71: Too Old to Pay Tax! As Umar and Aslam were going out of the Madinah market gate one sunny day, they saw a man who had overloaded a camel with heavy loads. Umar seeing this, hit the man with his staff. The man cried out, “What wrong have I done, Ameerul Mumineen?” Umar said to him, “On account of what you are doing to this camel, with this heavy loads. Aren’t you aware that animals also have rights over us? I swear by God. I fear that I will be questioned about them.” The man was very sorry and said to Umar, “I beg your pardon, Ameerul Mumineen.” They left and as they were going, they saw a blind beggar, begging for charity. Umar went close and asked him, “Are you a Jew or a Christian?” The blind beggar answered, “Yes. A Jew who has been reduced to begging in old age. God rewards charity.” “Certainly,” said Umar. He took his hand and led him to his house and gave him some grains, and then said to him, “Take this for now. Had we anything better at home, we would have given you.” The man was very happy. He said, “May God reward you, man.” But Umar addressed one of his companions, saying, “Mu’aiqib, take note of this man and give him allowance from the treasury. Do not collect any Jizyah tax from him any longer. I swear by God, it is unfair of us to collect tribute form him when he was young and able and only to let him die in old age.”
Posted on: Sat, 14 Sep 2013 07:21:22 +0000
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