[Machine] It may be amongst the people someone who is more devout in prayer and fasting than 'Umar. Perhaps I have seen a man more distinguished in this regard than 'Umar, but I cannot say for sure. When he would pray the last night prayer, he would prostrate himself in his mosque and supplicate and weep until his eyes were overwhelmed. Then he would regain his composure and supplicate and weep until his eyes were overwhelmed again. He was like this until morning.  

أَنَّهُ قَدْ يَكُونُ مِنَ النَّاسِ مَنْ هُوَ أَكْثَرُ صَلَاةً وَصَوْمًا مِنْ عُمَرَ فَإِمَّا أَنْ أَكُونَ رَأَيْتُ رَجُلًا أَشَدَّ فَرَقًا مِنْ رَبِّهِ ﷻ مِنْ عُمَرَ فَإِنِّي لَمْ أَرَهُ كَانَ إِذَا صَلَّى الْعِشَاءَ الْآخِرَةَ أَلْقَى نَفْسَهُ فِي مَسْجِدِهِ فَيَدْعُو وَيَبْكِي حَتَّى تَغْلِبَهُ عَيْنُهُ ثُمَّ يَنْتَبِهُ فَيَدْعُو وَيَبْكِي حَتَّى تَغْلِبَهُ عَيْنُهُ فَهُوَ كَذَلِكَ حَتَّى يُصْبِحَ  

[Machine] I was sent by Ibn Ayyash bin Abi Rabia to Umar bin Abdul Aziz for his needs. I entered upon him and there was a scribe with him who was writing. I greeted him and he replied with greetings. Then, I said, "Peace be upon you, O Commander of the Faithful, and the mercy of Allah." He said, "O son of Ziyad, we do not deny the first thing you said." The scribe was reading to him the grievances that came from Basra. Then, he told me to sit, so I sat on a step near the door while he listened to the scribe reading. Umar was sighing heavily. When he finished, he dismissed everyone in the room until only I and him were present. He sat in front of me and placed his hands on my knees. Then, he said, "O son of Abi Ziyad, have you worn this armor?" I said, "Yes, I have a padded armor made of wool and I have rested from what we were in." Then, he asked me about the righteous men and women of Madinah, and he asked me about the matters he had commanded them in Madinah, and I informed him. Then, he said, "O son of Abi Ziyad, don't you see what has happened to me?" I said, "Rejoice, O Commander of the Faithful, for I hope good for you." He said, "Never, never." Then, he cried until I also mourned for him. I said, "O Commander of the Faithful, some of your actions are praiseworthy, for I hope good for you." He said, "Never, never. I neither insult nor am I insulted, I neither strike nor am I struck, I neither harm nor am I harmed." He said, and then he cried until I also mourned for him. So, I stayed until he fulfilled my needs, and he wrote to my master asking him to sell me, but he refused and then freed me.  

