Hazrat Umayr ibn Sa’d al-Ansari (RA)
Hazrat Umayr ibn Sa’d
(RA) became an orphan at an early age. His father died leaving him and his
mother poor and deprived. His mother in the long run married again, to a rich man
named Hazrat Julas ibn Suwayd in Madinah. He belonged to a powerful tribe of
al-Aws. Hazrat Umayr (RA) was well looked after by Hazrat Julas and loved him.
Indeed he forgot that he was an orphan. As Hazrat Umayr (RA) grew older, Hazrat
Julas affection and love for him grew. Hazrat Julas would marvel at the
intelligence he displayed in everything he did and at the honesty and
trustworthiness which characterized his behavior.
Hazrat Umayr (RA) embraced
Muslim at the age of ten. Faith found in his pure heart a secure forte and
penetrated deeply into his being. Despite his youthfulness, He (RA) would never
delay in performing the prayer behind the noble Prophet (SAW). Often He would
be found in the first row of worshippers, hoping for the reward promised those
who attend mosques early and sit in the foremost rows. His mother was
particularly pleased whenever she saw him going to and coming from the mosque,
sometimes with her husband and sometimes alone.
Test of His faith in Tabuk expedition
In the 9th year after the
Hijrah, the Prophet (SAW) announced his intention to lead an expedition to
Tabuk against the Byzantine forces. He ordered the Muslims to get themselves
ready and make the necessary preparations. Usually when the Prophet (saw)
wanted to go on a military campaign he would not give precise details of his
objective or he would set off in a direction opposite to his intended
destination. This was for security purposes and to confound the enemy's
intelligence service. This he did not do in announcing the expedition to Tabuk.
This was perhaps because of the great distance of Tabuk from Madinah, the
enormous difficulties expected and the overwhelming strength of the enemy.
The preparations needed
for this expedition had to be broad. Summer season had set in and the extreme
heat produced dreaminess and indolence, and the date crops needed harvesting,
the Muslims responded enthusiastically to the call of the Prophet (SAW) and poised
themselves in preparing for the difficult campaign ahead. There was however a
group of Munafiqeen or hypocrites who outwardly had declared their acceptance
of Islam but inwardly did not believe in it. They were critical of the
expedition and tried to weaken the resolve of the Muslims. They even ridiculed
the Prophet in their private gatherings. Disbelief and hatred remained in their
hearts.
One day, shortly before
the army was due to set out, the young Hazrat Umayr ibn Sad (RA) returned home
after performing prayer in the mosque. He was all eager with excitement. He had
just witnessed the great generosity and the spontaneous spirit of sacrifice
which the Muslims displayed in preparing for the expedition. He had seen women
of the Muhajirin and the Ansar donating their jewelry and their ornaments to
buy provisions and equipment for the army. He had seen Hazrat Uthman ibn Affan
(RA) handing over a purse containing a thousand gold dinars to the Prophet
(SAW) and Hazrat Abdur Rahman ibn Awf carrying on his shoulders two hundred
awqiyyah of gold and placing it before the noble Prophet (SAW). Indeed he had
even seen a man trying to sell his bed in order to purchase a sword for
himself.
At home, He (RA) described
all these moving and inspiring scenes. He was surprised at slow response of Hazrat
Julas in preparing for the expedition with the Prophet (SAW) and at his delay
in contributing especially since he was quite rich and could afford to give
generously. Hazrat Umayr (RA) felt that he had to arouse his passion or stir
his sense of generosity and manliness. So with great enthusiasm he related what
he had seen and heard at the mosque particularly the case of those believers
who, with great fervor, had come to enlist themselves in the army and were
turned away by the Prophet because there was not sufficient means of transport.
He related how sad and disappointed these people were at not realizing their
desire to go on the path of Jihad and sacrifice for the sake of Islam. Julas'
responded sharply and with shocking. "If Muhammad is true in claiming that
he is a Prophet ," he shouted angrily, "then we are all worse than
donkeys." Hazrat Umayr (RA) was shocked. He could not believe what he had
heard. He did not think that a man as intelligent as Julas could have uttered
such words.
