1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:03,359 In the name of Allah, the Entirely Merciful, the Especially Merciful. 2 00:00:03,359 --> 00:00:06,019 The Mawaddah Association 3 00:00:06,019 --> 00:00:07,540 presents: 4 00:00:07,660 --> 00:00:10,939 The Ten Promised Paradise: 5 00:00:10,939 --> 00:00:15,570 'Umar ibn al-Khattab, 6 00:00:15,570 --> 00:00:17,570 may Allah be pleased with him. 7 00:00:17,570 --> 00:00:22,370 Loving the Companions and the Prophet’s kin is an established Sunnah; 8 00:00:22,370 --> 00:00:27,460 with it I shall meet my Lord when He resurrects me. 9 00:00:27,460 --> 00:00:30,800 Loving the Companions and the Prophet’s kin. 10 00:00:30,800 --> 00:00:33,439 Abu Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him) once sat 11 00:00:33,759 --> 00:00:38,159 in a gathering with the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him), 12 00:00:38,159 --> 00:00:41,920 alongside Abu Bakr, 'Umar, 'Uthman, and 'Ali. 13 00:00:41,920 --> 00:00:46,880 The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) picked up some pebbles from the ground, 14 00:00:46,880 --> 00:00:50,079 and the pebbles glorified Allah in his noble hand, 15 00:00:50,079 --> 00:00:53,420 such that everyone in the gathering heard their glorification. 16 00:00:53,420 --> 00:00:58,619 Then the Prophet (peace be upon him) placed them into the hand of Abu Bakr, 17 00:00:58,619 --> 00:01:01,420 and they glorified Allah in Abu Bakr's hand, 18 00:01:01,579 --> 00:01:04,939 and everyone in the gathering heard their glorification. 19 00:01:04,939 --> 00:01:09,900 Then Abu Bakr handed them back to the Prophet (peace be upon him), 20 00:01:09,900 --> 00:01:12,269 and they glorified Allah in his hand. 21 00:01:12,269 --> 00:01:17,069 Then the Prophet (peace be upon him) placed them into the hand of 'Umar, 22 00:01:17,069 --> 00:01:19,549 and they glorified Allah in 'Umar's hand, 23 00:01:19,549 --> 00:01:22,930 and everyone in the gathering heard their glorification. 24 00:01:22,930 --> 00:01:28,609 Then the Prophet (peace be upon him) placed them into the hand of 'Uthman ibn 'Affan, 25 00:01:28,609 --> 00:01:31,060 and they glorified Allah in his hand. 26 00:01:31,060 --> 00:01:33,060 Abu Dharr said: 27 00:01:33,060 --> 00:01:39,060 "Then the Prophet (peace be upon him) passed them to the rest of those present in the circle, 28 00:01:39,060 --> 00:01:42,060 but they did not glorify Allah in the hand of anyone else among them." 29 00:01:42,060 --> 00:01:51,090 This narration has been cited as evidence for the legitimate succession of the Rightly Guided Caliphs after him (peace and blessings be upon him). 30 00:01:51,090 --> 00:01:53,180 Indeed! 31 00:01:53,180 --> 00:01:56,180 When 'Umar ibn al-Khattab assumed the Caliphate, 32 00:01:56,180 --> 00:02:01,180 it only increased his mercy and gentleness toward the Muslims. 33 00:02:01,180 --> 00:02:05,180 The Caliphate only made him more humble and closer to them; 34 00:02:05,180 --> 00:02:08,180 he was a nurturing guardian to their youth, 35 00:02:08,180 --> 00:02:10,180 a brother to their elders, 36 00:02:10,180 --> 00:02:12,180 a servant to their disabled, 37 00:02:12,180 --> 00:02:14,180 a supporter to their needy, 38 00:02:14,180 --> 00:02:19,219 and to all Muslims, he was like a compassionate father to his own children. 39 00:02:19,219 --> 00:02:24,310 Once, a provincial governor came to visit 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) 40 00:02:24,310 --> 00:02:29,310 and found 'Umar lying on his back 41 00:02:29,310 --> 00:02:32,310 with his young children playing on his stomach. 