The Benchmark of Piety The Messenger of Allah (sal Allahu alaihi wa sallam) said: “That which is lawful is clear, and that which is forbidden is clear, and between them are doubtful matters about which many of the people have no knowledge. So whoever avoids doubtful matters saves his religion and his honour, and whoever falls into doubtful matters falls into what is forbidden.” [Bukhari] Once Omar ibn al-Khattab (radi Allahu anhu) hired a work horse for some business. On the way to his destination the cloth that was hanging on his shoulders fell off while he was occupied in reciting the Qur’an. Omar (radi Allahu anhu) did not notice this until someone drew his attention to it after he had moved ahead. Omar (radi Allahu anhu) dismounted the horse and asked the man to guard it. He returned on foot to that place and brought back his cloth. When he returned, the man who had brought the dropped cloth to Omars attention asked him two questions. The first was why he had retraced his steps on foot instead of on his horse. Omars reply was that because the horse was not his, and its lease contract did not include that he would return on it if something fell off on the way, he feared it would be dishonesty if he returned on the back of the mare. Then the man asked why he hadn’t ordered him to bring it back for him while he remained where he was. Omar (radi Allahu anhu) replied, Have I got any authority over you to order you to perform any of my personal business? This is an example of the scrupulous honesty and sincerity with which Omar (radi Allahu anhu) handled the money and affairs of the Ummah he was made Khalifa over. This is the standard of piety set for a ruler by our pious predecessors. Omar ensured that the people he appointed to positions of leadership in his government did not benefit financially to even the slightest degree as a result of their post. A person’s personal business was not allowed to advance during his tenure as a public servant. His governors were subject to intense scrutiny and accountability. As a consequence they considered their jobs as burdens to be dutifully discharged and nothing to benefit from in the world. He held himself to an equally rigorous standard of honesty.
Posted on: Fri, 29 Nov 2013 07:08:03 +0000
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