An Islamic Treasury of Virtues
3. Worship
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swallow me and then dispose me as dung.”
(AL-BAIHAQI,
AL-SUNAN AL-KUBRA)
SETTING NO SPECIAL VALUE UPON ONE
SOWN ACTIONS
Umar once asked Abu Musa al-Ashari if he
would like to have only those actions attributed
to him which he had performed in the presence
of the Prophet, with everything else that he had
done to be completely nullified, so that neither
his good nor his bad deeds were of any account
and he would be neither punished nor rewarded.
Abu Musa said that he would not. “When I came
to Basra,” he explained, “oppression was rife
among the people. I taught them the Qur’an and
acquainted them with the teachings of the
Prophet. I undertook campaigns for the cause of
God along with them. This being so, I hope for
the grace of God.” “For my part,” said Umar, “I
should like my actions to be disassociated from
me in such a way that neither good nor evil
deeds were of any importance. Neither sin nor
good deed would then stand to my account. All
that would stand to my credit would be what I