42 00:02:32,310 --> 00:02:35,310 The governor expressed disapproval of that. 43 00:02:35,310 --> 00:02:37,310 'Umar asked him: 44 00:02:37,310 --> 00:02:39,310 "And how are you with your family?" 45 00:02:39,310 --> 00:02:42,310 The governor replied: 46 00:02:42,310 --> 00:02:44,310 "Whenever I enter the house, 47 00:02:44,310 --> 00:02:47,310 all the children fall completely silent and motionless." 48 00:02:47,310 --> 00:02:50,310 Thereupon, 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) said: 49 00:02:50,310 --> 00:02:52,379 "We hereby dismiss you from your post! 50 00:02:52,379 --> 00:02:55,379 For if you show no gentleness to your own family and children, 51 00:02:55,379 --> 00:03:00,379 how could you possibly show gentleness to the Ummah of Muhammad (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him)?" 52 00:03:00,379 --> 00:03:04,629 Such was 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) with his subjects: 53 00:03:04,629 --> 00:03:06,629 living their struggles 54 00:03:06,629 --> 00:03:08,629 and matching his lifestyle to the weakest among them. 55 00:03:08,629 --> 00:03:11,759 Five years into his caliphate, 56 00:03:11,759 --> 00:03:16,759 a severe famine struck Medina and its surrounding villages. 57 00:03:16,759 --> 00:03:19,759 Rain was withheld from the sky, 58 00:03:19,759 --> 00:03:21,759 the earth became barren, 59 00:03:21,759 --> 00:03:23,759 and livestock perished. 60 00:03:23,759 --> 00:03:26,759 This famine lasted for nine months, 61 00:03:26,759 --> 00:03:29,759 until the soil turned black 62 00:03:29,759 --> 00:03:31,759 and resembled ash, 63 00:03:31,759 --> 00:03:35,759 which is why that year was named "The Year of Ash" (Ramadah). 64 00:03:35,759 --> 00:03:39,759 During that time, 'Umar's only food was bread and oil— 65 00:03:39,759 --> 00:03:42,759 the diet of the poorest people in those days. 66 00:03:42,759 --> 00:03:45,759 He was often hungry, 67 00:03:45,759 --> 00:03:51,759 so much so that one day he ascended the pulpit to deliver a sermon to the Muslims, 68 00:03:51,759 --> 00:03:54,759 and his stomach could be heard growling loudly, 69 00:03:54,759 --> 00:03:58,759 as though crying out from the intensity of hunger and suffering. 70 00:03:58,759 --> 00:04:01,789 Thereupon, 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) 71 00:04:01,789 --> 00:04:05,789 did nothing but tap his belly with his hand, saying: 72 00:04:05,789 --> 00:04:08,789 "Rumble or do not rumble; 73 00:04:08,789 --> 00:04:12,789 you shall not taste meat until the children of the Muslims have eaten their fill!" 74 00:04:12,789 --> 00:04:16,180 It was also his practice (may Allah be pleased with him) 75 00:04:16,180 --> 00:04:19,180 that he would lead the people in the 'Isha prayer, 76 00:04:19,180 --> 00:04:25,180 then return home and remain in prayer until the latter part of the night, 77 00:04:25,180 --> 00:04:28,180 after which he would go out and patrol the outskirts of Medina 78 00:04:28,180 --> 00:04:31,180 to inspect the condition of the people. 79 00:04:31,180 --> 00:04:34,180 He would supplicate in the pre-dawn hours, saying: 80 00:04:34,180 --> 00:04:39,180 "O Allah, do not bring about the destruction of the Ummah of Muhammad at my hands!" 81 00:04:39,180 --> 00:04:44,370 Al-Faruq 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) was so deeply affected during the Year of Ash 82 00:04:44,370 --> 00:04:46,370 that his very complexion changed. 