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Golden Stories of Umar Ibn Al-Khattaab
This book highlights the interesting and valuable stories of ‘Umar’s life. In this book the author deliberately left the stories without a sequence, so that each story is read by itself with ease. This is intended to be a unique approach in presentation and reading of Islamic books. This book describes the fact that 'Umar was exceptional in his Faith, distinguished in his knowledge, profoudly wise in his thinking, remarkable in his eloquence, noble in his manners and great in the contributions he made to this Nation.
399 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 12
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
April 15, 2017
Islam does not force anyone to enter its fold, nor does it accept the faith of anyone who does not believe in it of his own free will. Faith is not something that can be imposed on people since it is an action of the heart, and no one knows what is in the hearts except Allah The Almighty.
“I will not calm down until I put one cheek of a tyrant on the ground and the other under my feet, and for the poor and the weak, I will put my cheek on the ground”. --- Umar Ibn Al-Khattab (RA)
Umar Ibn Al-Khattab (RA) was a strict man; he carried a stick with him at all times to correct men/women with. However he had a softer side as well. I would relate that with a story from this very book which I found very touching and worthy of mentioning.
“Burden of My Sins”
– Reference (Al-Kaamil Fit-Taareekh: 2/214. At-Tabaree: 5/200)
One day, ‘Umar (RA) went out to Hurrah Waaqim, a rocky area of land just outside of Madeenah. His companion during this particular excursion was Aslam (RA), his freed slave. When the two of them reached a place called Siraar – Which is situated 3 miles outside of Madeenah – they discerned in the distance a small fire being ignited. Obviously, some people had made camp out in the open desert; and, thinking that they might need some help, ‘Umar (RA) ordered Aslam (RA) to accompany him towards the direction of the fire.
Both ‘Umar (RA) and Aslam (RA) ran towards the campsite, and when they drew near to it, they saw a woman watching over a group of children, who were crying loudly. Beside the woman, there was a pot hanging over a flame of fire. ‘Umar (RA) called out to the woman, saying to her, “Peace be upon you, O people of the light”. (Aslam (RA), the narrator of this story, pointed out that ‘Umar (RA) disliked saying to them, “O people of the fire”, lest they think he meant, not the fire that they had ignited for cooking, but the Hellfire).
“And peace be upon you,” the woman answered.
“May I come nearer to you?” asked ‘Umar (RA).
“Either come nearer with the intention of doing well by us, or leave us alone,” replied the woman.
“What is the matter with you?” ‘Umar (RA) asked, having come close enough to speak to her without having to raise his voice. The woman complained about the harsh conditions of the night and of the cold weather outside, after which ‘Umar (RA) asked, “And what is the matter with these children? Why are they crying out loud?”
“Hunger”, replied the woman tersely.
“If it is hunger that the children suffer from then what is cooking in this pot?” asked ‘Umar (RA).
“It is only water,” replied the woman, explaining that she had placed a pot over a flaming fire in order to “calm the children down until they fell asleep.” She then went on to say, “By Allah, we have a serious grievance with ‘Umar.” She obviously did not know that she was, at that very moment, addressing none other than ‘Umar (RA)
“May Allah have mercy on you,” said ‘Umar (RA). ‘Umar does not know about your condition.”
“He is given authority over us, and then he forgets us!” said the woman plaintively.
‘Umar (RA) then returned to where Aslam (RA) was waiting for him, and the two of them ran off in the distance, and they continued to run until they reached a flourmill. ‘Umar (RA) purchased a sack of flour and some cooking fat, and he then asked Aslam (RA) to load the said items onto his shoulder.
“I will carry them for you,” said Aslam (RA)
“May you have no mother!” exclaimed ‘Umar (RA). “And will you carry the burden of my sins for me on the Day of Resurrection?” left with no choice, Aslam (RA) loaded the heavy sack unto ‘Umar (RA) shoulders; and in spite of the heavy load he was carrying, ‘Umar (RA) ran all the way back to the woman’s campsite.
