“Then you do not know him”

A man gave testimony to ‘Umar (رضي الله عنه) and he said to him, “I do not know you, but it does not matter that I do not know you. Bring me someone who does know you.” A man among the people said, “I know him.” ‘Umar asked, “What do you know about him?” He said, “He is of good character and is virtous.”

He asked, “Is he your closest neighbour who you know by night and day, and you know when he comes in and goes out?” He said,”No.” He asked,”Did he have any financial dealings with you which is the way to know whether he is God fearing or not?’ He said,”No.” He asked,”Has he been your companion on a journey, which is the way to know whether he is of noble character and attitude?’ He said, “No.” He(‘Umar (رضي الله عنه)) said,”Then you do not know him”

[Sunan Bayhaqi]

Do not probe into intentions

‘Umar (رضي الله عنه) addressed the people and said:

We knew you when the Messenger (صلى الله عليه وسلم) of Allah was amongst us, and the Revelation would come down and tell us about you. Now we know you from what you say, so whoever appears to us to be good, we will assume that he is good and treat him well. Whoever appears to us to be bad, we will assume that he is bad and hate him accordingly. And what is in your hearts is between you and Allah.

[Bukhari and sunan bayhaqi]

‘Umar’s instruction to the Judge

‘Umar’s (رضي الله عنه) legislation on the judiciary in his letter to Abu Musa al Ash’ari (رضي الله عنه) in which he said:

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

From the slave of Allah, the son of al Khattab, Amirul Muminin, to ‘Abdullah Ibn Qays (رضي الله عنه) (Abu Musa al Ash’ari ), peace be upon you.

Judging (the judicial system) is a confirmed obligation and a way to be followed. Try to understand when cases are presented to you, for there is no use in a person presenting his case if it is not understood. Treat people equally when you address them so that no noble man will hope that you side him unfairly and no weak man will despair of your justice. The burden of proof rests with the plaintiff and the oath is required of one who denies it. It is permissable to make a deal between Muslims, except a deal  that permits something that is forbidden or forbids something that is permitted.

If you passed a judgement yesterday then examined it further in your mind and are guided to a different conclusion, then that should not prevent you from returning to the truth, for truth is eternal, and returning to the truth is better than persisting in falsehood. Examine carefully each issue which you are unsure about, where there is no text in the Qur’an and Sunnah, and try to find a similar case, draw analogies and see which is more likely to be pleasing to Allah and closest to the truth.

Whoever claims that someone owes him some dues, set a time limit for him to produce his evidence. If he provides evidence, then restore his rights to him; otherwise ask him to drop his claim. That is better so as to eliminate any doubt.

The Muslims are basically of good character, except one who has been lashed as a hadd punishment or who is known for bearing false witness. Allah is in charge of what is hidden in people’s hearts. Judgement must be based on evidence and oaths.

Beware of becoming impatient, because judging in accordance with the truth bring a great reward from Allah and stores a great deal of reward (in the Hereafter). Whoever has a good intention and checks himself, Allah will be sufficient for him (and he need not worry about people), but whoever shows an attitude to people which Allah knows is not his true attitude, Allah will expose him. Think of the reward of Allah in this world and the Hereafter. And peace (be upon you).

[I’lam al Muwaqqi’een by Ibn Qayyim]

When death was at hand…

حدثنا أحمد بن جعفر بن حمدان ، ثنا عبد الله بن أحمد بن حنبل ، حدثني أبي ، ثنا شجاع بن الوليد ، عن عمرو بن قيس ، عمن حدثه ، عن معاذ بن جبلرضي الله تعالى عنه : أنه لما حضره الموت ، قال : انظروا أصبحنا ؟ فأتي فقيل : لم تصبح ، فقال : انظروا أصبحنا ؟ فأتي فقيل له : لم تصبح ، حتى أتي في بعض ذلك فقيل : قد أصبحت ، قال : أعوذ بالله من ليلة صباحها إلى النار ، مرحبا بالموت مرحبا ، زائر مغب ، حبيب جاء على فاقة ، اللهم إني قد كنت أخافك فأنا اليوم أرجوك ، اللهم إنك تعلم أني لم أكن أحب الدنيا وطول البقاء فيها لجري الأنهار ولا لغرس الأشجار ، ولكن لظمأ الهواجر ومكابدة الساعات ومزاحمة العلماء بالركب عند حلق الذكر .

