Download PDF: [S] She gave her Jewels to the Baitul Maal

It is mentioned that the wife of Hadrat Sayyiduna ‘Umar bin Abdul Aziz – may Allah be pleased with him – had a very valuable piece of jewel which had been given to her by her father, Abdul Malik. One day, the great Muslim leader said to his wife, “Either you surrender all your valuables including this piece of jewel to the Baitul Maal, or you choose to dislike me (so that you can become free from me by me giving you Talaaq). I cannot stand to see both me and these jewels in one house.”

 

When she heard this, she replied, “You can gladly take of all of these valuable items including this jewel and include it in the Baitul Maal. I also choose you over this jewel.” He then took all of these valuable and surrendered it to the Baitul Maal.

 

Hadrat Sayyiduna ‘Umar bin Abdul Aziz – may Allah be pleased with him – did not live very long. After he had passed away, Yazeed bin Abdul Malik came to power and he asked his sister (who was the wife of Hadrat Sayyiduna ‘Umar bin Abdul Aziz – may Allah be pleased with him) that if she wanted, he would return all of these valuables, including this jewel, back to her. However, such was her pious demeanour that she replied, “Whatever I have given away voluntarily when my husband was alive, after his passing, I will never allow myself to take those items back.” (Taarikhul Khulafah, 467)

 

Hadrat Sayyiduna ‘Umar bin Abdul Aziz – may Allah be pleased with him – was from the family of Hadrat Sayyiduna ‘Umar – may Allah be pleased with him. During his time, there was immense justice which was displayed and hence, people named him as “‘Umar the second”. After becoming the Khalifah, unlike the leaders of his era, he completely divorced himself from the world. He surrendered whatever valuable he had to the Baitul Maal. In like manner, he had the same intention for his wife that she should also divorce herself from all wordily and mundane things so that she, like him, would also become a beloved servant in the Divine Court of Allah Almighty.

 

If this lady was someone like we see in the modern era, we are sure that she would have instead spent the entire government resources on her own; buying her own designer jewellery. She would have also made sure that this position of her husband becomes a burden rather than a blessing. We are also sure that if her husband had even suggested that she gives up her jewellery, she would have immediately had him booked in some mental institute.

 

However, as we always say, the pious Muslims of the past were certainly a different breed altogether. They only looked at the Hereafter and did not concern themselves with this world. Whatever challenge came to them, they were prepared to face these challenges and hardships but were not prepared to sacrifice the dignity of Islam and the eternal salvation of the Hereafter.

 

If only our Muslim sisters of today would think in this fashion and also encourage their husbands to think in this fashion. Remember, it is not always the husband that may come up with a noble action or deed. It should also be the wife and Muslim sister who should also encourage their male counterparts to noble deeds and actions.