Aslam (RA) related that, upon reaching the woman’s campsite, ‘Umar (RA) filled the woman’s pot with flour and cooking fat, and cooked a large portion of broth for her and her children. Aslam (RA) described how he saw ‘Umar (RA) blowing underneath the pot, while smoke was coming out from between the hairs of ‘Umar’s beard. ‘Umar (RA) cooked the broth and stayed until the woman and her children were full and stopped eating
Then, when ‘Umar (RA) and Aslam (RA) stood up to leave, the woman said to ‘Umar (RA), “May Allah reward you well for your kindness! You are more deserving of being the leader than is the actual leader of the believers.”
Still not identifying himself, ‘Umar (RA) humbly replied, “Speak well! And when you go to the Leader of the Believers, you will find me there, Allah willing!”
‘Umar (RA) then gave the woman some space, but still did not leave. Curious as to why ‘Umar (RA) was not leaving, Aslam (RA) asked, “Is there something else you need to do here?” But ‘Umar (RA) gave no reply. Instead, ‘Umar (RA) silently watched on as the children settled down and fell asleep. After he was sure that the children were all asleep, ‘Umar (RA) stoop up, praised Allah, turned to Aslam (RA), and said, “O Aslam, hunger caused them to stay awake and cry. And so I did not want to leave until I saw them content, happy and clam.”
Even though it often goes unnoticed in history books, this soft and gentle side of ‘Umar Ibn Al-Khattab (RA) had always been a fundamental part of his character.
A country under the rule of Islam, a merciful and compassionate ruler will become a ‘Welfare State’. And Umar Ibn Al-Khattab (RA) has left a very high standard for future Muslim leaders. Which, I am afraid they can’t live up to. But I take comfort in knowing that in the past we had MEN like Umar Ibn Al-Khattab (RA) who stood by the poor and the weak and had no desire to hoard wealth and false honor!
Islam has not changed, only the people following it have.
“I will not calm down until I put one cheek of a tyrant on the ground and the other under my feet, and for the poor and the weak, I will put my cheek on the ground”. --- Umar Ibn Al-Khattab (RA)
Umar Ibn Al-Khattab (RA) was a strict man; he carried a stick with him at all times to correct men/women with. However he had a softer side as well. I would relate that with a story from this very book which I found very touching and worthy of mentioning.
“Burden of My Sins”
– Reference (Al-Kaamil Fit-Taareekh: 2/214. At-Tabaree: 5/200)
One day, ‘Umar (RA) went out to Hurrah Waaqim, a rocky area of land just outside of Madeenah. His companion during this particular excursion was Aslam (RA), his freed slave. When the two of them reached a place called Siraar – Which is situated 3 miles outside of Madeenah – they discerned in the distance a small fire being ignited. Obviously, some people had made camp out in the open desert; and, thinking that they might need some help, ‘Umar (RA) ordered Aslam (RA) to accompany him towards the direction of the fire.
Both ‘Umar (RA) and Aslam (RA) ran towards the campsite, and when they drew near to it, they saw a woman watching over a group of children, who were crying loudly. Beside the woman, there was a pot hanging over a flame of fire. ‘Umar (RA) called out to the woman, saying to her, “Peace be upon you, O people of the light”. (Aslam (RA), the narrator of this story, pointed out that ‘Umar (RA) disliked saying to them, “O people of the fire”, lest they think he meant, not the fire that they had ignited for cooking, but the Hellfire).
“And peace be upon you,” the woman answered.
“May I come nearer to you?” asked ‘Umar (RA).
“Either come nearer with the intention of doing well by us, or leave us alone,” replied the woman.
“What is the matter with you?” ‘Umar (RA) asked, having come close enough to speak to her without having to raise his voice. The woman complained about the harsh conditions of the night and of the cold weather outside, after which ‘Umar (RA) asked, “And what is the matter with these children? Why are they crying out loud?”
