When Umar bin al-Khattab (رضي الله عنه) was walking in the market, he passed by a man who was supplicating,
اللهم اجعلني من القليل اللهم اجعلني من القليل
“O Allah, make me from the few! O Allah make me from the few!”
So ‘Umar said to him, “Where did you get this du`a’ (supplication) from?” And the man said, “Allah in His Book says:
و قليل من عبادي الشكور
‘And few of My servants are grateful.’ (Qur’an 34:13)”
So ‘Umar wept and admonished himself, “The people are more knowledgeable than you, O Umar!
O Allah make us from Your ‘few’ servants.”
Sometimes when you advise someone to leave a sin, they respond with “But everybody does it, it’s not just me!”
But if you look for the words “most people” in the Qur’an, you will find that most people –
ولكن اكثرهم لا يعلمون
“And however most people do not know” (7:187)
ولكن أكثرهم لا يشكرون
– “and most people do not show gratitude” (2:243)
and
و لكن اكثر الناس لا يؤمنون
– “and most people do not believe” (11:17).
And if you look for “most of them”, you will find that most of them are
و آن أكثرهم فَاسِقُون
– “definitely disobedient” (5:59)
و لكن أكثرهم يجهلون
– “ ignorant” (6:111)
بل أكثرهم لا يعلمون الحق فهم معرضون
– “turning away” (21:24)
So be of the “few”, whom Allah says about them:
و قليل من عبادي الشكور
– “And few of My servants are grateful.” (34:13)
و ما امن معه الا قليل
– “But none had believed with him, except a few.” (11:40)
في جنات النعيم ثلة من الاولين و قليل من الآخرين
– “In the Gardens of Bliss, A [large] company of the former peoples, And a few of the later peoples.” (56:12-14)
Ibn al-Qayyim (رحمه الله) said, “Go on the path of truth and do not feel lonely because there are few who take that path, and beware of the path of falsehood and do not be deceived by the vastness of the perishers.”
[Found in Kitab al-Zuhd by Ahmad bin Hanbal (رحمه الله), and also in the Musannaf of Ibn Abi Shaybah.] –
May Allah Ta’ala make us of His few servants, Ameen.
Ibn al-Qayyim (رحمه الله) : “No servant is struck with a greater punishment than the punishment of a hard heart and distance from Allāh”
30 Episodes on the Life of Umar (Allah be pleased with him)
Quotes of ‘Umar (radiyallahu ‘anhu)
Umar bin Al-Khattab, the second caliph and Companion of the Prophet (peace be upon him) once said that if it were not for three pleasures, he would not find any joy in life.
One of these three pleasures was “sitting in the company of men who like to pick good topics for conversation just as people like to pick good dates from a tree.”
“Beware of excessive meat, for it has an addiction similar to that of wine”- (Muwatta Imam Malik, Hadith: 2702)
“Get used to a tough life, for luxury does not last forever.”
“I have never regretted my silence. As for my speech I’ve regretted it many times.”
“Allah loves moderation and hates extravagance and excess.”“I thought of all types of wealth, but couldn’t find a better wealth than contentment in a little.”“Let not your love become attachment, nor your hate become destruction.”“May God bless the man who says less and does more.”“Patience is the healthiest ingredient of our life.”“Doing good for a good done to you is simply repayment, whereas doing good for an evil done to you is a tremendous virtue.”
Umar ibnul Khattab (ra) said: ”Invite people to Islam even without words” They asked ”How?” He replied ”With your manners.”
“I fear the day where disbelievers are proud of their falsehood and Muslims are shy of their faith.”
“The biggest gift after Iman (Faith) is your wives.”
وجدنا خير عيشنا بالصبر “We found the best of our lives through patience.”
Sayyiduna ‘Umar ibn Al Khattab (radiyallahu ‘anhu) wrote to his his governors saying, “In my view, the most important of your affairs is Salah. Whoever protects it and performs it [habitually and timeously], is protecting his Din. Whoever is negligent about it will be even more negligent about other matters…” (Muwatta Imam Malik, Hadith: 6)
‘Umar (May Allah be pleased with him)was an excellent judge of character, and he said:“Do not be deceived by a man’s eloquence rather whoever fulfills trusts and refrains from impugning people’s honor is a real man.”
And he used to say: “Don’t look at a man’s prayer or fasting, rather look at his reason and honesty.”
And he said: “There are two types of men I do not fear for you: A believer whose faith is obvious and a kafir whose kufr is obvious. Rather I fear for you the hypocrite who hides behind a show of faith but strives for some other purpose.
“When you see that any scholar loves the world, then his scholarship is in doubt.”
The famous Tabi’i; Sayyiduna Sa’id ibn Musayyab (rahimahullah) reports that Sayyiduna ‘Umar (radiyallahu ‘anhu) laid eighteen sterling advices for the people, each one filled with wisdom:
1. When someone disobeys Allah in matters that impacts on you, you can retaliate in no better way than obeying Allah in matters that impact on him.
2. Always assume the best about your brother unless you learn something about him that you cannot reconcile.
3. Never assume the worst about any statement that a Muslim makes as long as you are able to make a good interpretation.
4. One who exposes himself to suspicion must never blame anyone who holds a bad opinion of him.
5. Whoever guards his secrets will retain the choice [and control of it] in his hands.
6. Ensure that you keep true friends to stay under their wings because they are a source of beauty during times of prosperity and a means of protection during times of hardship.
7. Ensure that you speak the truth even if it leads to your death.
8. Never delve into matters that do not concern you.
9. Do not ask about matters that have not occurred because that which has already taken place is enough to keep you occupied from that which has not.
10. Never seek your needs from one who does not love to see your success.
11. Never keep the company of a sinner, as you will learn his sinful ways.
12. Keep away from your enemy.
13 & 14. Beware even of your friends, except for the trustworthy one and none can be trustworthy unless he fears Allah.
15. To be humble in speech.
16. Lower yourself in obedience of Allah.
17. Stand firm against His disobedience.
18. Consult in your matters those who fear Allah, indeed Allah says:
انما يخشى الله من عباده العلمؤا
It is those who have knowledge among His slaves that fear Allah. (Surah Fatir, Verse: 28)
(Rawdatul ‘Uqala of Imam Ibn Hibban (rahimahullah), pg.82-83 with a chain of reliable narrators)
Ismail Ibn Nazir Satia (One who is in dire need of Allah’s forgiveness, mercy and pleasure)30 Sha’ban 1436
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