83 00:04:46,370 --> 00:04:49,370 'Iyad ibn Khalifah narrated: 84 00:04:49,370 --> 00:04:52,370 "I saw 'Umar during the Year of Ash, 85 00:04:52,370 --> 00:04:54,370 and his skin had turned dark and weathered. 86 00:04:54,370 --> 00:04:58,370 He had been an Arab accustomed to eating clarified butter and milk, 87 00:04:58,370 --> 00:05:01,370 but when the people suffered drought, he forbade them to himself 88 00:05:01,370 --> 00:05:05,370 and consumed only olive oil until his complexion darkened." 89 00:05:05,370 --> 00:05:10,430 It once happened that the Muslims slaughtered a camel to feed the people, 90 00:05:10,430 --> 00:05:12,430 and they dished out the finest cuts for 'Umar. 91 00:05:12,430 --> 00:05:14,430 When it was brought to him, 92 00:05:14,430 --> 00:05:16,430 he asked, "Where did this come from?" 93 00:05:16,430 --> 00:05:19,430 They replied, "O Commander of the Faithful, 94 00:05:19,430 --> 00:05:22,430 it is from the camel we slaughtered today." 95 00:05:22,430 --> 00:05:25,430 He said: "Bakh, bakh! (How terrible!) 96 00:05:25,430 --> 00:05:27,430 What a wretched ruler I would be 97 00:05:27,430 --> 00:05:31,430 if I ate its choice meat while feeding the people its bare bones! 98 00:05:31,430 --> 00:05:33,430 Take this bowl away, 99 00:05:33,430 --> 00:05:36,430 and bring us something else instead." 100 00:05:36,430 --> 00:05:39,430 So they brought him dry bread and olive oil, 101 00:05:39,430 --> 00:05:43,430 and he began breaking the bread with his hands and crumbling it into the oil. 102 00:05:43,430 --> 00:05:45,430 Then he said: 103 00:05:45,430 --> 00:05:47,430 "Woe to you, O Yarfa'! 104 00:05:47,430 --> 00:05:52,430 Take this dish of meat to the family of so-and-so, 105 00:05:52,430 --> 00:05:55,430 for I have not visited them in three days 106 00:05:55,430 --> 00:05:58,430 and I believe they are destitute. 107 00:05:58,430 --> 00:06:00,430 Place it before them." 108 00:06:00,430 --> 00:06:05,589 It was narrated from Hudhayfah ibn al-Yaman (may Allah be pleased with him) that he said: 109 00:06:05,589 --> 00:06:09,589 "I passed by the people while they were eating meat and broth, 110 00:06:09,589 --> 00:06:12,589 and 'Umar invited me to join his meal. 111 00:06:12,589 --> 00:06:15,589 When I arrived, he was eating coarse bread and oil. 112 00:06:15,589 --> 00:06:17,589 I said to him: 113 00:06:17,589 --> 00:06:20,589 'You prevented me from eating meat broth with the people, 114 00:06:20,589 --> 00:06:22,589 only to invite me to this?!' 115 00:06:22,589 --> 00:06:24,589 He replied: 116 00:06:24,589 --> 00:06:26,589 'I only invited you to my personal food; 117 00:06:26,589 --> 00:06:28,589 as for that, it belongs to the general body of Muslims.'" 118 00:06:28,589 --> 00:06:32,660 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) felt the people's suffering so profoundly 119 00:06:32,660 --> 00:06:35,660 that his freedman, Aslam, said: 120 00:06:35,660 --> 00:06:37,660 "We used to say: 121 00:06:37,660 --> 00:06:40,660 'Had Allah not lifted the drought during the Year of Ash, 122 00:06:40,660 --> 00:06:46,069 we would have thought 'Umar would die of sheer grief for the Muslims.'" 123 00:06:46,069 --> 00:06:52,069 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) was truly ascetic in his food, drink, and clothing. 124 00:06:52,069 --> 00:06:55,069 He was once seen circumambulating the Ka'bah 125 00:06:55,069 --> 00:06:58,069 wearing a lower garment that had twenty-one patches. 126 00:06:58,069 --> 00:07:01,069 When he went to accept the surrender of Jerusalem, 127 00:07:01,069 --> 00:07:04,069 his garment bore fourteen patches. 