The Zuhd of Abu Ubaydah and the Tears of Umar

It is reported from ʿAbdullāh b. ʿUmar:

When ʿUmar b. Al-Khaṭṭāb arrived in Al-Shām, he said to Abū ʿUbaydah – Allāh be pleased with them: “Take us to your home.”

Abū ʿUbaydah said, “And what will you do with my home?”

ʿUmar replied, “Just take us there.”

Abū ʿUbaydah said, “You only want to cry your eyes out over me.”

So he entered his house and saw nothing [by way of furnishings] in it.

ʿUmar asked, “Where are your things? I see nothing but rags, a water-skin and a dish (tray), and you are a governor! Do you have food?”

So Abū ʿUbaydah went over to an old pail (bucket) and took out some scraps, and ʿUmar began to weep.

Abu ʿUbaydah said to him, “I told you you would cry your eyes out over me. O Commander of the Believers, sufficient for you from the dunyā is what delivers you to your place of rest.”

ʿUmar said, “The dunyā changed us all except you Abū ʿUbaydah.”

[Abū Dāwūd, Kitāb Al-Zuhd article 123, and others.]

Abu Al-Darda (RA) said:

“The thing I fear most for you is that it will be said to me on the Day of Resurrection: You knew, so what did you do with what you knew?”

[Musannaf Abd Al-Razzaq V.10 P.288]

Umar Ibn al-Khattab رضي الله عنه said:

“Never say a person has good character, until you see how he behaves when he is angry, and never say a person is righteous until you see how he controls himself when he faced with temptations.”

[Ansab al-Ashraaf, 10/331]

Ibn `Umar (رضي الله عنه) said:

"If you survive till the evening, do not expect to be alive in the morning, and if you survive till the morning, do not expect to be alive in the evening, and take from your health for your sickness, and (take) from your life for your death.”

[Sahih al-Bukhari 6416]

Abū Bakr as-Siddīq رضي الله عنه said:

"The supplication of a brother in Allaah (for another brother) is answered."

{Al-Adab Al-Mufrad. Chapter: 278. Page: 120. By Imām Bukhāri رحمه الله}

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Ibn 'Umar رضي الله عنهما said:

"I make supplication in everything I do – even that Allaah make the stride of my animal comfortable so that I may enjoy that."

{Al-Adab Al-Mufrad. Chapter: 279. Page: 120. By Imām Bukhāri رحمه الله}

‘Umar ibn al-Khattab رضي الله عنه was asked about true repentance. He replied:

It is that you repent from the sin and never do it again, or never intend to do it again.

[Tafsir at-Tabari (66:8)]

Umar Ibn Al-Khattab [رضي الله عنه] said:

❝Do not let your love for someone be obsessive and do not let your hatred for someone be destructive.❞

[Al-Musannaf of Abd Ar-Razzaq, (No. 20269) | Translated By Salah Al-Iranee]

Al-Tabari reported: Ibn Abbas, may Allah be pleased with him, said, “Verily, idolatry terrifies the heavens, the earth, the mountains, and all of creation except for the worlds of men and jinn. They nearly quake from the greatness of Allah, as goodness with idolatry will not benefit the idolater. Thus, we hope that Allah will forgive the sins of the monotheists.”

Source: Tafsīr al-Ṭabarī 19:90

عَنِ الطبري عَنِ ابْنِ عَبَّاسٍ رضي الله عنه إِنَّ الشِّرْكَ فَزِعَتْ مِنْهُ السَّمَاوَاتُ وَالْأَرْضُ وَالْجِبَالُ وَجَمِيعُ الْخَلَائِقِ إِلَّا الثَّقَلَيْنِ وَكَادَتْ أَنْ تَزُولَ مِنْهُ لِعَظَمَةِ اللَّهِ وَكَمَا لَا يَنْفَعُ مَعَ الشِّرْكِ إِحْسَانُ الْمُشْرِكِ كَذَلِكَ نَرْجُو أَنْ يَغْفِرَ اللَّهُ ذُنُوبَ الْمُوَحِّدِينَ

19:90 تفسير الطبري سورة مريم وقوله تكاد السموات يتفطرن من

العشرة المبشرة

The greatest and most profound achievement of this world is to make Jannah (paradise).

From the commencement of life on earth till this day and generations to come, the only hope that we as Muslims are optimistic about is the belief that someday all our ups and downs shall come to an end and we will be rewarded bountifully in paradise. With the grace of Allah some among the Muslim ummah have known of their fate that their final abode is Jannah. With that in mind, below are some of the 10 luckiest people to walk the surface of the earth.

#1. Abu Bakr As-Siddiq (573-634 C.E)

Abu Bakr was given the title of “As Siddiq” or” (Testifier to the Truth). He was two and a half years younger than prophet Muhammad and the first among men to enter Islam. He was always a very close companion of the Prophet Muhammad. And he knew him better than any other man.

#2. Umar ibn Al-Khattab (584-644 C.E)

He reigns from Quraish, the tribe of Banu Adi. And lived as one of the most powerful and most influential Muslim caliphs known in history and succeeded Abu Bakr as the second caliph. This is the man whose name is paired with justice and truth, strength and courage, and asceticism and godliness. He was pious, observing and fearing Allah, and crying out of fearing Him. He is the second Caliph and one of the in-laws of the Prophet. His conversion to Islam marked the beginning of a new phase of the call.

