore allegiance at the hands of Sulayman. He passed away in the year 99 A.H. However, before he could pass away, he nominated Hadrat Sayyiduna ‘Umar bin Abdul Aziz – May Allah be pleased with him – as his successor. (Taarike Al Islam, 756,763)

 

Imam ibn Sereen – May Allah be pleased with him – states, “May Allah have Mercy on Sulayman, he began his rule with reviving the Salaah and ended it with the nomination of Hadrat Sayyiduna ‘Umar bin Abdul Aziz – May Allah be pleased with him – as the next ruler of the Muslims.” (Sayr ‘Alaamul Nublah, 5/112)

 

Hadrat Sayyiduna ‘Umar bin Abdul Aziz – May Allah be pleased with him – was the nephew of Abdul Malik bin Marwan and also his son-in-law. His blessed mother was Sayyidah Umme Aasim who was the grand-daughter of Hadrat Sayyiduna ‘Umar – May Allah be pleased with him. His father, Abdul Aziz, had been the Governor of Egypt for nearly twenty one years. Waleed had also nominated Hadrat Sayyiduna ‘Umar bin Abdul Aziz – May Allah be pleased with him – as the Governor of Madina Shareef. In the 99th year of Hijrah, Sulayman bin Abdul Malik, according to his last will and advice, Hadrat Sayyiduna ‘Umar bin Abdul Aziz – May Allah be pleased with him – as the Khalifah.

 

One of Hadrat Sayyiduna ‘Umar bin Abdul Aziz’s – May Allah be pleased with him – first action was that he returned all the stolen property and goods to its rightful owners. He re-organized the Baitul Maal and brought the orchard of Fadak under the control of the Baitul Maal as it was during the period of the Khulafah Raashideen.

 

Hadrat Sayyiduna ‘Umar bin Abdul Aziz – May Allah be pleased with him – passed away in the 101 A.H. It is said that he was secretly poisoned by one of his servants after someone paid him a thousand Dinaars. When he felt the effects of this on his body, he called this servant and questioned him. The servant admitted to this crime and also admitted that he had received a thousand Dinaars as payment. Such was the dignity of this eminent Saint that he asked the servant to bring the thousand Dinaars and place it in the Baitul Maal. He also advised the servant to run away or else he would be certainly killed for his action. (Al Bidaayah wan Nihaayah, 12/694,720).

 

After Sulayman bin Abdul Malik had been buried, Hadrat Sayyiduna Umar bin Abdul Aziz – May Allah be pleased with him – went to the Masjid. He then sat on the Mimbar and said, “O people! without doubt, I have been tested with the mantle of leadership. This was not asked of me at the beginning and neither were the Muslims informed of this. Therefore, the burden of your Bayat which is upon your shoulders, I wish to remove this burden. I therefore advice that you people collectively choose another leader.”

 

When he had mentioned these words, the people began to shout that they only accepted him as their leader. They also admitted that they had chosen him themselves and were completely pleased with him as their leader.

 

After the Masjid had become quiet, Hadrat Sayyiduna Umar bin Abdul Aziz – May Allah be pleased with him – praised the Allah Almighty and His beloved Prophet – May Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him – and then declared, “I advise that you people should adopt piety. There is nothing greater than piety. At the same time, to prepare a better life in the Hereafter, you people should continue to perform good deeds. That person who chooses the Hereafter, Allah Almighty is sufficient for him in this world. Make sure that you rectify your inner self. If you do this, then Allah Almighty will rectify your inner and outer self. That person who continues to praise his ancestors without any basis, he is only destroying himself. This Ummah had never differed in matters of religion when it came to the Qur’an and the Holy Prophet – May Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him. The differences which began in this Ummah arose simply because of Dinaars and Dirhams. I swear by Allah that I will never give someone something unjustly. I will never destroy the rights of someone. I will also make sure that I only spend on that which I am legally entitled to spend on.

 

“O people, in the past, you had also obeyed people whose oppression was well famous. However, bear in mind that when it comes to the rights of Allah Almighty, no one is allowed to obey someone else when that person is being disobedient to Allah Almighty. However, that person who fulfils the rights of Allah Almighty, you should obey that person. As long as you see me obeying Allah Almighty, you should obey me. However, when you see me becoming disobedient to Allah Almighty, then you should refuse to obey me.”

 

It is mentioned that when he had completed his Khutbah, the people heard a tremour coming from the earth.

 

When Hadrat Sayyiduna ‘Umar bin Abdul Aziz – May Allah be pleased with him – asked what these sounds were, the people informed him that this was the sounds of the new horses being presented to him. He mentioned, “What is the need for these horses. Bring my donkey, this is sufficient for me.”

 

In other words, until the final moments of his life in this world, Hadrat Sayyiduna ‘Umar bin Abdul Aziz – May Allah be pleased with him – adopted humility and simplicity. He never allowed himself to be carried away by pomp and pleasure. This is the reason that the Muslim Ummah has always considered him as the fifth Khalifah among the Khulafa Raashideen.