When death was at hand, Mu’adh ibn Jabal (رضي الله عنه) said:

Welcome to a visitor who has come when he is most needed (ie death). The one who regrets does not succeed. O Allah, you know that I never wanted to stay in this world to build waterways or to plant trees, but I wanted to stay in order to spend long nights in prayer and long hours during the day fasting and feeling thirsty in the intense hear, and to be with the scholars in circles of dhikr.

[Hilyatul Awliya]

Rumbling stomach

It was narrated that Anas (رضي الله عنه) said:

The stomach of ‘Umar Ibn Khattab (رضي الله عنه) rumbled during the year of Drought. He used to eat olive oil and he forbade himself ghee. He patted his stomach and said,” You may rumble, but we have no other food until the famine is over.”

[Al Hilyah]

Check everything you hear against the Qur’an , but do not check the Qur’an against anything that you hear.

When Mu’adh Ibn Jabal  (رضي الله عنه) was stricken with the plague of ‘Amwas (from which he passed away), his companions wept over him and he said, ” Why are you weeping?” They said,”We are weeping for the knowledge which will be cut off when you die.” He said:

Knowledge and faith will abide  until the Day of Resurrection. Whoever seeks them will find them in the Qur’an and the Sunnah. Check everything you hear against the Qur’an , but do not check the Qur’an against anything that you hear.

[Sifatus Sahwah]

….but I am not the best of them.

It was narrated that Shaqeeq ibn Salamah said: ‘Abdullah ibn Mas’ud (رضي الله عنه) addressed us and said:

By Allah, I learned seventy odd surahs from the lips of the Messenger  (صلى الله عليه وسلم) of Allah, and by Allah the companions of the Prophet  (صلى الله عليه وسلم) knew that I was the most knowledgeable of them of the Book of Allah, but I am not the best of them.

[Bukhari]

Dhahabi on Abu Musa Al Ash’ari (رضي الله عنه)

Imam Adh Dhahabi said:

He (Abu Musa Al Ash’ari (رضي الله عنه)) was knowledgeable, active, righteous and a reciter of Qur’an; he had the most beautiful voice when he recited  Qur’an. He recited good and blessed knowledge and was the most knowledgeable of the people of the Basra of the Qur’an and Islam.

[Tadhkirat al Huffadh]

‘Abbas advice to his son

Ibn ‘Abbas (رضي الله عنه) said:

My father (Al-‘Abbas (رضي الله عنه)) said, “O my son, I see that the Amirul Muminin (‘Umar Ibn Khattab (رضي الله عنه)) brings you close to him, and he sits alone with you and consults you along with some of the companions of the Messenger  (صلى الله عليه وسلم) of Allah. Learn three things from me: fear Allah and never disclose his (‘Umar’s (رضي الله عنه) ) secrets; never lie to him; and never backbite about anyone to him.”

[Al-Hilyah]

…no better reward for one who disobeys Allah concerning you than your obeying Allah concerning him..

‘Umar Ibn Khattab (رضي الله عنه) said:

Whoever conceals his secrets will have the choice (of telling whomever he wants to tell), but whoever speaks or acts in a suspicious manner should not blame anyone who thinks badly of him. Do not think badly of a word spoken by your brother when you can still find good ways to interpret it. Think positively of your brother until you are certain that he is not like that. Do not swear a great deal lest Allah humiliate you.There is no better reward for one who disobeys Allah concerning you than your obeying Allah concerning him. You should seek sincere friends and main good relations with them, for they are a pleasure at times of ease and a support at times of calamity.

[Tarikh Dimashq]