أَرْسَلَنِي ابْنُ عَيَّاشِ بْنِ أَبِي رَبِيعَةَ إِلَى عُمَرَ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْعَزِيزِ فِي حَوَائِجَ لَهُ فَدَخَلْتُ عَلَيْهِ وَعِنْدَهُ كَاتِبٌ يَكْتُبُ فَقُلْتُ السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكُمْ فَقَالَ وَعَلَيْكُمُ السَّلَامُ ثُمَّ انْتَهَيْتُ فَقُلْتُ السَّلَامُ عَلَيْكَ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ وَرَحْمَةُ اللَّهِ فَقَالَ يَا ابْنَ زِيَادٍ إِنَّا لَسْنَا نُنْكِرُ الْأُولَى الَّتِي قُلْتَ وَالْكَاتِبُ يَقْرَأُ عَلَيْهِ مَظَالِمَ جَاءَتْ مِنَ الْبَصْرَةِ فَقَالَ لِي اجْلِسْ فَجَلَسْتُ عَلَى أُسْكُفَّةِ الْبَابِ وَهُوَ يَقْرَأُ عَلَيْهِ وَعُمَرُ يَتَنَفَّسُ الصَّعْدَاءَ فَلَمَّا فَرَغَ أَخْرَجَ مَنْ كَانَ فِي الْبَيْتِ حَتَّى وَصِيفًا كَانَ فِيهِ ثُمَّ قَامَ يَمْشِي إِلَيَّ حَتَّى جَلَسَ بَيْنَ يَدَيَّ وَوَضَعَ يَدَيْهِ عَلَى رُكْبَتِي ثُمَّ قَالَ يَا ابْنَ أَبِي زِيَادٍ اسْتَدْفَأْتَ فِي مِدْرَعَتِكَ هَذِهِ؟ ‍‍ قَالَ وَعَليَّ مِدْرَعَةٌ مِنْ صُوفٍ وَاسْتَرَحْتَ مِمَّا نَحْنُ فِيهِ؟ ثُمَّ سَأَلَنِي عَنْ صُلَحَاءِ أَهْلِ الْمَدِينَةِ رِجَالِهِمْ وَنِسَائِهِمْ فَمَا تَرَكَ مِنْهُمْ أَحَدًا إِلَّا سَأَلَنِي عَنْهُ وَسَأَلَنِي عَنْ أُمُورٍ كَانَ أَمَرَ بِهَا بِالْمَدِينَةِ فَأَخْبَرْتُهُ ثُمَّ قَالَ يَا ابْنَ أَبِي زِيَادٍ أَمَا تَرَى مَا وَقَعْتُ فِيهِ قَالَ قُلْتُ أَبْشِرْ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ إِنِّي لَأَرْجُو لَكَ خَيْرًا قَالَ هَيْهَاتَ هَيْهَاتَ ثُمَّ بَكَى حَتَّى جَعَلْتُ أَرْثِي لَهُ قَالَ قُلْتُ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ بَعْضُ مَا تَصْنَعُ فَإِنِّي أَرْجُو لَكَ خَيْرًا قَالَ هَيْهَاتَ هَيْهَاتَ أَشْتِمُ وَلَا أُشْتَمُ وَأَضْرِبُ وَلَا أُضْرَبُ وَأُوذِي وَلَا أُوذَى قَالَ ثُمَّ بَكَى حَتَّى جَعَلْتُ أَرْثِي لَهُ فَأَقَمْتُ حَتَّى قَضَى حَوَائِجِي وَكَتَبَ إِلَى مَوْلَايَ يَسْأَلُهُ أَنْ يَبِيعَنِي مِنْهُ ثُمَّ أَخْرَجَ مِنْ تَحْتِ فِرَاشِهِ عِشْرِينَ دِينَارًا فَقَالَ: اسْتَعِنْ بِهَذِهِ فَإِنَّهُ لَوْ كَانَ لَكَ فِي الْفَيْءِ حَقٌّ أَعْطَيْنَاكَ إِنَّمَا عَبْدٌ، فَأَبَيْتُ أَنْ آخُذَهَا فَقَالَ: إِنَّمَا هِيَ مِنْ نَفَقَتِي فَلَمْ يَزَلْ بِي حَتَّى أَخَذْتُهَا وَكَتَبَ إِلَى مَوْلَايَ يَسْأَلُهُ أَنْ يَبِيعَنِي مِنْهُ فَأَبَى وَأَعْتَقَنِي  

[Machine] To say "O Allah, keep us safe, keep us safe."  

أَنْ يَقُولَ «اللَّهُمَّ سَلِّمْ سَلِّمْ»  

[Machine] "If you were like that, you wouldn't have said it."  

«لَوْ كُنْتَ كَذَلِكَ لَمْ تَقُلْهُ»  

[Machine] About the people, Allah loves those who do good. [Al-Imran 134]  

عَنِ النَّاسِ وَاللَّهُ يُحِبُّ الْمُحْسِنِينَ} [آل عمران 134]  

[Machine] "To pursue what you desire of justice, for by Allah I do not care even if it overwhelms me and you. The power lies with you in that. He said, 'Oh my son, I am only engaging people in the difficult exercise. I do not want to revive the matter of justice and delay it until I bring forth greed from their worldly desires, so they would run away from this and settle for this.'"  

