Dispassion Towards Fine Adornments and an Easy Lifestyle

It is mentioned in one narration that Yazid bin Abi Sufyan (ra) said: “O Leader of the Faithful! We have many garments and riding animals, life is very good, goods are very cheap, and the state of the Muslims is such that would please you. If you wear these white clothes, ride these fine animals, and give the Muslims to eat out of the plentiful grain and wheat, it would be a means of increasing your reputation, a means of adorning your discharging of state responsibilities, and a way to increase your grandeur in the eyes of the non-Arabs.”

Upon this, Hazrat Umar (ra) replied:

“O Yazid! No! By Allah, I shall never forsake this appearance in which I left my two companions, i.e. I shall remain in the same state that I left the Holy Prophet (sa) and Hazrat Abu Bakrra, and I shall not adopt this adornment and embellishments for the sake of people, for I fear that in doing so it may leave me sinful in the eyes of my Lord, and I do not wish for my state to be of grandeur before the people but lowly before Allah Almighty.”

Hence, Hazrat Umar (ra) remained in this state in which the Holy Prophet (sa) and Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra)lived their lives, until he passed from this world.

(Al-Iktifa bima Tadmanuhu min Maghazi Rasul Allah wa al-Thalathah al-Khulafa, Vol. 2, Chapter 1, pp. 295, Alam al-Kutub, Beirut, 1997)