on his usual rounds towards Harrah (a suburb of Madinah) with his
slave Aslam, when he saw a distant fire in the desert. He said, "There
seems to be a camp. Perhaps, it is a caravan that could not enter the
town due to night fall. Let's go and look after them and arrange for
their protection during the night."
When he reached there, hefound a woman and some children. The children
were crying. The woman had a pan of water over the fire. Hadhrat Umar
(Radhiyallaho Anho) greeted her with salaam and, with her permission,
went near her. (The woman didn't recognize that it was Umar).
Umar, "Why are these children crying?"
The Woman, "Because they are hungry."
Umar, "What is in the pan?"
The Woman, "Only water to soothe the children, so that they may go to
sleep in the belief that food is being prepared for them. Ah! Allah
will judge between Umar (Radhiyallaho Anho) and me, on the Day of
Judgment, for neglecting me in my distress."
Umar (weeping), "May Allah have mercy on you! How can Umar know of
your distress?"
The Woman, "When he is our Amir, he must keep himself informed about us."
Hadhrat Umar (Radhiyallaho Anho) returned to the town and straight
away went to the Baitul Mal (House of Charity) to fill a sack with
flour, dates, fat, and clothes, and also drew some money. When the
sack was ready, he said to Aslam, "Now put this sack on my back,
Aslam."
Aslam, "No please, Amir-ul-Momineen! I shall carry this sack."
Umar refused to listen to Aslam, even on his persistent requests to
allow him to carry the sack, and remarked,"What! Will you carry my
load on the Day of Judgment? I must carry this bag, for it is I who
would be questioned (in the Hereafter) about this woman."
Aslam most reluctantly placed the bag on Umar's (Radhiyallaho Anho)
back, who carried it with a swiftpace right to the woman's tent. Aslam
followed at hisheels. He put a little flour and some dates and fat in
the pan and began to stir. He blew (with his mouth) into the fire to
kindle it.
Aslam says, "I saw the smoke passing through histhick beard."
After some time, the pottage was ready. He himself served it to the
family. When they had eaten to their fill, he madeover to them the
little thatwas left for their next meal. The children were very happy
after their meal and began to play about merrily.
The woman felt very grateful and remarked,"May Allah reward you for
your kindness! In fact you deserve to take the place of Khalifah
instead of Umar."
Umar consoled her and said, "When you come to see the Khalifah, you
will find me there."
He sat for a while at a place close by and kept onwatching the
children. He then returned to Madinah. On his way back, he said to
Aslam, "Do you know why I sat there, Aslam? I had seen them weeping
indistress. I liked to see them laughing and happy for some time."
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