أَنْ تَمْضِيَ لِمَا تُرِيدُ مِنَ الْعَدْلِ فَوَاللَّهِ مَا كُنْتُ أُبَالِي وَلَوْ غَلَتْ بِي وَبِكَ الْقُدُورُ فِي ذَلِكَ قَالَ «يَا بُنَيَّ إِنَّمَا أَنَا أُرَوِّضُ النَّاسَ رِيَاضَةَ الصَّعْبِ إِنَّى لَا أُرِيدُ أَنْ أُحْيِيَ الْأَمْرَ مِنَ الْعَدْلِ فَأُوَخِّرَهُ حَتَّى أَخْرُجَ مَعَهُ طَمَعًا مِنْ طَمَعِ الدُّنْيَا فَيَنْفِرُوا مِنْ هَذِهِ وَيَسْكُنُوا لِهَذِهِ»  

[Machine] Maimon ibn Mihraan said, "I have never seen three individuals better in a house than Umar ibn Abdul Aziz, his son Abdul Malik, and their servant Muzahim."  

قَالَ مَيْمُونُ بْنُ مِهْرَانَ «مَا رَأَيْتُ ثَلَاثَةً فِي بَيْتٍ خَيْرًا مِنْ عُمَرَ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْعَزِيزِ وَابْنِهِ عَبْدِ الْمَلِكِ وَمَوْلَاهُ مُزَاحِمٍ»  

[Machine] When they buried him and leveled the earth on top of him, they made his grave between him and the qibla, then they stood up and the people surrounded him, and he said, "May Allah have mercy on you, my son. Indeed, you have been obedient to your father. By Allah, ever since Allah gave you to me, I have always been pleased with you. And by Allah, I have never seen anyone better than you nor more fortunate than me in having you since the day I placed you in this house that Allah has made for you. May Allah have mercy on you, forgive your sins, reward you for your good deeds, and grant you the intercession of every intercessor, whether present or absent. We are satisfied with Allah's decree and we accept His command. Praise be to Allah, the Lord of all worlds. Then he departed."  

لَمَّا دَفَنَهُ وَسَوَّى عَلَيْهِ التُّرَابَ وَسَوَّوْا قَبْرَهُ بِالْأَرْضِ وَوَضَعُوا عِنْدَهُ خَشَبَتَيْنِ مِنْ زَيْتُونٍ إِحْدَاهُمَا عِنْدَ رَأْسِهِ وَالْأُخْرَى عِنْدَ رِجْلَيْهِ ثُمَّ جُعِلَ قَبْرُهُ بَيْنَهُ وَبَيْنَ الْقِبْلَةِ فَاسْتَوَى قَائِمًا وَأَحَاطَ بِهِ النَّاسُ فَقَالَ «رَحِمَكَ اللَّهُ يَا بُنَيَّ فَقَدْ كُنْتَ بَرًّا بِأَبِيكَ وَاللَّهِ مَا زِلْتُ مُنْذُ وَهَبَكَ اللَّهُ لِي مَسْرُورًا بِكَ وَلَا وَاللَّهِ مَا كُنْتُ قَطُّ أَشَدَّ بِكَ وَلَا أَزْجَى لِحَظِّي مِنَ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى فِيكَ مُنْذُ وَضَعْتُكَ فِي هَذَا الْمَنْزِلِ الَّذِي صَيَّرَكَ اللَّهُ إِلَيْهِ فَرَحِمَكَ اللَّهُ وَغَفَرَ لَكَ ذَنْبَكَ وَجَزَاكَ بِأَحْسَنِ عَمَلِكَ وَرَحِمَ كُلَّ شَافِعٍ يَشْفَعُ لَكَ بِخَيْرٍ مِنْ شَاهِدٍ أَوْ غَائِبٍ رَضِينَا بِقَضَاءِ اللَّهِ وَسَلَّمْنَا لِأَمْرِهِ وَالْحَمْدُ لِلَّهِ رَبِّ الْعَالَمِينَ ثُمَّ انْصَرَفَ»  

[Machine] 'Umar ibn 'Abdul 'Aziz said, "Indeed, I often refrain from speaking excessively out of fear of arrogance."  

