Download PDF: [S] Refusing personal Gifts

“O Ameerul Mom’mineen! We did not cross the hot burning sand of the desert to acquire any reward and neither did we manage the difficulties faced during the morning and the evening in all these travels merely for reward. Those people whom I am have left behind, I have only come for their needs and nothing personally for me.”

 

These were the words which we mentioned by Hadrat Sayyiduna Ahnaf bin Qais – may Allah be pleased with him – when he presented himself in Madina Shareef in front of Hadrat Sayyiduna ‘Umar – may Allah be pleased with him – accompanied by other generals and commanders. The great Muslim ruler was also highly impressed by his honesty, his straight forwardness and his bravery. He ordered that Hadrat Sayyiduna Ahnaf bin Qais – may Allah be pleased with him – be rewarded which he refused to accept.

 

Hadrat Sayyiduna ‘Umar – may Allah be pleased with him – then asked them whether they had any personal wishes and they mentioned that the only wishes they had was those presented by the common people and that this was his responsibility to fulfil.

 

Finally, Hadrat Sayyiduna ‘Umar – may Allah be pleased with him – asked Hadrat Sayyiduna Ahnaf bin Qais – may Allah be pleased with him – whether he needed anything and he explained after praising the Allah Almighty that, “The victorious Muslims in Egypt are sitting in the palaces of Pharaoh and his associates. They also enjoy the fruits of Egypt and enjoy the sweet water of the Nile. The victorious Muslims in Syria are also sitting in the palaces of the Ceaser and those belonging to his associates. Those who captured Kufah and Persia are now enjoying the palaces of those who ran away from there. However, the people of Basrah, that is my nation, the Bani Tameem, are still busy in Jihad. It is a place which is so dry that the signs of grass are no where to be seen. One corner is the ocean and one corner the desert.”

 

Hadrat Sayyiduna Ahnaf bin Qais – may Allah be pleased with him – then presented the state of the Mujahideen in these areas.

 

After listening to this, again Hadrat Sayyiduna ‘Umar – may Allah be pleased with him – wanted to present him with some gifts which he refused to accept. He also disclosed that very soon Hadrat Sayyiduna Ahnaf bin Qais – may Allah be pleased with him – would become a great commander in the Muslim army and this proved correct. He captured most of Khuraasan later in life.

 

At another time, when the Muslims had captured a certain area, the people in that region brought Hadrat Sayyiduna Ahnaf bin Qais – may Allah be pleased with him – large amounts of gifts. They also mentioned that during any celebration, it was their custom to bring gifts to their leader. However, Hadrat Sayyiduna Ahnaf bin Qais – may Allah be pleased with him – refused to accept any of these gifts. He told them that their responsibility was merely to receive the Jizyah which they had already received and that therefore, they could not accept anything else.

 

The eminent Muslim leader passed away in 87 A.H. in Basrah. It is reported that a very large crowd also attended the funeral of their beloved leader. Even the leaders of that region also joined the procession walking as ordinary citizens. (Zindah Jaawed Khusbu)