Hazrat Umar (ra): The Great Benefactor

Then, in a speech titled Benefactor of the World, Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud (ra) said:

“It was Hazrat Umar (ra) regarding whom Christian historians also write that his governance was such that it is unmatched in the world” although the speech was about the Holy Prophet (sa). “They use foul language against the Holy Prophet (sa), yet commend Hazrat Umar (ra). A person who remained in his company at all times, longed during his final moments to be given a place in his nearness to the Holy Prophet (sa). If any action of the Holy Prophet (sa) showed that he strove for anything other than attaining the pleasure of God, then after having attained the level he did, would Hazrat Umar (ra) have desired to be given a place near him?”

(Dunya Ka Mohsin, Anwar-ul-Ulum, Vol. 10, p. 262)

Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud (ra) is proving that it was servitude to the Holy Prophet (sa) and his moral training which enabled Hazrat Umar (ra) to be just and have this fear of God.

With regard to Hazrat Umar’s (ra) love for the Ahl-e-Bait [family of the Holy Prophet (sa)] Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud (ra) states:

“Hazrat Aisha (ra) remained alive for a long time after the Holy Prophet (sa). During the era of Hazrat Umar (ra), when Iran was conquered, flour mills were brought over, which ground very fine flour. When the very first mill was established in Medina, Hazrat Umar (ra) instructed that the first batch of fine flour should be presented to Hazrat Aisha (ra) as a gift. Hence, according to his instruction, that fine flour was sent to Hazrat Aisha (ra) and her maid used that flour to make thin bread. The women of Medina, who had never seen such fine flour before, converged and gathered at Hazrat Aisha’s (ra) home so that they may see this flour and how its bread was prepared. The entire courtyard was filled with women waiting to see the bread baked with this flour.”

Hazrat Musleh-e-Maud (ra) was addressing women and said, “You must be thinking that it was some type of unique flour. It was not a unique type of flour; rather, that flour was of lesser quality which you eat on a daily basis; in fact, it was of even lesser quality than the flour which today is used by the poorest women. However, that flour was of a higher quality than that which was usually available in Medina. In any case, bread was prepared with that flour, which the women were astonished to see. In their astonishment, they began touching the bread and would immediately exclaim, ‘This bread is wonderful. Is there any flour in the world better than this?’ The bread had been baked, but this is where the love of Hazrat Aisha (ra) and her feelings for the Holy Prophet (sa) become manifest.

“Hazrat Aisha (ra) took a small piece of the bread and placed it in her mouth. All of the women who were standing there were looking at her to see how Hazrat Aisha’s (ra) expressions would change as she would savour eating the soft bread and were expecting her to express her happiness and delight. However, as soon as Hazrat Aisha (ra) placed that piece of bread in her mouth, it remained in her mouth as if her throat had become closed and her eyes began to fill with tears. The women said, ‘The flour is so good, and the bread is incredibly soft. Why are you unable to swallow it and have started to cry? Is there something wrong with the bread?’ Hazrat Aisha (ra) said ‘There is nothing wrong with the bread. I know that this bread is very soft and we have never seen something like this, but I am not crying because there is something wrong with the bread; rather, I remember the days when the Holy Prophet (sa) was passing through the final stage of his life; he had become weak and could not eat hard food. Yet even in those days, we used to grind wheat with stones and would make bread from it and present it to him.’ Then she said, ‘The person because of whom we are reaping these benefits left before he could enjoy these things, and we who are honoured only because of him and are benefitting from these bounties.’ When she said this, she took the piece of bread out of her mouth and said, ‘Take this bread away from me. Recalling the time of the Holy Prophet (sa), my throat is closing up and I cannot eat this bread.’”

(Ainda Wohi Qaumein Izzat Paien Gi Jo Maali O Jaani Qurbaaniyo Mein Hissa Lein Gi, Anwar-ul-Uloom, Vol. 21, pp. 155-156)

Hazrat Ibn Abbas (ra) narrates that during the era of Hazrat Umar (ra), the Companions (ra) of the Holy Prophet (sa) conquered Madain which was where Chosroes ruled from. He [Hazrat Umar (ra)] instructed that a leather mat should be placed on the floor of the mosque and instructed that the spoils should be emptied onto the leather mat.

Then, the Companions (ra) of the Holy Prophet (sa) gathered and the first one to take their share of the spoils was Hassan bin Ali (ra). He said, “O leader of the believers, grant me my share of the wealth which Allah the Almighty has bestowed upon the Muslims.” Hazrat Umar (ra) instructed with great happiness and honour that he should be given one thousand dirhams. Then, Hassan (ra) left and Hussain bin Ali (ra) came forward and said, “O leader of the believers, grant me my share of the wealth which Allah the Almighty has bestowed upon the Muslims.” Hazrat Umar (ra) instructed with great happiness and honour that he should be given one thousand dirhams. Then Hazrat Umar’s (ra) son, Abdullah bin Umar (ra) came forward and said, “O leader of the believers, grant me my share of the wealth which Allah Almighty has bestowed upon the Muslims.” Hazrat Umar (ra) instructed with great happiness and honour that he should be given five hundred dirhams. Upon this, Abdullah bin Umar said, “O leader of the believers, I am a strong man who used to stand in front of the Holy Prophet (sa), wielding my sword. At that time, Hassan (ra) and Hussain (ra) were children who used to wander the streets of Medina. You have given them one thousand dirhams each and have given me only five hundred.” Hazrat Umar (ra) replied, “This is true. Find me a father like their father, a mother like their mother, a maternal grandfather like their maternal grandfather, a maternal grandmother like their maternal grandmother, a paternal uncle like their paternal uncle, a maternal uncle like their maternal uncle and a maternal aunt like their maternal aunt. Surely, you will not be able to do so.”

(Izaalatul Khafa An Khilafat Al-Khulafa, translated by Shah Walliullah Muhaddith Dehlvi, Vol. 3, pp. 292-293, Qadeemi Kutub Kahana Karachi) (Furhang-e-Sirat, p. 264, Zawar Academy Karachi [2004])

Abu Ja‘far (ra) narrates that Hazrat Umar (ra) decided to assign stipends to people and his view was better than that of all others. People told him that he should begin with himself, but he did not agree. Instead, he began with the closest relatives of the Holy Prophet (sa); thus he began by determining a stipend for Hazrat Abbas (ra) and then Hazrat Ali (ra).

(Izaalatul Khafa An Khilafat Al-Khulafa, translated by Shah Walliullah Muhaddith Dehlvi, Vol. 3, p. 241, Qadeemi Kutub Kahana Karachi)

Hazrat Umar bin Khattab (ra) respected and honoured Hazrat Imam Hassan (ra) and Hazrat Imam Hussain (ra) and would tend to and provide for them just as he provided for their father. Once, some clothes arrived from Yemen and he distributed them among the sons of the Companions (ra), but did not give any to them two [i.e. Hazrat Imam Hassan (ra) and Hazrat Imam Hussain (ra)]. He said that there was nothing among those clothes which he deemed worthy enough for them. He then sent a message to the governor of Yemen who then had clothes made which were suitable for them.

(Al-Badaya Wa Al-Nahaya, Vol. 4, pt. 8, pp. 214-215, Dar-ul-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut, 1990)