Hayatus Sahabah - The Lives of the Sahabah - Part 3

668 THE LIES OF THE SAHABAH @,%!@&j' (Vol-3)
to Shaam, Hadhrat Abu Ubaydah bin Jarraah ?3Ew was accompanying him.
When they arrived at a point where they had to wade across, Hadhrat Umar
B,Ew alighted from his camel, removed his leather socks and threw them over
his shoulders. He then took hold of the reins of the camel and waded through.
"0 Ameerul Mu'mineen!" Hadhrat Abu Ubaydah ~,BCu,i said, "Are you doing that?!
Do you also remove your leather socks, throw them over your shoulders, take
hold of the reins of the camel and then wade through?! I would not like the
people of that city (where we are headed) to see you like this."
"0, Oh!" Hadhrat Umar W$@j' exclaimed, "Had anyone other than Abu Ubaydah
made such a statement, I would have made him a lesson for the Ummah of
Muhammad m. We were once amongst the lowest of people, but Allaah gave
us honour because of Islaam. As soon as we start to seek honour in avenues
other than that in which Allaah has granted us honour, Allaah will then
humiliate us."
Another narration states that when ~adhrat Umar 3,ECu,= arrived in Shaam and
was to be received by the army, he was wearing his loincloth, leather socks and a
turban. He was holding the head of his camel and wading across some water.
Someone then said, "0 Ameerul Mu'mineen! The army and the general of Shaam's
army are here to meet you and you are in this condition?" Hadhrat Umar B13w
remarked, 'We are a nation whom Allaah has given honour through Islaam, so
we shall not seek honour in other avenues." (2)
Yet another narration states that Hadhrat Abu Ubaydah bin Jarraah B,EM said
to Hadhrat Umar 3,Ew, "0 Ameerul Mu'mineen! You have done something that
the people of these parts regard as a something degrading. You have removed
your socks, led your camel while on foot and waded through water on foot."
Hadhrat Umar Ww struck Hadhrat Abu Ubaydah bin Jarraah 3BWj on the
chest and said, "0 dear! If only someone other than you had made that
statement, 0 Abu Ubaydah! You people (Arabs) were the smallest in number
and the most degraded of people before Allaah gave you honour through
Islaam. When you start to seek honour in anything else other than Islaam,
Allaah will certainly degrade you." (3)
Hadhrat Qais narrates that when ~adhrat Umar !&Uw arrived in Shaam and was
received bythepeople,hewasridingacamel. "0 Arneerul Mu'mineen!" someone said, "If
only you would ride a Turkish horse because the leaders and prominent people
of the city would be meeting you." To this, Hadhrat Umar B,Ew remarked, "I do
not see your honour lying here (in the things of this world), but (pointing to the
sky) everything comes from there. Let my camel go." (4)
Hadhrat Abul Aaliya Shaami reports that Hadhrat Umar arrived in
Jaabiya from the Aleppo road, riding a brown camel. The bald part of his head
(1) Haakim (Vol.1 Pg.61). reporting from reliable sources as confirmed by Dhahabi.
(2) Haakim (Vol. 1 Pg.62).
(3) Haakim (Vo1.3 Pg.82). Abu Nu'aym in his Hilya (Vol.1 Pg.47) has reported a similar narration, as
have Ibn Mubaarak, Hannaad and Bayhaqi, as quoted in Muntakhab Kanzul Ummaal (Vo1.4
Pg.400).
(4) Abu Nu'aym in his Hilya (Vol. 1 Pg.47).