قَالَ عُمَرُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الْعَزِيزِ «إِنِّي لَأَدَعُ كَثِيرًا مِنَ الْكَلَامِ مَخَافَةَ الْمُبَاهَاةِ»  

[Machine] "Do you think it would be appropriate for me to make a commitment to him?" asked the person.

"No," replied the "Amir al-Mu'minin" (Commander of the Faithful).

"Why do you praise him then?" the person asked.

"I am afraid that I have been blinded by something in him that a parent is blinded by when it comes to their child," the "Amir al-Mu'minin" answered.  

لَهُ مَسْلَمَةُ يَا أَمِيرَ الْمُؤْمِنِينَ أَرَأَيْتَ لَوْ بَقِيَ تَعْهَدُ إِلَيْهِ؟ قَالَ لَا قَالَ وَلِمَ وَأَنْتَ تُثْنِي عَلَيْهِ هَذَا الثَّنَاءَ؟ قَالَ «إِنِّي أَخَافُ أَنْ يَكُونَ قَدْ زُيِّنَ فِي عَيْنِي مِنْ أَمْرِهِ مَا يُزَيَّنُ فِي عَيْنِ الْوَالِدِ مِنَ الْوَلَدِ»  

[Machine] Mujahid said, "We came to teach him and we did not stop until we learned from him, meaning Umar ibn Abdul Aziz."  

قَالَ مُجَاهِدٌ جِئْنَا نُعَلِّمُهُ فَمَا بَرِحْنَا حَتَّى تَعَلَّمْنَا مِنْهُ يَعْنِي عُمَرَ بْنَ عَبْدِ الْعَزِيزِ  

[Machine] Umar ibn Abd al-Aziz was one of the most fragrant and well-dressed people, and he brought ease to the people. When he was appointed as caliph, they brought him twelve dirhams worth of clothes from Egypt, including his turban, shirt, cloak, socks, and robe.  

كَانَ عُمَرُ بْنُ عَبْدِ الْعَزِيزِ مِنْ أَعْطَرِ النَّاسِ وَأَلْبَسِ النَّاسِ وَأَخْيَلِهِمْ مِشْيَةً فَلَمَّا اسْتُخْلِفَ قَوَّمُوا ثِيَابَهُ اثْنَيْ عَشَرَ دِرْهَمًا مِنْ ثِيَابِ مِصْرَ كُمِيَّتَهُ وَعِمَامَتَهُ وَقَمِيصَهُ وَقَبَاءَهُ وَقُرْطُقَهُ وَخُفَّيْهِ وَرِدَاءَهُ  

[Machine] And he said, "O Abu Qilabah, are you afraid for me?" I said, "How can your love be wortha single dirham?" He said, "I do not love it." He said, "Do not be afraid, Allah will help you."  

وَقَالَ يَا أَبَا قِلَابَةَ هَلْ تَخْشَى عَلَيَّ؟ قُلْتُ كَيْفَ حُبُّكَ الدِّرْهَمَ؟ قَالَ «لَا أُحِبُّهُ» قَالَ «لَا تَخَفْ إِنَّ اللَّهَ ﷻ سَيُعِينُكَ»  

[Machine] "Whoever acts without knowledge, his mischief surpasses his benefits."  

