An Islamic Treasury of Virtues
3. Worship
~ 103 ~
SOMETIMES THE OBSCURE ARE MORE AMPLY
REWARDED THAN THE FAMOUS
One day when Umar was sitting with a group of
people, he asked them, “Who will gain the greatest
reward?” Some said it would be those who fasted,
while others thought it would be those who prayed.
Some said that the reward of the Commander of the
Faithful would be the greatest. Everyone made
different suggestions, but Umar dismissed them all.
“Shall I tell you who will have the greater even than
that of the Commander of the Faithful?” They all
asked him to explain who he meant. “It is one who,
clinging on to the reins of his horse, and watching
over the Muslim army in the far off land of Syria,
has no idea whether he will be devoured by some
wild beast, bitten by some poisonous insect or
attacked by some foe. Such a man will receive a
greater reward than any of those you mentioned,
greater even than the Commander of the Faithful.
(IBN ‘ASAKIR)
PREFERRING TO BE UNOSTENTATIOUS
At the end of a long journey on camel back,
