Umar ibn Al-Khattab

Bismillah.

I certainly can not do justice, or even attempt to do justice, to Umar (may Allah be pleased with him). Instead, I'll share a few stories about Umar and inshaAllah they will act as reminders for ourselves and as motivators to learn more about the true heroes:

Abu al-Ashhab said, “Umar passed by a garbage dump and stopped there, and it was as if his companions were bothered by it [the smell]. He said, “This is this world of yours which you are so eager for and you weep over”.

Allah said: “You received your good things in the life of the world…” (46:20) Umar said: “I thought about the matter, and I realized that if I wanted this world, that I would damage my prospects in the Hereafter, and if I wanted the Hereafter that I would damage my prospects in this world. And, if this is the case, I would rather my prospects be damaged in this transient world”

When Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) saw a person at the slaughter house buying meat enough for two days he said: “Why don’t you do without for the sake of your neighbor and cousin?”

[A letter] From Umar ibn al-Khattab to so and so. Peace be upon you. I praise Allah beside Whom there is no other god. In the Name of Allah, the most Gracious, the most Merciful. “Ha. Mim. The revelation of this Book is from Allah, Exalted in Power, Full of Knowledge. Who forgives sin, accepts repentance, is strict in punishment, and hath a long reach (in all things). there is no god but He: to Him is the final goal.” (40:1-3) Umar sealed the letter and gave it to a messenger, who was going to deliver the message to a person who began to drink alcohol. The messenger of this letter was directed by Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) to be give the letter only when the recipient was sober. Umar commanded those who were with him in Madinah to pray for the person in question. When the letter reached the person he read it and said: “My Lord has promised to forgive me, and has warned me of His punishment.” He repeated this until he began to weep. From this day he gave up alcohol and stayed away from it. Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) heard of this person’s reaction to his letter and he said, “This is what you should do. If you see that one of you has slipped, correct him, pray for him and do not help the Shaytan against him.”

May Allah reward Umar, forgive him and grant him Jennah. Amin.