A host of questions paced
through his mind and he immediately began to consider what action he should
take. Hazrat Umayr (RA) had to choose between preserving this close
relationship with Julas on the one hand and dealing with his treachery and
hypocrisy on the other. The choice was painful but his decision was swift. He
turned to Julas and said:
"By God, O Julas,
there is no one on the face of the earth, after Muhammad ibn Abdullah, dearer
to me than you. You are the closest of men to me and you have been most
generous to me. But you have uttered words which, if I should mention them will
expose and humiliate you. If I conceal them, however, I will be a traitor to my
trust and destroy myself and my religion. I will, therefore, go to the
Messenger of God, peace be upon him, and tell him what you have said. It is up
to you to clarify your position." The young Umayr went to the mosque and
told the Prophet what he had heard from Julas. The Prophet asked him to stay
with him and sent one of his companions to summon Julas. Julas came, greeted
the Prophet and sat in front of him. The Prophet (SAW) promptly asked him:
"What did you say that Umayr ibn Sad heard?" and he mentioned what
Umayr had reported to him.
"He has lied against
me, O Messenger of God, and has fabricated this. I have not uttered anything of
the sort" asserted Julas. The companions of the Prophet looked alternately
at Julas and Umayr hoping to detect on their faces what their hearts concealed.
They began to mutter among themselves. One of those in whose hearts was the
disease of hypocrisy asserted: "The youth is a nuisance. He is bent on
defaming someone who has been good to him." Others replied: "Not at
all. He is a youth who grew up in obedience to God. The expressions on his face
attest to his truthfulness." The Prophet (SAW) turned to Hazrat Umayr (RA)
and saw his blushing face and the tears streaming down his cheeks. Hazrat Umayr
(RA) prayed:
"O Lord, send down a
revelation on Your Prophet (SAW) to verify what I have told him." Hazrat Julas meanwhile continued to defend what he
had said: "What I have told you, O Messenger of God, is certainly the
truth. If you wish, make us swear an oath in your presence. I swear by God that
I did not say anything of the sort that Umayr reported to you." As the
companions turned to Umayr to hear what he had to say, they saw the Prophet
come under a special mood of serenity and they realized that he was being
inspired. Immediately there was complete silence as they gazed intently at the
Prophet in anticipation. At this point, fear and terror gripped Julas and he
began to look tremulously at Umayr. The Prophet, having received the
revelation, recited the words of God:
"(The hypocrites)
swear by God that they have said (nothing wrong); yet most certainly they have
uttered a saying which is a denial of the truth, and have thus denied the truth
after having professed their self-surrender to God; for they were aiming at something
which was beyond their reach. And they could find no fault (with the Faith)
save that God had enriched them and (caused) His Apostle to enrich them out of
His bounty. Hence, if they repent, it will be for their own good; but if they
turn away, God will cause them to suffer a grievous suffering in this world and
in the life to come and they will find no helper on earth, and none to give
them succour." (The Quran, Surah at-Taubah, 9:74).
Hazrat Julas trembled
with fear at what he heard and in his anguish, could hardly speak. Finally, he
turned to the Prophet (SAW) and said: "I do repent, O Messenger of God. I
do repent. Umayr told the truth and I lied. I beg God to accept my
repentance..."
The Prophet (SAW) turned
to the young Umayr. Tears of joy moistened his youthful face, radiant with the
light of faith. With his noble hand, the Prophet (SAW) lovingly took his ear
and said: "Young man, your ear has been true in what it heard and your
Lord has confirmed the truth of what you said." Hazrat Julas returned to
the fold of Islam and was a good and faithful Muslim thereafter. The companions
realized that by his generosity and good treatment of Hazrat Umayr (RA), he had
reformed. Whenever Hazrat Umayr was mentioned, Hazrat Julas would say: "My
God reward Umayr with goodness on my behalf. He certainly saved me from kufr
and preserved my neck from the fire of hell." Hazrat Umayr grew up and
distinguished himself in later years with the same devotion and firmness which
he had shown in early life.
