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At
Shaykhan, halfway between Madinah and Mount
Uhud, the 1,000-strong Muslim army led by
Prophet Muhammad stopped. The sun had begun to
sink beneath the horizon.
The
Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him)
alighted from his horse, As-Sakb. He was fully
dressed for battle. A turban was wound around
his helmet. He wore a breastplate, beneath
which was a coat of mail fastened with a
leather sword belt. A shield was slung across
his back. His sword hung from his side.
As
the sun set, Bilal called the Adhan (call to
Prayer) and the Prayer was offered. The
Prophet then reviewed his troops once more,
and it was then that he noticed in their midst
eight boys who, despite their young age, were
hoping to take part in the battle. Among those
boys were Zayd's son, Usamah, and `Umar's son,
`Abdullah, both only 13 years old.
The
Prophet ordered them all to return home
immediately. Two of the boys, however,
demonstrated that they were able fighters.
They were thus allowed to accompany the army
in the Battle of Uhud. Usamah ibn Zayd,
`Abdullah ibn `Umar, and the other boys were
sent back to their families.
A Young Believer
From
an early age, `Abdullah ibn `Umar thus
demonstrated his keenness to be associated
with the Prophet in all his undertakings. He
had accepted Islam before he was 10 years old
and had made the Hijrah (immigration to
Madinah) with his father and his sister,
Hafsah, who would later become a wife of
Prophet Muhammad.
Before
Uhud, Ibn `Umar was also turned away from the
Battle of Badr, and it was not until the
Battle of the Trench that he and Usamah ibn
Zayd (both now 15 years old) and others of
their age were allowed to join the ranks of
men taking part in digging the trench and also
fighting in the battle.
From
the time of his Hijrah till the time of his
death (more than 70 years later), Ibn `Umar
distinguished himself in the service of Islam.
He was dubbed the good man, son of the good
man, according to Abu Musa Al-Ash`ari. He was
known for his knowledge, humility, generosity,
piety, truthfulness, incorruptibility, and
constancy in performing acts of worship.
Ibn
`Umar learned a great deal from his father,
`Umar ibn Al-Khattab, the distinguished and
close Companion of the Prophet. It was indeed
a great favor bestowed by Almighty Allah upon
both of them, among others, that they could
learn under the greatest teacher of all, the
Messenger of Allah.
A Keen Follower in The
Footsteps of The Prophet
Ibn
`Umar used to observe and pay meticulous
attention to every statement made by the
Prophet and every action he would take in all
different situations and various events. Then,
he would practice what he observed in a
meticulous and devoted manner.
For
example, if Ibn `Umar saw the Prophet perform
Prayer in a particular place, he would later
pray in the very same place. Also, if he saw
the Prophet make a supplication while
standing, he would also supplicate while
standing. Conversely, if he saw him invoke
Almighty Allah while sitting, he would also do
the same.
Moreover,
if, on a journey, he observed that the Prophet
descended from his camel at a particular place
and offered two rak`ahs (units of
Prayer) and it later happened that he passed
through the same route, he would stop just at
the same place and perform two rak`ahs.
In
a particular place in Makkah, he once observed
that the Prophet's camel made two complete
turns before the Prophet dismounted and
performed two rak`ahs. It may well be
that the camel did so involuntarily and that
this was unintended by the Prophet himself.
However, when it happened that Ibn `Umar was
in the same place at a later time, he made his
camel do exactly what the Prophet's camel had
previously done; then he performed two rak`ahs.
Having
noticed Ibn `Umar's devotion to the Prophet,
`A'ishah (may Allah be pleased with her)
remarked, "There was no one who followed
in the footsteps of the Prophet (peace and
blessings be upon him) in the places where he
alighted as Ibn `Umar did."
In
spite of his close observance of the Prophet's
actions, Ibn `Umar was extremely cautious and
even afraid of reporting the Prophet's
sayings. He would only relate a hadith if he
was completely sure that he remembered every
word of it. One of his contemporaries said,
Among
the Companions of the Prophet, no one was
more cautious about adding to or
subtracting from a hadith of the Prophet
than `Abdullah ibn `Umar.
Similarly,
he was extremely cautious and reluctant to
issue religious rulings (fatwas). Once,
someone came to him asking for a judgment on a
particular matter, and thus came his reply,
"I have no knowledge of what you
ask." The man went on his way and Ibn
`Umar clapped his hands in glee and said to
himself, "The son of `Umar was asked
about what he does not know, and he simply
said, 'I do not know!'"
Fearful
as he was of issuing fatwas, Ibn `Umar was
therefore unwilling to be a judge, even though
he was well qualified to be one. The position
of judge was one of the most important and
respectable offices in the Muslim society and
state. It would bring with it honor, glory,
and even riches.
