Ihyaaud Deen An Effort to Revive Deen in Totality
When Hazrat Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) left Madinah Munawwarah to travel to Baitul Muqaddas in order to conquer it, he stopped in Syria to meet the Sahaabah residing there. When the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum) who were residing in Syria and governing over Syria came to meet him, he asked them, “Where is my brother?” The Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) asked, “Who are you referring to?” Hazrat Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) replied, “Abu ‘Ubaidah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu).”
The Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum) informed him that Hazrat Abu Ubaidah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) was soon to arrive to meet him. After a short while, Hazrat Abu ‘Ubaidah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) arrived riding on a simple camel.
When Hazrat Abu Ubaidah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) met Hazrat Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), Hazrat Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) expressed great happiness and joy and immediately embraced him. Hazrat Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) thereafter delivered a khutbah to the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum) and all those who were present there.
During that time, the Sahaabah (radhiyallahu ‘anhum) invited Hazrat Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) to their homes, but Hazrat Abu Ubaidah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) did not invite Hazrat Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) to his home as at that time he did not possess anything to present to Hazrat Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu).
On account of the close relationship Hazrat Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) had with him, Hazrat Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) addressed him saying, “O Abu Ubaidah! (From the Sahaabah,) every leader of the army has invited me to his home besides you.” Hazrat Abu Ubaidah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) said to him, “O Ameerul Mu-mineen! If you visit my home, then most certainly it will bring tears to your eyes.”
However, Hazrat Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) wished to visit the home of this great Sahaabi, hence, Hazrat Abu Ubaidah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) invited Hazrat Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) to his home as his guest.
When Hazrat Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) entered his home, he was surprised to see that the only things he possessed were a few pieces of dry bread, a water bag, a sword, a shield, a saddle bag, and a saddle blanket which he also used as his bedding and pillow when sleeping at night.
When Hazrat Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) saw this, he began to weep and then hugged Hazrat Abu Ubaidah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) saying, “Really, you are my brother. I find that all the companions whom I have met, the world has affected them (to a certain extent, as they have taken part of the worldly items to benefit from) besides you.” Hazrat Abu Ubaidah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) replied saying, “Didn’t I tell you, O Ameerul Mumineen, that if you visit my home you will tear (on account of not finding the wealth of the world in it)?”
According to one narration, Hazrat Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) then said to him, “Why don’t you at least keep some worldly goods or items to benefit from?”
However, Hazrat Abu Ubaidah (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) replied saying, “O Ameerul Mumineen! This much is sufficient for my journey in this world until I reach my grave.” (Al-Iktifaa 3/296)
