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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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Allah is Sufficient as a Walee (Protector) and Allah is Sufficient as a Naseer (Helper).
(Surah An-Nisa, Chapter #4, Verse #45)
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