The Marvellous Humility of Ameerul-Mu’mineen – Hazrat Umar Radhiyallahu anhu – Part 1

1) The human mind is unable to assess the exceptionally high degree of Hazrat Umar’s humility. In spite of being the Emperor of emperors and the king of Arab and Ajam (non-Arab), he was unparalleled in his attribute of Tawaadhu’ (humility). When he mounted the Mimbar to deliver the Khutbah, he sat on the step on which Hazrat Abu Bakr (Radhiyallahu anhu) would stand. When it was said to him to sit higher on the Mimbar, he replied: “It suffices for me to sit on that place whereon stood the feet of Abu Bakr (Radhiyallahu anhu).”

2) One day during the Khutbah he said: “O People! Do not increase the Mehr (dowry) of women. If the Mehr is fixed more than the Mehr of Rasulullah’s wives and daughters, I shall confiscate the extra amount and hand it to the Baitul Maal.” An old woman immediately challenged him, saying: “What right do you have to do so when Allah Ta’ala says (in the Qur’aan): ‘If you (men) have given them mounds of wealth, then do not take back anything of it.’ On hearing this, Hazrat Umar (Radhiyallahu anhu) came down from the Mimbar and exclaimed: “All people have more knowledge than Umar, even the old lady.”

3) The food he ate was such that not even a poor person would be inclined to eat it. Once he had some guests from Iraq among whom was Hazrat Jareer Bin Abdullah (Radhiyallahu anhu). They were unable to eat the simple food of Hazrat Umar (Radhiyallahu anhu).

4) In a year he would acquire only two sets of garments from the Baitul Maal. The cloth too was of a coarse type. Whenever it would become torn, he would patch it. Sometime the patch was of leather and sometimes of sackcloth.

5) During his stay at Baitul Maqdis, his Kurtah was torn at the back. He gave it to someone to wash and mend. When the washed and patched Kurtah was brought to him a new Kurtah was also presented. This was specially made for him. Both these Kurtahs were put before Hazrat Umar (Radhiyallahu anhu). Stroking the new Kurtah with his hand, he commented: “This cloth is very soft.” So saying, he returned it and added: “That Kurtah (his own one) is better. It absorbs perspiration well.”