A
True Muslim Leader
Once Hadhrat Umar (Radhiyallaho Anho), during his caliphate,
was going on his usual rounds towards Harrah (a suburb of
Madinah) with his slave Aslam, when he saw a distant fire
in the desert. He said, "There seems to be a camp. Perhaps,
it is a caravan that could not enter the town due to night
fall. Let's go and look after them and arrange for their protection
during the night."
When he reached there, he found a woman and some children.
The children were crying. The woman had a pan of water over
the fire. Hadhrat Umar (Radhiyallaho Anho) greeted her with
salaam and, with her permission, went near her. (The woman
didn't recognize that it was Umar).
Umar, "Why are these children crying?"
The Woman, "Because they are hungry."
Umar, "What is in the pan?"
The Woman, "Only water to soothe the children, so that they
may go to sleep in the belief that food is being prepared
for them. Ah! Allah will judge between Umar (Radhiyallaho
Anho) and me, on the Day of Judgment, for neglecting me in
my distress."
Umar (weeping), "May Allah have mercy on you! How can Umar
know of your distress?"
The Woman, "When he is our Amir, he must keep himself informed
about us."
Hadhrat Umar (Radhiyallaho Anho) returned to the town and
straight away went to the Baitul Mal (House of Charity) to
fill a sack with flour, dates, fat, and clothes, and also
drew some money. When the sack was ready, he said to Aslam,
"Now put this sack on my back, Aslam."
Aslam, "No please, Amir-ul-Momineen! I shall carry this sack."
Umar refused to listen to Aslam, even on his persistent requests
to allow him to carry the sack, and remarked, "What! Will
you carry my load on the Day of Judgment? I must carry this
bag, for it is I who would be questioned (in the Hereafter)
about this woman."
Aslam most reluctantly placed the bag on Umar's (Radhiyallaho
Anho) back, who carried it with a swift pace right to the
woman's tent. Aslam followed at his heels. He put a little
flour and some dates and fat in the pan and began to stir.
He blew (with his mouth) into the fire to kindle it.
Aslam says, "I saw the smoke passing through his thick beard."
After some time, the pottage was ready. He himself served
it to the family. When they had eaten to their fill, he made
over to them the little that was left for their next meal.
The children were very happy after their meal and began to
play about merrily.
The woman felt very grateful and remarked, "May Allah reward
you for your kindness! In fact you deserve to take the place
of Khalifah instead of Umar."
Umar consoled her and said, "When you come to see the Khalifah,
you will find me there."
He sat for a while at a place close by and kept on watching
the children. He then returned to Madinah. On his way back,
he said to Aslam, "Do you know why I sat there, Aslam? I had
seen them weeping in distress. I liked to see them laughing
and happy for some time."
Source: From the book "Stories of the Sahaba" by Shaikh Muhammad
Zakariyya Kandhalvi.
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