Hayatus Sahabah - The Lives of the Sahabah - Part 3

THE LIVES OF THE SAHABAH @g$@@>(Vol-3) 449
worthy of sitting where Abu Bakr W$&!2j sat." He then climbed a step lower and
after duly praising Allaah, he said, "Recite the Qur'aan and you will be noted for
it. Practise its teachings and you will be amongst its bearers. Weigh yourselves
before you are weighed and beautify yourselves (with good deeds) for the great
presentation on the day you will be presented before Allaah and nothing of yours
will be hidden from Him. Remember that no one has such a right over you that
compels you to obey him while disobeying Allaah. Take note that in respect of
the wealth of Allaah (public funds), I regard myself to be like the guardian of an
orphan. I shall therefore stay away from it if I have sufficient means and will use
it within reason if I am ever in need of it." ('1
Another narration states that Hadhrat Umar B,GW said the following in his
sermon: ''Take reckoning of yourselves before your reckoning is taken (on the
Day of Qiyaamah), because it (the reckoning you take of yourself) is easier. Weigh
yourselves before you are weighed for the great presentation on the day you will
be presented before Allaah and nothing of yours will be hidden from Him." (2)
The Lecture Hadhrat Umar S,Ew gave About how
he Knew the Conditions of People and about
other Matters
Hadhrat Abul Firaas reports that Hadhrat Umar ~,UW once delivered a lecture
saying; "0 people! We knew you people well when Rasulullaah 6% was in our
midst because it was a time when revelation descended and Allaah used to
inform us about your condition. Take note however that Rasulullaah @& has
left and revelation has ceased. Therefore, we now get to know you only in the
manner we shall be stating to you: Whoever displays good behaviour, we shall
think good of him and love him for the good. On the other hand, whoever
displays evil behaviour, we shall think negatively of him and dislike him for his
evil ways. Your secret affairs lie between you and your Rabb (and only He can
judge you by them). There was a time when I was certain that whoever recited
the Qur'aan did so to please Allaah and to attain what (reward) is with Him.
However, I have since come to realise that lately some people recite the Qur'aan
to attain that which is with the people. You must therefore aspire to please only
Allaah when reciting the Qur'aan and when carrying out any good deeds. Take
note also that I do not dispatch my governors to you to beat you or to take away
your wealth. I am sending them only to educate you in your Deen and in the
Sunnah practices. Whoever receives treatment other than this, should take the
matter up with me and I swear by the Being Who controls my life that reparation
shall be done. You must never hit Muslims because this will humiliate them and
never prevent them from returning home after their shifts in guarding the state
borders because this will cast them into difficulty. You should also not deny them
(1) Deenowri, as quoted in Kanzul UmmaaJ (Vo1.8 Pg.210). Fadhaa'ili has reported a similar narration,
as quoted in Riyaadhun Nudhrah (Vo1.2 Pg.89).
(2) Ibn Mubaarak, Sa'eed bin Mansoor, Ahmad in his Zuhd, Ibn Abi Shaybah and others, as quoted in
Kanzul Ummaal (Vo1.8 Pg.208).