128 00:07:04,069 --> 00:07:09,069 Some of his companions urged him to wear softer, finer garments 129 00:07:09,069 --> 00:07:12,069 that would befit his stature 130 00:07:12,069 --> 00:07:16,069 as the Caliph of the Muslims and Commander of the Faithful, 131 00:07:16,069 --> 00:07:18,069 but he adamantly refused 132 00:07:18,069 --> 00:07:21,069 and reproached them for their suggestion. 133 00:07:21,069 --> 00:07:24,069 His daughter Hafsah, the Mother of the Believers 134 00:07:24,069 --> 00:07:26,069 (may Allah be pleased with her), said to him: 135 00:07:26,069 --> 00:07:29,069 "If only you would wear softer garments than these 136 00:07:29,069 --> 00:07:32,069 and eat food better than this, 137 00:07:32,069 --> 00:07:36,069 for Allah has granted you victory and bestowed abundance upon you." 138 00:07:36,069 --> 00:07:40,069 He replied: "I will make your own conscience a judge against you! 139 00:07:40,069 --> 00:07:45,069 Do you not know what the Messenger of Allah (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him) used to endure 140 00:07:45,069 --> 00:07:47,069 of hardship in life?" 141 00:07:47,069 --> 00:07:53,069 And he continued reminding her of the hardships that the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) faced 142 00:07:53,069 --> 00:07:55,069 until he brought her to tears. 143 00:07:55,069 --> 00:08:01,069 Then he said: "I had two companions who took a specific path; 144 00:08:01,069 --> 00:08:04,069 if I take a path other than theirs, 145 00:08:04,069 --> 00:08:07,069 I will be taken to an end different from theirs. 146 00:08:07,069 --> 00:08:12,069 By Allah, I will surely endure the same austere life they lived, 147 00:08:12,069 --> 00:08:16,069 so that I may perhaps join them in their blissful eternal life." 148 00:08:16,069 --> 00:08:20,459 The Caliph remained hungry while the worldly treasures lay beneath his grasp; 149 00:08:20,459 --> 00:08:24,459 what an exalted station of asceticism—glory be to the One who granted it! 150 00:08:24,459 --> 00:08:28,459 Who could ever rival Abu Hafs and his legacy, 151 00:08:28,459 --> 00:08:32,460 or who could dare attempt to match al-Faruq? 152 00:08:32,460 --> 00:08:37,190 Sa'd ibn Abi Waqqas (may Allah be pleased with him) said regarding 'Umar: 153 00:08:37,190 --> 00:08:41,190 "By Allah, he was not the earliest of us in accepting Islam, 154 00:08:41,190 --> 00:08:45,190 yet I know by what he surpassed us: 155 00:08:45,190 --> 00:08:48,289 he was the most detached from this worldly life among us." 156 00:08:48,289 --> 00:08:51,289 'Amr ibn al-'As, the governor of Egypt, once wrote to him: 157 00:08:51,289 --> 00:08:56,289 "We have prepared a house for you near the Grand Mosque." 158 00:08:56,289 --> 00:09:00,379 'Umar wrote back: "What does a man residing in the Hijaz 159 00:09:00,379 --> 00:09:03,379 need with a house in Egypt?" 160 00:09:03,379 --> 00:09:07,419 and ordered him to turn it into a public marketplace for the Muslims. 161 00:09:07,419 --> 00:09:10,419 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) used to say: 162 00:09:10,419 --> 00:09:13,419 "We found the best part of our life through patience." 163 00:09:13,419 --> 00:09:17,740 Once, 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) passed by an elderly woman 164 00:09:17,740 --> 00:09:19,740 who stopped him and said: 165 00:09:19,740 --> 00:09:25,740 "O 'Umar! I remember you when you were called 'Umayr in the market of 'Ukaz, 166 00:09:25,740 --> 00:09:27,740 herding sheep for the boys with your stick. 