«مَنْ عَمِلَ بِغَيْرِ عِلْمٍ كَانَ مَا يُفْسِدُ أَكْثَرَ مِمَّا يُصْلِحُ»  

[Machine] Without consultation or asking for it, but it was what Allah ordained for me. So I ask Allah, who has tested me with what he has tested me with, to help me with it. When my letter reaches you, send me the books of Umar ibn al-Khattab, along with his judgments and biography regarding the people of the covenant. For I follow in his footsteps and others follow his way, if Allah helps me with it. Peace. He wrote to him, "Salam. Your letter has reached me. Remember that Allah has tested you with what he has tested you with in this matter without consultation or asking for it. But it was what Allah ordained for you. So I ask Allah, who has tested you with what he has tested you with, to help you with it. You are not in the time of Umar and you do not have men like Umar with you. But if you intend and seek the truth, Allah will help you with it, and He will provide you with workers who will come to you unexpectedly. Indeed, the help of Allah is according to one's intention. So, whoever's intention is perfected in goodness, the help of Allah will be perfected for him. And whoever falls short in his intention, the help will also be proportionate to what falls short of it. Peace.  

عَنْ غَيْرِ مَشُورَةٍ وَلَا طَلَبٍ لَهُ وَلَكِنْ كَانَ مَا قَدَّرَ اللَّهُ ﷻ فَأَسْأَلُ اللَّهَ الَّذِي ابْتَلَانِي بِمَا ابْتَلَانِي أَنْ يُعِينَنِي عَلَيْهِ فَإِذَا جَاءَكَ كِتَابِي هَذَا فَابْعَثْ إِلَيَّ بِكُتُبِ عُمَرَ بْنِ الْخَطَّابِ وَقَضَائِهِ وَسِيرَتِهِ فِي أَهْلِ الذِّمَّةِ فَإِنِّي مُتَّبِعٌ أَثَرَهُ وَسَائِرٌ بِسِيرَتِهِ إِنْ أَعَانَنِي اللَّهُ عَلَى ذَلِكَ وَالسَّلَامُ فَكَتَبَ إِلَيْهِ سَالِمٌ جَاءَنِي كِتَابُكَ تَذْكُرُ أَنَّ اللَّهَ ﷻ ابْتَلَاكَ بِمَا ابْتَلَاكَ بِهِ مِنْ هَذَا الْأَمْرِ مِنْ غَيْرِ طَلَبٍ وَلَا مَشُورَةٍ كَانَ مِنْكَ وَلَكِنْ مَا كَانَ قَدَّرَ اللَّهُ أَنْ يَبْتَلِيَكَ فَأَسْأَلُ اللَّهَ الَّذِي ابْتَلَاكَ بِمَا ابْتَلَاكَ بِهِ أَنْ يُعِينَكَ عَلَيْهِ فَإِنَّكَ لَسْتَ فِي زَمَانِ عُمَرَ وَلَيْسَ عِنْدَكَ رِجَالُ عُمَرَ فَإِنْ نَوَيْتَ الْحَقَّ وَأَرَدْتَهُ أَعَانَكَ اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَأَتَاحَ لَكَ عُمَّالًا وَأَتَاكَ بِهِمْ مِنْ حَيْثُ لَا تَحْتَسِبُ فَإِنَّ عَوْنَ اللَّهِ عَلَى قَدْرِ النِّيَّةِ فَمَنْ تَمَّتْ نِيَّتُهُ فِي الْخَيْرِ تَمَّ عَوْنُ اللَّهِ لَهُ وَمَنْ قَصُرَتْ [245] نِيَّتُهُ قَصُرَ مِنَ الْعَوْنِ بِقَدْرِ مَا قَصُرَ مِنْهُ وَالسَّلَامُ  

[Machine] "Whoever makes his religion a means of dispute, he does a lot of moving around."  

«مَنْ جَعَلَ دِينَهُ غَرَضًا لِلْخُصُومَةِ أَكْثَرَ التَّنَقُّلَ»  

[Machine] In the Torah or in some books, it is said, "The sky weeps for Umar ibn Abdul Aziz, may Allah have mercy on him, with a sad weeping for forty years."  

فِي التَّوْرَاةِ أَوْ فِي بَعْضِ الْكُتُبِ «السَّمَاءُ تَبْكِي عَلَى عُمَرَ بْنِ عَبْدِ الْعَزِيزِ رَحِمَهُ اللَّهُ أَرْبَعِينَ سَنَةً بُكَاءَ حَزِينٍ»