Umar and Stones

Story of Umar Bin Khaththab  

In the dark night, creatures fell asleep in every part of the dark earth, except one. The second caliph (khalifa) after Rasulullah pbuh, swung his step approach the dark. He kept on going around looking into the real life of his folks. He wanted to know whether his folks prosperous under his administration. From the distance he saw little flame from a hut. Children’s weeping heard from distance. He pep at little space of the wall, and saw a woman surrounded by children. She seemed cooked something. Every time when her children started crying she said, “Wait a minute, it will be done.”

The mother did the same every time the children start crying, again and again. Umar wondered and asked permission to come in. then he asked, “Why your children can’t stop crying?”

“They are hungry” the mother answered.

“Why don’t you give the food you are cooking?” Umar asked.

“No food at all in our home. The food I’ve been cooking is stones to keep them quite, so they supposed I cooked food. They will stop crying because of tired and will fall asleep.”

“Do you always do this?” Asked Umar.

“Yes. I have no more family and my husband was dead.” She tried to hide her misery on her face.

“Why don’t you ask for help to the Caliph? He can help you and gives you money from Baitul maal.” Umar advised.

“The Caliph has done tyrannical to me. I regret to his administration. He should look over his folks in real life. Who knows, there must be many people has the same fate with us.”

Her answer touched his feeling. He felt guilty and ashamed to himself. Then he immediately stood up and said, “Wait a moment, I’ll be right back.”

In the middle of the night, Umar walked in hurry to Baitul Maal. He lifted a big sack of wheat on his own shoulder. Because the distance between Baitul Maal and the mother’s house was far enough, Aslam intended to help him, Umar refuse distinctly and said,

“I’ll not let you lift my sins in the next. Let me lift this sack because I feel guilty on what happen to the mother and her children.”

The mother was so happy to receive the full sack of wheat. Then, the unknown man told her to see Caliph tomorrow to register her and children in Baitul Maal so they deserve to get charity. Of course, the mother was surprise and ashamed when she met Caliph (Khalifa), Umar Bin Khaththab.

This real touched story can be found on many books such as a book titled Al Faruq Umar Bin Khaththab, by Rashid Ridha. Umar was a real figure of best leader for ummah. His life experience taught us about zuhud, justice, responsibility and sense of care. He was Khalifa, a leader and Prophet’s Companion, and he didn’t need party flag or body guard to perform his official travel  in the dark night to find whether any injustice escape from his sight. 

Is there any leader like this one nowaday?

(Source : Sabili, 1428 H)