“Hunger”, replied the woman tersely.
“If it is hunger that the children suffer from then what is cooking in this pot?” asked ‘Umar (RA).
“It is only water,” replied the woman, explaining that she had placed a pot over a flaming fire in order to “calm the children down until they fell asleep.” She then went on to say, “By Allah, we have a serious grievance with ‘Umar.” She obviously did not know that she was, at that very moment, addressing none other than ‘Umar (RA)
“May Allah have mercy on you,” said ‘Umar (RA). ‘Umar does not know about your condition.”
“He is given authority over us, and then he forgets us!” said the woman plaintively.
‘Umar (RA) then returned to where Aslam (RA) was waiting for him, and the two of them ran off in the distance, and they continued to run until they reached a flourmill. ‘Umar (RA) purchased a sack of flour and some cooking fat, and he then asked Aslam (RA) to load the said items onto his shoulder.
“I will carry them for you,” said Aslam (RA)
“May you have no mother!” exclaimed ‘Umar (RA). “And will you carry the burden of my sins for me on the Day of Resurrection?” left with no choice, Aslam (RA) loaded the heavy sack unto ‘Umar (RA) shoulders; and in spite of the heavy load he was carrying, ‘Umar (RA) ran all the way back to the woman’s campsite.
Aslam (RA) related that, upon reaching the woman’s campsite, ‘Umar (RA) filled the woman’s pot with flour and cooking fat, and cooked a large portion of broth for her and her children. Aslam (RA) described how he saw ‘Umar (RA) blowing underneath the pot, while smoke was coming out from between the hairs of ‘Umar’s beard. ‘Umar (RA) cooked the broth and stayed until the woman and her children were full and stopped eating
Then, when ‘Umar (RA) and Aslam (RA) stood up to leave, the woman said to ‘Umar (RA), “May Allah reward you well for your kindness! You are more deserving of being the leader than is the actual leader of the believers.”
Still not identifying himself, ‘Umar (RA) humbly replied, “Speak well! And when you go to the Leader of the Believers, you will find me there, Allah willing!”
‘Umar (RA) then gave the woman some space, but still did not leave. Curious as to why ‘Umar (RA) was not leaving, Aslam (RA) asked, “Is there something else you need to do here?” But ‘Umar (RA) gave no reply. Instead, ‘Umar (RA) silently watched on as the children settled down and fell asleep. After he was sure that the children were all asleep, ‘Umar (RA) stoop up, praised Allah, turned to Aslam (RA), and said, “O Aslam, hunger caused them to stay awake and cry. And so I did not want to leave until I saw them content, happy and clam.”
Even though it often goes unnoticed in history books, this soft and gentle side of ‘Umar Ibn Al-Khattab (RA) had always been a fundamental part of his character.
A country under the rule of Islam, a merciful and compassionate ruler will become a ‘Welfare State’. And Umar Ibn Al-Khattab (RA) has left a very high standard for future Muslim leaders. Which, I am afraid they can’t live up to. But I take comfort in knowing that in the past we had MEN like Umar Ibn Al-Khattab (RA) who stood by the poor and the weak and had no desire to hoard wealth and false honor!
Islam has not changed, only the people following it have.
February 19, 2017
I love the modern layout of this book as it is easy to pick up and read even if you don't have a lot of time. It's inspiring and informative and is a great start for those wanting to understand the characteristics and life of Umar.
May 16, 2017
Recommended
Highly recommended as it gives a details about various events in the life of Umar (MABPH). Good read for those who are interested in learning the life of the man
Highly recommended as it gives a details about various events in the life of Umar (MABPH). Good read for those who are interested in learning the life of the man
December 13, 2023
2.4 it was an amazing book. However, It was a bit long, but that is understandable. It is like a biography of Umar ibn Khatab.
November 5, 2016
A very interesting read!
January 25, 2014
If I could be even a percent of him, I'll be content with Life.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews