Financial Sacrifices

There are many narrations with regard to Hazrat Umar’s (ra) financial sacrifices and spending in the way of Allah the Almighty. One of these narrations is from Hazrat Ibn Umar (ra) who relates that Hazrat Umar (ra) obtained some land in Khaibar and he went to consult with the Holy Prophet (sa) about this land. He said, “O Messenger (sa) of Allah. I have obtained some land in Khaibar. In my opinion, I never obtained any property as good as this. What do you advise me in this regard?” The Holy Prophet (sa) said, “If you wish, you can devote the land in the way of Allah and whatever income it yields you can spend it on the poor.” Nafi’ said that Hazrat Umar (ra) gave that land as a charity, on the condition that it would not be sold, it would not be gifted to anyone, nor would it be distributed as part of any inheritance. He devoted that land for the sake of the needy, his relatives, to free slaves, for any service in the way of Allah, for travellers and guests. He said that it would be permissible for the caretaker of the land to derive benefit from the land according to what was customary, but he should not accumulate wealth from it.”

(Sahih al-Bukhari, Kitab al-Shurut, Bab al-Shurut fi al-Waqf, Hadith 2737)

Whenever an opportunity arose, Hazrat Umar (ra) strove to excel in making sacrifices. There was also the time when the Holy Prophet (sa) made an appeal for financial sacrifices, and Hazrat Umar (ra) brought half of his wealth; this incident has been mentioned before. Yet, he feared God Almighty so much, that as he was about to pass away, tears flowed from his eyes and he would say, “I am not deserving of any reward. All I wish is to avoid punishment.”

(Khutbat-e-Mahmud, Vol. 10, p. 24)

This was the degree to which he feared God Almighty.