#3. Uthman ibn Affan (577-656 C.E)

Uthman ibn Affan was born in Taif, near Mecca approximately six years after the Year of the Elephant to a wealthy family of Quraish. Throughout his life he was kind, generous man and even before his conversion to Islam he would freely give money to help those in need. His marriage to two daughters of the Prophet had earned Uthman the nickname Dhun-Noorayn (the one with the two lights).

#4. Ali ibn Abi Talib (600-661 C.E)

Ali was born on the 13th Rajab the month of the Elephant. The love between Ali and the prophet was divine because they had a lot in common; not looks nor attitude but they were both born in the month of the Elephant and both shared a common grand father, Abdul Mutalib.

#5. Talha ibn Ubaidullah (596-656 C.E)

Talha was a member of the tribe of Abu Bakr. He was a successful businessman who traveled to the north and south of the Arabian Peninsula and accumulated a lot of profit. The Prophet said about Talha:

“He, who desires to see a martyr walking on the ground, let him look at Talha bin Ubaidullah.” (Mishkat, Ibn Hisham)

The Messenger of Allah once wore two coats of armor and tried to get up on a boulder, but was unable to, so Talha squatted under him, lifting the Prophet such that he could sit on the boulder. Allah was so pleased with Talha’s help and the Prophet informed Talha that Paradise was now obligatory on him. (Tirmidhi) He came to be known as “Talha the Generous” and “Talha the Good” for his generosity. He was well known for helping those in debt, households experiencing difficult times, and widows.

#6. Az-Zubair bin Al-Awwam (596-656 C.E) 

He is well known in the books of seerah as “The Disciple” of the Prophet. The Prophet himself gave him this title. He was also a prominent companion of the prophet and loved him very much. His love was not merely due to the relationship between Allah’s Messenger and him.

#7. Abdur-Rahman ibn Awf (580-652 C.E.)

Abdur-Rahman was one of the first eight persons to accept Islam. He was one of the ten persons assured of entering Paradise. And one of the six persons Umar chose to form the council of shura to choose the Caliph after his death. He accepted Islam only two days after Abu Bakr as-Siddiq did.

#8. Sa’d ibn Abi Waqqas (600-675 C.E)

Sa’d was born in mecca. He was seventeen years old when he embraced Islam. Sa’d was the seventeenth person to embrace Islam. He is mainly known for his commandership in the conquest of Persia in 636, governorship over it, and diplomatic visit to China in 616 and 651.

#9. Sa’id ibn Zayd (593-673 C.E)

Sa’id ibn Zaid was born in Makkah in the year 22BH (Before Hijrah). He inherited his father’s religious beliefs of Islamic Monotheism, and accepted Islam at an early age. Sa’id with his wife accepted Islam when only a handful were Muslims. They went through all sorts of abuse, ridicule and torture because of their decision. Sa’id and his wife Fatimah binti Khattab were instrumental in the conversion of Umar bin Khattab who became one of the greatest followers of Islam. He served in the Islamic army of conquest for a long time and played an important role in making the region of Iraq and Syria become part of the Islamic land.

#10. Abu Ubaidah Al-Jarrah (583-638 C.E)

He was described as the “Amin” or Custodian of Muhammad’s community with dignity and grace, a handsome, pleasant, well spoken man with a tall, slim physique and bright sharp eyes. These were the physical good looks of a man whom the Prophet said:

‘Every Ummah (nation) has a trustee: the trustee of my Ummah (nation) is Abu Ubaidah bin Al-Jarrah.’

By character and nature, he was very humble and modest. Amongst his friends, he was gentle and soft as silk. When it came to war, he was as hard as iron. During the battle of Uhud, he lost his two front teeth. It was within this battle that two of the iron links of the Prophet’s helmet pierced his blessed head. Ubaidah bin Al-Jarrah pulled them out with his teeth. His integrity and honesty was unparalleled even amongst the companions of the Prophet.

“You brought me dates, and you did not remove the seeds from them”

What is the secret behind the popularity of this phrase and who said it?

Omar bin Al-Khattab's (R) attention was drawn to the fact that Abu Bakr Al-Siddiq (R) went out to the outskirts of Medina after Fajr prayer, entered a small house for hours, and then he goes to his own house. Omar knew everything that Abu Bakr was doing except for the secret of this house.

Days have passed and the Caliph of the Believers is still visiting this house. Omar still did not know what Abu Bakr was doing inside, so Omar decided to enter the house after Abu Bakr left in order so that he can see with his eyes what is inside, and know what Abu Bakr does after the Fajr prayer.

When Omar entered this little house, he found an old woman who could not move and had no one, and she was also blind. Omar Ibn Al-Khattab was surprised by what he saw.

He wanted to know what is the secret of Abu Bakr's relationship with this blind old woman, so he asked her: "What does this man do here in your house?"

(Meaning Abu Bakr Al-Siddiq)...The old woman answered: "Wa Allahi, I do not know, my son. This man comes every morning and cleans and sweeps the house for me. Then he prepares food for me, and he leaves without talking to me."

When Abu Bakr died, Omar completed the care of the blind old woman.

She said to him: "Did your friend die?"

He said: "How did you know?"

She said: "You brought me dates, and you did not remove the seeds from them."

Omar bin Al-Khattab (R) crouched on his knees and his eyes filled with tears and said his famous phrase:

“The Caliphs are tired after you, O Abu Bakr.”

Should we cry for Abu Bakr (R), or cry for Omar (R), or cry today about the feelings and morals that have collapsed and deteriorated.

May Allah be pleased and satisfied with them.

May Allah bless us with work that brings us closer to His obedience and satisfaction.

Source: Tarikh Dimashq 30/322

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