Hazrat Umar (ra) and the Year of the Famine

On one occasion, during the era of Hazrat Umar (ra), there was a very severe drought and famine in Medina and its surrounding areas. When the strong winds would blow, the dust would fly in the air like ashes, thus that year was referred to as “aam al-ramadah” [the year of the ashes].

(Tarikh Al-Tabari, Vol. 2, p. 508, Dar-ul-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut, 1987)

Auf bin Harith relates from his father, “That year was known as ‘aam al-ramadah’” i.e. the year of the ashes “because owing to the lack of rainfall, the land had become black like ash and this condition remained for a duration of nine months.”

Hizam bin Hisham narrates from his father:

“In 18 AH when people returned from the pilgrimage of Hajj, they were faced with great hardships. There was a severe drought. The cattle died and people also began to die of hunger to the extent that they would finely grind the animal bones and mix it in water to drink and they would dig up the burrows of mice, etc. and eat whatever they could find.”

Hazrat Ibn Umar (ra) relates that Hazrat Umar (ra) bin Al-Khattab wrote a letter to Hazrat Amr (ra) bin Aas during ‘aam al-ramadah’ which stated:

“In the name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful. From the servant of Allah, Umar, the Leader of the Faithful to Aasi bin Aasi; may peace be upon you. Would you like to witness me and those who are with me die whilst you and those who are with you remain alive? Is there anyone to help?” Hazrat Umar (ra) then wrote the word “help” three times.

In reply to the letter, Hazrat Amr (ra) bin Aas wrote:

“In the name of Allah, the Gracious, the Merciful. There is none worthy of worship except Allah. To the servant of Allah. Help has arrived but you will have to just wait a little while. I am sending a caravan of camels, the first among them would be with you and the last of them would still be with me.”

In other words, it was a rather large caravan of camels.

The governor of Egypt, Hazrat Amr (ra) bin Aas sent 1,000 camels laden with grain and corn. Clarified butter, clothes etc. were also sent in addition to that. The governor of Iraq, Hazrat Saad (ra) sent 2,000 camels laden with grain and provisions, as well as clothes. The governor of Syria, Hazrat Amir Muawiyah (ra) sent 3,000 camels laden with grain and also sent clothes and other provisions in addition to that. When the first stock of grain arrived, Hazrat Umar (ra) bin Al-Khattab stated to Hazrat Zubair (ra) bin Al-Awam, “Stop the camels and turn them in the direction of the surrounding villages and distribute the provisions among them first. By God, it is possible that aside from the honour of enjoying the company of the Holy Prophet (sa), you may not have been granted a better opportunity than this. Also, make garments from the sacks so that they can wear them and slaughter the camels for them, so that they can eat its meat and take the animal fat away with them. Do not wait for them to say that they will wait for the rainfall. They should cook the flour and gather the provisions until Allah the Almighty grants them ease.”

In other words, they should cook some of the provisions and store some of it for themselves as well.

Hazrat Umar (ra) would have the food prepared and then it would be announced that at mealtime, if anyone wished to come and eat, they should come. And if anyone wanted to take the food back to their families, they could come and take it. Hazrat Umar (ra) would prepare Tharid for the people, which was a dish prepared by mixing small pieces of bread in a broth. There was flatbread which had stew made from olives and would be cooked quickly in pots. Camels would also be slaughtered and Hazrat Umar (ra) would sit with the people and eat whatever they were eating.

Abdullah bin Zaid bin Aslam relates from his grandfather, “Hazrat Umar (ra) would continually keep fasts. During the aam al-ramadah, bread would be presented to Hazrat Umar (ra) which had been mixed with olive oil.

“One day, the camels were slaughtered and people were given its meat and they kept the best portion of its meat for Hazrat Umar (ra). When this meat was presented before Hazrat Umar (ra) which consisted of pieces of the camel’s hump and liver, Hazrat Umar (ra) enquired where this meat had come from and was informed, ‘O Leader of the Faithful! This has come from the camels which we slaughtered today.’ Hazrat Umar (ra) stated, ‘What a pity! What a pity! How awful a leader would I be if I ate the best part of the meat and leave the least favoured parts for others? Take this bowl away from me and bring me other food instead.’ And so, bread was brought mixed in olive oil. Hazrat Umar (ra) broke the bread into pieces and then prepared the Tharid himself. He then stated to his assistant named Yarfa to take that bowl [of meat] and give it to such and such family in Samak.” Samak was a date orchard close to Medina which was owned by Hazrat Umar (ra) and he had donated this orchard. “Hazrat Umar (ra) further stated, ‘I have not given them anything for the last three days and I believe they have not had anything to eat. Thus, go and present this to them.’”

Hazrat Ibn Umar (ra) narrates, “During the days of the famine, Hazrat Umar (ra) started to do something which he never did previously. He would lead the Isha prayers and would then return to his residence and would continue to offer his [voluntary] prayers until the latter part of the night. After that he would leave his residence and would do the rounds of inspection in Medina. One night, at the time of Sehri [predawn], I heard him say:

اَللّٰهُمَّ لَا تَجْعَلْ هَلَاكَ أُمَّةِ مُحَمَّدٍ عَلٰى يَدَيَّ

‘O Allah! Do not allow the ummah of Muhammad (sa) to perish at my hands.’”