Appointed as governor of Hims in Syria
During the caliphate of Hazrat
Umar ibn al-Khattab (RA), the people of Hims in Syria complained much and
bitterly of the governors appointed to the city even though Hazrat Umar (RA) in
particular used to pay special attention to the type of men he chose as his
provincial governors. In selecting a governor, Hazrat Umar (RA) would say:
"I want a man who when he is among the people and is not their Ameer,
should not behave as their Ameer, and when he is among them as an Ameer, he
should behave as one of them."I want a governor who will not distinguish
himself from the people by the clothes he wears, or the food he eats or the
house he lives in." "I want a governor who would establish prayer
among the people, treat them equitably and with justice and does not close his
door when they come to him in need."
In the light of the
complaints of the people of Hims and going by his own criteria for a good
governor, Hazrat Umar ibn al-Khattab (RA) decided to appoint Hazrat Umayr ibn
Sad as governor of the region. This was despite the fact that Hazrat Umayr (RA)
at that time was at the head of a Muslim army traversing the Arabian peninsula
and the region of great Syria, liberating towns, destroying enemy
fortifications, pacifying the tribes and establishing masjids wherever he went.
Hazrat Umayr (RA) accepted the appointment as governor of Hims reluctantly
because he preferred nothing better than Jihad in the path of God. He was still
quite young, in his early twenties. When Hazrat Umayr (RA) reached Hims he
called the inhabitants to a vast congregational prayer. When the prayer was
over he addressed them. He began by praising and giving thanks to God and
sending peace and blessings on His Prophet Muhammad. Then he said:
"O people! Islam is
a mighty fortress and a sturdy gate. The fortress of Islam is justice and its
gate is truth. If you destroy the fortress and demolish the gate you would
undermine the defences of this religion. "Islam will remain strong so long
as the Sultan or central authority is strong. The strength of the Sultan
neither comes from flogging with the whip, nor killing with the sword but from
ruling with justice and holding fast to truth." Umayr spent a full year in
Hims during which, it is said, and he did not write a single letter to the Amir
al-Momineen. Nor did he send any taxes to the central treasury in Madinah,
Call from the Khalifah Hazrat Umar (RA)
Hazrat Umar (RA) was
always concerned about the performance of his governors and was afraid that
positions of authority would corrupt them. As far as he was concerned, there
was no one who was free from sin and corrupting influences apart from the noble
Prophet (SAW). He summoned his secretary and said: "Write to Hazrat Umayr
ibn Sad and say to him: "When the letter of the Amir al-Momineen reaches
you, leave Hims and come to him and bring with you whatever taxes you have
collected from the Muslims."
Hazrat Umayr (RA)
received the letter. He took his food pouch and hung his eating, drinking and
washing utensils over his shoulder. He took his spear and left Hims and the
governorship behind him. He set off for Madinah on foot. As Hazrat Umayr (RA)
approached Madinah, he was badly sunburnt, his body was gaunt and his hair had
grown long. His appearance showed all the signs of the long and arduous
journey. Hazrat Umar (RA), on seeing him, was astonished. What's wrong with
you, Umayr?" he asked with deep concern. "Nothing is wrong with me, O
Amir al-Momineen," replied Hazrat Umayr (RA). "I am fine and healthy,
praise be to God, and I carry with me all (my) worldly possessions."
"And what worldly possessions have you got?" asked Hazrat Umar (RA)
thinking that he was carrying money for the Bayt al-mal or treasury of the
Muslims."
"I have my pouch in
which I put my food provisions. I have this vessel from which I eat and which I
use for washing my hair and clothes. And I have this cup for making wudu and
drinking..." "Did you come on foot?" asked Hazrat Umar (RA).
"Yes, O Amir al-Momineen." "Weren't you given from your Amir ship
an animal to ride on?" "They did not give me one and I did not ask
them."
"And where is the
amount you brought for the Bayt al mal?" "I didn't bring
anything." "And why not?" "When I arrived at Hims,"
said Hazrat Umayr, "I called the righteous persons of the town to a meeting
and gave them the responsibility of collecting the taxes. Whenever they
collected any amounts of money I would seek their advice and spent it (all) on
those who were deserving among them."
At this point, Hazrat Umar
(RA) turned to his secretary and said: "Renew the appointment of Hazrat Umayr
to the governorship of Hims." "Oh, come now," protested Hazrat Umayr
(RA). "That is something which I do not desire. I shall not be a governor
for you nor for anyone after you, O Amir al-Momineen." With that Hazrat Umayr
(RA) asked the Khalifah's permission to go to his village on the outskirts of
Madinah to live there with his family. This Hazrat Umar (RA) granted.
