Umar Ibn Al Khattab (ra) and the Woefully Sad Woman
A fire glowed brightly in distant desert beneath the night sky. Umar Ibn Al Khattab (ra) was in Harrah doing his usual rounds with his servant Aslam by his side when he saw it.
“Maybe nightfall prevents the Caravan from entering the city. Let’s see after their needs for the night, ” said Umar (ra) to his trusted servant Aslam.
Umar (ra) soon arrived to find a woman holding a pan of water over a fire, her children crying beside her. Greeting them, he sought permission to approach, asking her, “Why are these children crying?”
“They’re hungry,” she said, so Umar asked;
“What’s in the pan?”
Upset she replied, “Only water to pacify the children so they may fall asleep while ‘food’ is prepared. Oh but Allah will judge between Umar and me on the day of Judgment for ignoring my plight!”
Aggrieved Umar(ra) asked, “May Allah have mercy on you, but how could Umar ever know of your plight?”
“Tis his duty to stay abreast of the condition of his people,” she cried.
Umar(ra) left forthwith for the treasury in Medina. There, he filled a sack with flour, dates, fat and clothes and withdrew some funds, saying to Aslam, “Now load this on my back.”
Aslam objected; “Please, Amir al Mu’mineen let me carry it for you.”
Umar(ra) replied, “Will you carry my load on the Day of Judgment? I think not. I must carry it - I who shall be questioned about this woman that day.”
Aslam reluctantly did as Umar (ra) said. Hurrying back to the camp, Umar took a little flour, some dates, and fat and placed it in the pan and began stirring. He blew into the fire to kindle it and Aslam said, “I saw the smoke rising into his thick beard.”
The porridge cooked, then Umar(ra) served the family himself. After eating their full, he gave the woman a sack for their next meal. Grateful she said, “May Allah reward you, your kindness. You’re more worthy of being Amir then Umar.”
Umar(ra) replied “When you come to meet the Amir, you shall find me there.”
He sat for a time watching the children play. On returning to Medina Umar Ibn Al Khattab (ra) said to Aslam, “Do you know why I sat there, Aslam? I wanted to see them laughing and happy after seeing them upset and crying.”🌙
You see dear reader, a great leader is one who is in touch with the joy and sorrow of his people; of their sorrow, he fears Allah and seeks to change it.
𝑴𝒖𝒔𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔 of 𝗦.𝗡.𝗝𝗮𝗹𝗮𝗹𝗶 ✍🏼 (𝑨𝒖𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒓 of 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗛𝗼𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗜𝗯𝗻 𝗞𝗮𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗿 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀, Islamic chapter books for kids📚)