Muhammad bin Yahya bin Habban relates that once, during the days of the famine, bread was presented before Hazrat Umar (ra) which had been mixed in animal fat. Hazrat Umar (ra) called a Bedouin to come close to him and he began to eat alongside Hazrat Umar (ra). He quickly began to take the fat from the edges of the bowl upon which Hazrat Umar (ra) stated, “You are eating as if you have never eaten animal fat before.” He replied, “Indeed, for many days, I have neither eaten clarified butter, nor olives, nor have I seen anyone else eat it.” Upon hearing these words, Hazrat Umar (ra) vowed to neither eat meat, nor clarified butter until people did not enjoy the same comforts as they did before.

Ibn Taus relates from his father that Hazrat Umar (ra) did not eat meat nor clarified butter until people returned to their normal conditions. Since he would not eat any clarified butter, etc. Hazrat Umar’s (ra) stomach would rumble. However, Hazrat Umar (ra) would address his stomach and say, “You may rumble, but by God, you will not get anything until people return to their normal conditions and eat as they did before.”

Iyad bin Khalifah states:

“During the year of the famine, I saw that the complexion of Hazrat Umar’s (ra) skin had completely darkened, even though before he had a very fair complexion. We would enquire as to how this happened and the narrator [of the tradition] told us, ‘Hazrat Umar (ra) was an Arab and butter and milk was a part of his diet. When the famine occurred, he declared all these foods unlawful for him until people did not return to their normal conditions. Hazrat Umar (ra) would eat his food with oil as a result of which his complexion changed and then when he went without food, his complexion changed even more.’”

Usama bin Zaid bin Aslam narrates on the authority of his grandfather, “We used to say that if Allah did not provide us relief from this famine and drought, Hazrat Umar (ra) would grieve himself to death due to his constant worry for the Muslims.”

Zaid bin Aslam narrates from his father:

“During the era of the drought and famine, people from all over Arabia came to Medina. Hazrat Umar (ra) had ordered people to make arrangements for them and provide them with food. Hazrat Umar (ra) had assigned various companions to oversee arrangements in different areas of Medina. In the evenings, they would gather and bring back information about every single moment. The report of what took place from the morning until the evening would be presented to Hazrat Umar (ra) in the evening when they gathered together. Bedouins of different areas had gathered in Medina.

“One night, when everyone had eaten dinner, Hazrat Umar (ra) said to count the number of people that had eaten dinner with them. When the total was counted, it was almost 7,000 people. Hazrat Umar (ra) then said, ‘Count those people who were not present at the time as well as the sick and children.’ When they were included, the total number of people was 40,000. After a few days, this number increased. When they were counted again, the number of people who would eat with them totalled 10,000 and the others were 50,000. This continued until Allah the Almighty sent down rain. When it had rained, I saw that Hazrat Umar (ra) ordered his governors to make arrangements for their citizens to return to their areas and for them to provide them with mounts and grain.”

The narrator says, “I saw that Hazrat Umar (ra) would come himself to send those people off.”

(Al-Tabaqaat-ul-Kubra, Vol. 3, pp. 165-169, Dar-e-Ihya Al-Turath, Beirut [1996]) (Lughat-ul-Hadith, Vol. 1, p. 234, definition of the word “Tharid”, Numani Kutub Khana, Lahore [2005]), (Fath-ul-Bari Sharah Sahih Bukhari, Vol. 5, pp. 460-461, Hadith 2764, Dar-ul-Riyan Li Al-Turath, Cairo [1986])

People from the surrounding areas had gathered in the city [of Medina] out of hunger and would receive food there. When the situation improved and it had rained and farming could resume, Hazrat Umar (ra) said to return home, work hard and manage their crops.

In Tabari, with regard to the end of the famine, it is written that one person saw a dream in which the Holy Prophet (sa) said to be mindful of prayers. Subsequently, Hazrat Umar (ra) made an announcement among the people that Salat al-Istisqa [prayer for rain] would be offered. Hazrat Umar (ra) said, “This trial has reached its peak but will now come to an end, insha-Allah. Whichever people are granted the opportunity to pray will come to realise that the trial will come to an end.” Hazrat Umar (ra) wrote letters addressing the governors of other cities and said to them, “Offer Salat al-Istisqa for the residents of Medina and its surroundings because they have endured great hardship.” Hazrat Umar (ra) gathered the Muslims in an open plain to offer Salat al-Istisqa; he came with Hazrat Abbas (ra), delivered a short sermon and then led the prayers. He then sat down and prayed:

اَللّٰهُمَّ إِيَّاكَ نَعْبُدُ وَإِيَّاكَ نَسْتَعِينُ، اَللّٰهُمَّ اغْفِرْ لَنَا وَارْحَمْنَا وَارْضَ عَنَّا

“O Allah! You alone do we worship and You alone do we beseech for help. O Allah! Bestow Your forgiveness and mercy upon us, and You be pleased with us.” After this, Hazrat Umar (ra) returned. He had not yet reached home when owing to the intense rain, a pond had formed in the open plain.

(Tarikh Al-Tabari, Vol. 2, pp. 508-509, Dar-ul-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut, 1987)

According to one narration, whilst supplicating, Hazrat Umar (ra) said the following:

“O Allah! When we would experience drought during the era of Your Prophet (sa), we would pray through means of Your Prophet (sa), and You would thus send down rain upon us. Today, we beseech You by means of Your Prophet’s (sa) uncle. Relieve us from this drought and send down rain upon us.” Subsequently, the people had not moved from their places that it began to rain.

(Al-Tabaqaat-ul-Kubra, Vol. 4, p. 21, Dar-ul-Kutub al-Ilmiyyah, Beirut [1990])