Humility and Righteousness (Hazrat Musleh Mau’d’s (ra) Narration)

In relation to this, Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud (ra) states:

“Is it not an astonishing fact that a person who would once herd camels became a great king? Not only was he granted a worldly kingdom, but a spiritual one too. This indeed was Hazrat Umar (ra) who would tend to the camels in his earlier years. On one occasion, he went to perform the Hajj and on the way, he stood at a particular place. The heat was extremely intense and people were greatly affected by it. However, no one had the courage to ask why he was standing there. Eventually, a companion, who was a close friend of Hazrat Umar (ra) and who would often ask Hazrat Umar (ra) about the outbreak of fitna [evil and disorder] was approached by the people to ask Hazrat Umar (ra) as to why he was stood at that particular place. Subsequently, he submitted to Hazrat Umar (ra), ‘Proceed ahead, why have you stopped here?’ Upon this, Hazrat Umar (ra) stated, ‘The reason why I have stopped here is because once I was herding the camels and took some rest under this tree owing to exhaustion. My father came and hit me, saying, ‘Did I send you so you could sit here and sleep?’ Thus, such was my condition, but after having accepted the Holy Prophet (sa), God Almighty elevated me to such a rank that if today I were to command hundreds of thousands of people they would be willing to sacrifice their lives for me.’ This incident and various other incidents like this reveal the previous condition of the companions, but after following the Holy Prophet (sa), their conditions completely transformed. They attained such a rank and level of knowledge which no one else possessed.”

Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud (ra) further states:

“The reason I have narrated this account is that one ought to ponder how a person who used to herd camels was granted such spiritual and worldly knowledge that no one else could fathom. One should ponder that on the one hand, there was a time when Hazrat Umar (ra) would tend to camels and sheep which is something that is perceived to not even remotely be associated with knowledge, and then, on the other hand, came a time where the people of Europe, who have a deep understanding of the laws and principals of governance, show great admiration of the laws and legislation designed by Hazrat Umar (ra). What connection is there between one who tends to camels and a ruler? However, Hazrat Umar (ra) accomplished such feats that the world looks at him with great respect and praises his governance.

“Moreover, look at the example of Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra), who was an ordinary merchant; however, today, the world is astonished as to how he attained such wisdom, intellect and knowledge. However, I tell you that he attained everything from the Holy Quran. He pondered over the Holy Quran, thus he learned all that which the entire world was bereft of. This is because the Holy Quran is such a tool that if one cleanses their heart with it, their heart will be so purified that it begins to reflect every aspect of secular knowledge and a door is opened for such an individual that no one is then able to stop the knowledge that is revealed upon one’s heart. Thus, it is important for every individual to strive in reading and pondering over the Holy Quran.”

(Anwar-ul-Khilafah, Anwar-ul-Ulum, Vol. 3, pp. 130-131)