167 00:09:27,740 --> 00:09:31,899 Then days passed, and you came to be called 'Umar; 168 00:09:31,899 --> 00:09:36,899 then days passed, and you came to be called Commander of the Faithful. 169 00:09:36,899 --> 00:09:38,899 So fear Allah regarding your flock! 170 00:09:38,899 --> 00:09:43,899 For whoever fears the divine warning finds the distant reckoning brought near; 171 00:09:43,899 --> 00:09:46,899 whoever fears death dreads missing his chance; 172 00:09:46,899 --> 00:09:49,899 and whoever is certain of the Account fears the punishment." 173 00:09:49,899 --> 00:09:53,960 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) stood before her, 174 00:09:53,960 --> 00:09:56,960 listening intently to her words, 175 00:09:56,960 --> 00:09:59,960 bowing his head and giving her his full attention. 176 00:09:59,960 --> 00:10:02,960 One of his companions said to her: 177 00:10:02,960 --> 00:10:06,960 "You have spoken far too much to the Commander of the Faithful, woman!" 178 00:10:06,960 --> 00:10:09,960 'Umar said: "Woe to you! Leave her alone! 179 00:10:09,960 --> 00:10:11,960 Do you not know who she is? 180 00:10:11,960 --> 00:10:14,960 This is Khawlah, 181 00:10:14,960 --> 00:10:18,960 whose speech Allah heard from above the seven heavens! 182 00:10:18,960 --> 00:10:22,960 By Allah, 'Umar has all the more duty to listen to her." 183 00:10:22,960 --> 00:10:26,179 Despite the position 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) held 184 00:10:26,179 --> 00:10:29,179 in terms of leadership and high status, 185 00:10:29,179 --> 00:10:32,179 he never forgot the affairs of the Hereafter. 186 00:10:32,179 --> 00:10:35,179 He was intensely fearful of Allah 187 00:10:35,179 --> 00:10:38,179 and deeply moved whenever he heard the Qur'an. 188 00:10:38,179 --> 00:10:41,179 He would frequently gather his companions 189 00:10:41,179 --> 00:10:44,179 and say to Abu Musa al-Ash'ari 190 00:10:44,179 --> 00:10:46,179 (may Allah be pleased with him): 191 00:10:46,179 --> 00:10:48,250 "Make us yearn for our Lord!" 192 00:10:48,250 --> 00:10:51,250 So Abu Musa would recite from the Qur'an 193 00:10:51,250 --> 00:10:54,250 whatever Allah willed for him to recite. 194 00:10:54,250 --> 00:10:57,250 Whenever 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) came across a verse of warning, 195 00:10:57,250 --> 00:10:59,250 tears would choke his throat, 196 00:10:59,250 --> 00:11:02,250 and he would weep until he collapsed. 197 00:11:02,250 --> 00:11:05,250 He would then remain confined to his home, being visited by people 198 00:11:05,250 --> 00:11:08,309 who thought he had fallen ill, 199 00:11:08,309 --> 00:11:12,309 He had two dark lines on his face from weeping, 200 00:11:12,309 --> 00:11:15,309 and he (may Allah be pleased with him) used to wear a ring on his left hand. 201 00:11:15,309 --> 00:11:17,309 The inscription on his signet ring was: 202 00:11:17,309 --> 00:11:20,309 "Death suffices as an admonisher." 203 00:11:20,309 --> 00:11:24,500 There is more to be said about 'Umar (may Allah be pleased with him), 204 00:11:24,500 --> 00:11:28,500 which we will conclude in the next gathering, Allah willing. 205 00:11:44,070 --> 00:11:46,070 For their honor, 206 00:11:46,070 --> 00:11:49,070 they are Talhah, 207 00:11:49,070 --> 00:11:51,070 Ibn 'Awf, 208 00:11:51,070 --> 00:11:55,070 and al-Zubayr, along with 209 00:11:55,070 --> 00:11:57,070 Abu 'Ubaydah, 210 00:11:57,070 --> 00:11:59,070 the two Sa'ds, 211 00:11:59,070 --> 00:12:03,070 and the Caliphs.