Hayatus Sahabah - The Lives of the Sahabah - Part 3

262 THE LlVES OF THE SAHABAH '@,gbm (Vol-3)
Hadhrat Umar !&Cwj Questions the Sahabah
@,GW about a Particular verse and is Impressed
by the Reply that Hadhrat Abdullaah
bin Abbaas Sgf&&j gave
Hadhrat Abdullaah bin Abbaas WGw narrates, "Hadhrat Umar 9,EW once said,
'I recited a verse last night that kept me awake. (The verse is):
Would any of you like to own a garden (an orchard) containing all types
of fruit for himself, with palm trees, vines and rivers flowing beneath?
(Later, however) He then suffers old age while he (still) has weak
&oung) children (who cannot assist him) and a severe wind carrying
fire strikes (his orchard), burning it down (leaving him in desperate
want when he most needs wealth to care for his children). In this
manner does Allaah make His Aayaat clear for you so that yvu may
ponder. {Surah Baqarah, verse 266)
'What does it refer to?' Hadhrat Umar %lGWj wanted to know. When some
people responded by saying, 'Allaah knows best', Hadhrat Umar SGWj said, 'I
know well that Allaah knows best, but I have asked because if any of you know
anything about it or have heard anything about it, he should inform me about
what he has heard.' Everyone was silent. Hadhrat Umar SGw then noticed me
whispering something and said, 'Dear son of my brother! Say your piece and do
not undermine yourself.' 'It is actions that are being referred to,' I said. 'What.
makes you say that actions are being referred to?' I said, 'It was something that
came to my heart which I stated.' Hadhrat Umar %lGm then left me and started
explaining it himself. He said, 'You are right, dear son of my brother. It is actions
that are being referred to. A man is most in need of his orchard when he is old
and when he has many dependents. He is also most in need of his actions on the
Day of Qiyaamah. You are definitely right, dear son of my brother."'(')
Hadhrat Umar ~,Gwj Questions Hadhrat
Abdullaah bin Abbaas SGi!&3 about Some Difficulty
he was Experiencing with Surah Nasr
Hadhrat Abdullaah bin Abbaas 8,GWj says, "Because Hadhrat Umar %Gm used
to allow me in with the veterans of Badr, Hadhrat Abdur Rahmaan bin Auf %G@j
objected saying, 'Why do you allow this youngster in with us when we have
children his age?' Hadhrat Umar %lGw replied, 'He is of a calibre that you will
(I) Abd bin Humayd and Ibn Mundhir, as quoted in Kanzul Ummaal (Vol.1 Pg.234) reporting from
reliable sources as confirmed by Haakim (Vo1.3 Pg.542)