Be Indifferent to the Condition of Others

So here is Umar bin al Khattab (radiyallahu anhu) competing with Abu Bakr (radiyallahi anhu) with respect to spending in charity as is established in the Sahih (of al Bukhari) from Umar bin al Khattab, that he said:

The Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wasalam) commanded us to give in charity, and this coincided with my possessing some wealth. So I said (to myself): ‘If there is a day that I can better Abu Bakr then it is this one.’ So I went with half of my wealth and the Messenger of Allah (sallallahu alayhi wasalam) asked me, ‘What have you left for your family?’ I replied, ‘The same amount.’ Then Abu Bakr came with everything that he possessed and the Messenger of Allah (saws) asked him, ‘What have you left for your family?’ He replied, ‘I have left Allah and His Messenger for them.’ So I (Umar) said, ‘I will never be able to better you in anything!’

So what ‘Umar did here was competition and the permitted type of jealousy (ghubTa), but the state of as-Siddeeq was better than his, and thus he would generally be the victor in such competition due to his indifference to the condition of others.

 

 

Source: Diseases of the Hearts and Their Cures by Ibn Taymiyyah (rahimahullah)

‘Umar ibn al Khattab and Hurmuzaan

‘Umar Ibn’l-Khaṭṭāb had a relationship with Hurmuzān, one of the Ministers of Persia. In the Battle of Qadisiyyah he was brought to Madīnah and he asked to see ‘Umar. They found him asleep, on his shoes under a tree behind the masjid. He was shocked that he had no bodyguards. He admired that and started crying and said, “You rule, and you rule with justice, so you became safe. Allāh gave you safety and you were able to sleep.” When it came time for his execution after he was captured, he said, “Ya amīr’l-mu’minīn, can I have a glass of water?” He was given a glass of water. He said, “Am I protected until I finish drinking this water?” ‘Umar said, “You are protected.” The emperor threw the glass on the ground and broke it. ‘Umar Ibn’l-Khaṭṭāb started consulting the ṣaḥābah to figure out what to do. He did not want to break his promise. He eventually decided not to break his promise so he went to Hurmuzān and told him that he was free to go. Hurmuzān then said the shahādah. ‘Umar Ibn’l-Khaṭṭāb said, “Why didn’t you save us the trouble and take shahādah first?” He said, “I didn’t want people to think that I was becoming Muslim because I was afraid. I wanted them to know I was sincere.” He knew ‘Umar Ibn’l-Khaṭṭāb wouldn’t break his promise. ‘Umar then embraced him.

 

Point of Benefit:

Look at the sincerity of Hurmuzaan and his bravery. It takes guts to say that to Amir al Mu’mineen ‘Umar ibn al Khattab, but Hurmuzaan knew that ‘Umar was a man who kept his promises so he felt safe doing this.

Our good character and morals are a testification to the truthfulness of this deen, although this deen does not need us to testify to its truthfulness.

‘Umar ibn al Khattab was respected and known for his justice and being true to his word.

No leader of any current day nation would be able to sleep under a tree, alone, without a single bodyguard. This says a lot about ‘Umar ibn al Khattab, radiallahu anhu. It also says a lot about the corruption of our times.

‘Umar embraced him after Hurmuzaan accepted Islam. Islam wipes away everything that came before it, and we should never hold someone’s past against them after they have accepted Islam.