Ibn
`Umar, however, declined this position when it
was offered to him by Caliph `Uthman ibn
`Affan. The reason was not that he
underestimated the position of judge — he
feared to issue erroneous judgments in matters
pertaining to religion. `Uthman ibn `Affan
then made him agree not to disclose his
decision lest it might influence the many
other Companions who had actually assumed the
posts of judges and juristic consultants.
A Prophetic Advice
To
Hafsah (Ibn `Umar's sister), the Prophet once
said,
"What
a blessed man `Abdullah is! Should he
perform Prayer at night, he would be
blessed even more." (Al-Bukhari)
From
that day on, Ibn `Umar never abandoned Qiyam
Al-Layl (Night Vigil Prayer), whether at home
or on journeys. In the stillness of the
nights, he would remember his Lord much,
perform Prayer, recite the Qur'an, and weep.
That is why he was once described as brother
of the night.
Like
his father, he would readily tear, especially
upon hearing or reciting the warning verses of
the Noble Qur'an. `Ubayd ibn `Umayr related
that one day he recited the following verses
to Ibn `Umar:
[How
will it be, then, when We bring from
every people a witness and bring you as
a witness against these? On that day,
those who disbelieved and disobeyed the
Messenger will wish that the earth were
leveled with them, and they shall not
hide any word from Allah]
(An-Nisaa' 4:41–42)
Upon
listening to the verses, Ibn `Umar cried until
his beard was moist with tears. On another
occasion, while he was sitting with some close
friends, he read,
[Woe
to the defrauders, who, when they take
the measure (of their dues) from people
take it fully, but when they measure out
to them or weigh out for them, they
cause them loss. Do not these think that
they shall be raised again, for a Mighty
Day — the day on which (all) humankind
shall stand before the Lord of the
worlds?]
(Al-Mutaffifin
83:1–6)
At
this point, he kept on repeating [The
day on which (all) humankind shall stand
before the Lord of the worlds?]
over and over again and weeping until he
fainted.
Piety,
simplicity, and generosity combined in Ibn
`Umar to make him a person highly esteemed by
the Companions and those who came after them.
He gave generously and did not mind parting
with wealth even if he himself would be in
want as a result.
Wealth: A Servant Not A
Master
He
was a successful and trustworthy trader
throughout his life. In addition to this, he
would receive a generous stipend from Bayt
Al-Mal (the Treasury), which he would often
spend on the poor and those in need. Ayyub ibn
Wa'il Ar-Rasi recounted one incident of Ibn
`Umar's generosity. He said,
One
day, `Abdullah ibn `Umar received 4,000
dirhems and a velvet blanket. The
following day, I saw him in the market
buying fodder for his camel on credit!
Upon
this, I went to his family and asked,
"Didn't Abu `Abdur-Rahman [meaning
`Abdullah ibn `Umar] get 4,000 dirhems and
a blanket yesterday?"
"Yes,
indeed," they replied.
"But
I saw him today in the market buy fodder
for his camel, and he had no money to pay
for it," I then remarked.
"Before
nightfall yesterday, he had parted with it
all. Then, he took the blanket and threw
it over his shoulder and went out. When he
returned, it was not with him. We asked
him about it, and he said that he had
given it to a poor person," they
explained.
Ibn
`Umar encouraged the feeding and helping of
the poor and the needy. Often when he ate,
there were orphans and poor people eating with
him. He rebuked his children for treating the
rich well and ignoring the poor, saying,
"You invite the rich and forsake the
poor."
For
Ibn `Umar, wealth was a servant, not a master.
It was a means serving to attain the
necessities of life, not luxuries. This
attitude and view adopted by him were further
reinforced by his asceticism and simple
lifestyle.
One
day, a friend of his came from Khorasan and
brought him a fine, elegant piece of clothing.
"I have brought this garment for you from
Khorasan," he said, "You would
certainly find delight in it. I suggest that
you take off these coarse clothes and put on
this beautiful garment."
"Show
it to me then," said Ibn `Umar. After
touching it, he asked, "Is it silk?"
"No, it is cotton," replied his
friend. For a little while, Ibn `Umar was
pleased; then with his right hand, he pushed
away the garment and said, "No! I am
worried about myself. I fear that it shall
make me arrogant and boastful. And, indeed,
Almighty Allah does not love any arrogant,
boaster."
Imam
Maymun ibn Mahran related,
I
entered the house of Ibn `Umar and
estimated everything in it, including his
bed, his blanket, his carpet, and
everything else therein. What I found was
not a hundred dirhems' worth.
That
is not because Ibn `Umar was a poor person.
Verily, the fact is quite other: He was rich.
Also, he was not a miser; indeed, he was such
a generous and openhanded man.
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