Friday Sermon: Men of Excellence – Hazrat Umar ibn al-Khattab (ra)

Official English synopsis of the Friday Sermon of 12 November 2021.

Delivered at Mubarak Mosque, Islamabad, Tilford, UK, by the worldwide Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad, Khalifatul-Masih V^(aba).

This summary was originally published in Al Islam. The original post can be found here.

Introduction

After reciting Tashahhud, Ta‘awwuz and Surah al-Fatihah, His Holiness, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad^(aba) said that he would continue highlighting incidents from the life of Hazrat Umar^(ra).

Adopting a Simple Lifestyle

His Holiness^(aba) said that once, Hazrat Umar’s^(ra) daughter said to him that he had been granted victories and wealth, so why did he not eat better foods and wear better clothes? Hazrat Umar^(ra) replied by asking her, ‘Did the Holy Prophet^(sa) not endure great hardships during his life?’ He said that he would continue to endure hardships, like the Holy Prophet^(sa) and Hazrat Abu Bakr^(ra) had before him, so that perhaps he too may reap the same blessings.

His Holiness^(aba) said that once, Hazrat Umar’s^(ra) children and some others said to him, that if he ate better foods, he would be stronger and better able to fulfil his duties. Hazrat Umar^(ra) acknowledged their sentiments, however he said that if he left the path of those before him, i.e. the Holy Prophet^(sa) and Hazrat Abu Bakr^(ra), then he would not be able to achieve the same rank.

His Holiness^(aba) quoted the Second Caliph^(ra), who explained that the Holy Prophet^(sa) taught simplicity, and said that while eating, there should not be more than one dish. The companions followed this very staunchly, in fact, once Hazrat Umar^(ra) was presented with some vinegar, and salt. Hazrat Umar^(ra) said that these were two separate dishes and that he would only take one. His Holiness^(aba) said that although these days people are living more comfortably, they should not be excessive in what they eat.

His Holiness^(aba) explained in light of the Holy Qur’an, that true servants of God are those who are not excessive in spending their wealth. If they eat, they do so not simply for enjoyment, but in order to nourish and strengthen themselves. Similarly, when they spend their wealth for certain things, they do so not to show others or in order to exult, rather they do so out of necessity.

His Holiness^(aba) said that once, someone saw Hazrat Umar^(ra) carrying a waterskin and asked him why he was carrying it himself? Hazrat Umar^(ra) responded that some people had come to see him and had shown the utmost obedience to him. This led him to feel important, and in order to rid himself of this feeling and humble himself, he decided to carry the waterskin on his own.

His Holiness^(aba) said that once there was a caravan accompanying Hazrat Umar^(ra) back to Madinah. On the way, Hazrat Umar^(ra) recalled how his father used to be quite strict, and he had to do a lot of work, bringing wood on the backs of camels, and then bringing shrubbery on the backs of those camels. He said now, he was the leader of an entire nation and that people came to see him from far and wide. He then recited a couplet which meant that no matter what he had, it was only God Who is the Almighty and Everlasting.

His Holiness^(aba) said that once, Hazrat Abu Bakr^(ra) and Hazrat Umar^(ra) had varying views on a certain matter and they had a disagreement. Hazrat Abu Bakr^(ra) decided that it would be best to leave, however Hazrat Umar^(ra) wanted a response from him, so he took hold of his clothes, as a result of which they ripped. Hazrat Abu Bakr^(ra) left, and Hazrat Umar^(ra) was afraid that he would complain to the Holy Prophet^(sa). So he went to where the Holy Prophet^(sa) was, but did not find Hazrat Abu Bakr^(ra) there. As he was already feeling bad for what had happened, Hazrat Umar^(ra) informed the Holy Prophet^(sa) of the incident himself, and took all the blame for it. Hazrat Abu Bakr^(ra) was informed of this, and so he too went to the Holy Prophet^(sa), and upon seeing that the Holy Prophet^(sa) was displeased with the incident, Hazrat Abu Bakr^(ra) sat before the Holy Prophet^(sa) and took all the blame upon himself. His Holiness^(aba) said that this signifies true love for the beloved, that upon seeing him in a state of unhappiness, he took all the blame upon himself in order to ease his discomfort.

Awe of Hazrat Umar (ra)

His Holiness^(aba) said that once, there were some women of the Quraish sitting by the Holy Prophet^(sa) asking him for more money. At this time, Hazrat Umar^(ra) came to the Holy Prophet^(sa) and sought permission to enter. The women immediately moved aside and adopted the veil. Seeing this brought a smile to the blessed face of the Holy Prophet^(sa). Hazrat Umar^(ra) asked him why he was smiling, and the Holy Prophet^(sa) said that the women were so afraid of Hazrat Umar^(ra) that they immediately moved aside and adopted the veil. Hazrat Umar^(ra) asked them whether they were afraid of him, rather than the Holy Prophet^(sa). They said they were, because Hazrat Umar^(ra) was quite harsh. The Holy Prophet^(sa) said that even Satan was afraid of Hazrat Umar^(ra) and would adopt a different path when he saw Hazrat Umar^(ra) coming.

His Holiness^(aba) said that once, the Holy Prophet^(sa) said that God had bestowed truth in the heart and tongue of Hazrat Umar^(ra). Once, the Holy Prophet^(sa) was preparing for a journey. He called Hazrat Abu Bakr^(ra) and Hazrat Umar^(ra) to ask their opinion, because there was a tribe who had broken their treaty with the Muslims, something which the Holy Prophet^(sa) had already been given prior knowledge of. Hazrat Abu Bakr^(ra) advised that they should not be attacked, but Hazrat Umar’s^(ra) opinion was that they should be as they had broken their oath. Thus, the Holy Prophet^(sa) instructed that preparations should be made for the journey.

His Holiness^(aba) said that when the Holy Prophet^(sa) would come out to see the Muslims, no one would look directly at him, except Hazrat Abu Bakr^(ra) and Hazrat Umar^(ra). They would smile at the Holy Prophet^(sa), and the Holy Prophet^(sa) would smile at them.

Trust of the Holy Prophet (sa) in Hazrat Abu Bakr (ra) and Hazrat Umar (ra)

His Holiness^(aba) said that once, the Holy Prophet^(sa) said to the people, that a heavenly person was approaching, and at that time Hazrat Abu Bakr^(ra) arrived. Then again, the Holy Prophet^(sa) said that a heavenly person was approaching, and at that time, Hazrat Umar^(ra) arrived. The Holy Prophet^(sa) also once said that every prophet has two ministers in the heavens and two in the earth. His two ministers in the heavens were Gabriel and Mikael and the two on earth were Hazrat Abu Bakr^(ra) and Hazrat Umar^(ra). The Holy Prophet^(sa) also said that he did not know how long he would remain on this earth, and that after him, the people should follow Hazrat Abu Bakr^(ra) and Hazrat Umar^(ra).

His Holiness^(aba) said that he would continue highlighting the life of Hazrat Umar^(ra) in future sermons.