Ihyaaud Deen An Effort to Revive Deen in Totality
The incident below highlights the highest level of respect which Hazrat ‘Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) would show to the blessed family of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam):
During the period of his khilaafah, Hazrat ‘Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) made mashwarah with the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum) and consulted them in regard to how the wealth of the Bayt-ul-Maal should be distributed among the Muslims.
Hazrat ‘Ali (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) suggested, “Every year, you should distribute all the money of the Bayt-ul-Maal to the Muslims and you should not retain any wealth in the Bayt-ul-Maal.”
Hazrat ‘Uthmaan (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) suggested, “I see that there is abundant wealth in the Bayt-ul-Maal which is sufficient for all the people. However, if a record is not kept of those who have been given wealth and those who have not been given any wealth, I fear that there will be confusion and matters will get out of hand.”
Waleed bin Hishaam bin Mugheerah then proposed, “O Ameer-ul-Mu’mineen! When I went to the land of Shaam, I observed that their rulers had compiled registers and grouped their soldiers into units. Hence, you should also compile a register and group the mujaahideen into units.”
Hazrat ‘Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) accepted this proposal and sent for Hazrat ‘Aqeel bin Abi Taalib (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), Hazrat Makhramah bin Nawfal (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) and Hazrat Jubair bin Mut‘im (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), as these three Sahaabah were among the Quraish who were the most knowledgeable regarding the people’s lineage. Hazrat ‘Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) then instructed them saying, “Write the names of the people according to their deeni rank and position. Those who are higher in rank and position will receive a greater share.”
Accordingly, they first wrote the names of the Banu Haashim, as they were the blessed family of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam). Thereafter, they recorded the family members of Hazrat Abu Bakr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), as he was the first Khalifah. They then wrote the names of Hazrat ‘Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) and his family members, as he was the Khalifah after Hazrat Abu Bakr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu).
When Hazrat ‘Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) saw the sequence in which they had written the names, he said, “By Allah! I wish that I was worthy of being in the position where you have placed me in the register! However, I feel that instead of compiling the register and distributing the wealth according to the sequence of Khilaafah, you should compile the register according to the relatives of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) and follow the sequence of those who are more closely related to him. In this manner, write my name where Allah has placed me, according to my relationship with Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam).”
When the Banu ‘Adiyy, who were the family of Hazrat ‘Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), learnt of this, they were displeased and came to him and said, “In our opinion, your exalted position is such that you could be regarded as the Khalifah of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam), or at least as the Khalifah of Hazrat Abu Bakr (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), and he was the Khalifah of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam). Since this is your esteemed status, you should keep your position and the position of your relatives third on the register, in the manner these three Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum) had initially done when compiling the register (in other words, there is no need for you to make the register follow the sequence of the relatives of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) but rather it should be prepared according to the sequence of Khilaafah so that you and your family come third).”
Hearing this, Hazrat ‘Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) exclaimed in disapproval, “What an excellent suggestion you have given me! O Banu ‘Adiyy! You wish to use my back to stand on and eat from the Bayt-ul-Maal more wealth so that I can lose my good deeds for your sake! No, by Allah, you must wait for your turn to come in the register, even if your names are entered at the end of the register!”
From this incident, it is abundantly clear that Hazrat ‘Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) always gave preference to the mubaarak family of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam) over himself and his family.
(Ibnu Sa’d 3/224)