Hazrat Umar (RA) sent a bag with a hundred
dinars for Hazrat Umayr
A long time passed since Hazrat
Umayr had gone to his village and Hazrat Umar (RA) decided to put him through a
test to make sure of his circumstances. He said to one of his trusted aides
called al-Harith:
"Harith, go to Umayr
ibn Sad and stay with him as though you were a guest. If you see on him any
signs of luxury or good living, return quietly as you went. If, however, you
find him in straitened circumstances give him these dinars." Hazrat Umar
(RA) handed Harith a bag with a hundred dinars. Al-Harith set out for Umayr's
village and found his home after making enquiries. "As-salamu alaykum wa
rahmatullah," he greeted Hazrat Umayr. "Wa alaykum as-salam wa
rahmatullah i wa barakatuhu," replied Hazrat Umayr and asked, "From
where have you come?" "From aI-Madinah." "How are the
Muslims there?" "Fine." "How is the Amir al-Momineen?"
"He is fine and doing well." "Has he applied the hudud
laws?" "Yes. He carried out the sentence of punishment on his own son
for committing the crime of adultery. His son died as a result of the
punishment." Al-Harith continued: "O Allah, help Umar. I only know
that he has a great love for you." Al-Harith stayed as Umayr's guest for
three nights. On each night he was given only a small flat piece of barley
bread. On the third day a local man said to Hazrat Harith (RA): "Umayr and
his family are suffering great hardship. They only have these loaves which they
have given you in preference to themselves. They are hungry and in great distress.
Hazrat Harith (RA) went to Hazrat Umayr (RA) and gave him the bag of money.
"What is this?" asked Hazrat Umayr (RA).
"The Amir al-Momineen
sent it to you." "Return it to him. Give him my greetings of peace
and tell him that Umayr has no need of it." "Take it, O Umayr,"
shouted his wife who was listening to the conversation between her husband and
his guest. "If you need it, you can spend it. If not, you can spend it in
other appropriate ways, for those in need here are many." When al-Harith
heard what she had said, he placed the dinars in front of Hazrat Umayr (RA) and
left. Hazrat Umayr (RA) took the money and placed it in a small bag. He only
went to sleep that night after he had distributed the money to the needy and especially to the children of those who
had been martyred. Al-Harith returned to Madinah and was questioned by Umar
al-Faruq. "What have you seen, Harith?" "A very distressing
situation, O Amir al-Momineen." "Did you give him the dinars?"
"Yes, O Amir al-Momineen." "What did he do with them?"
"I don't know. But I think that he did not keep a single dirham of it for
himself." Al-Faruq wrote to Umayr: "When you receive this letter, I
do not put it down until you come to me." Umayr proceeded straightaway to
Madinah. Hazrat Umar (RA) greeted and welcomed him and proceeded to question
him. "What did you do with the dinars, Umayr?" "You have no
responsibility for the money after you have donated it to me." "I demand
you to tell me what you did with it." "I stored it away for myself so
that I could benefit from it a day when neither wealth nor children will be of
any avail." Tears came to Hazrat Umar's eyes as he said: "I swear
that you are one of those who are hard against themselves even when they are in
dire need." And he ordered a camel load of food and two garments to be
given to Hazrat Umayr (RA) who protested:
"About the food, we
do not need it, O Amir al-Momineen. I left two saas of barley with my family
and when we have finished that, Allah- Great and Exalted is He - will provide.
As for the two garments, I will take them for (my wife). Her dress is now in rags
and she is almost naked." Not long after that meeting with Hazrat Umar
al-Faruq (RA), Hazrat Umayr ibn Sad (RA) passed away to his Lord. He was not
weighted down with the cares and burdens of the world and he was concerned to
provide plenty of provisions for the hereafter. Hazrat Umar (RA) received the
news of his death with a heavy heart and said in deep sorrow: "I have
wished to have men like Hazrat Umayr ibn Sad whose help I could seek in dealing
with the affairs of Muslims."
May God bless His soul!