An Islamic Treasury of Virtues
6. Humility
~ 156 ~
GIVING ONE’S BEST, BUT WITHOUT
CONCEIT
Struck down by the dagger of Abu Lulu, a Magian
slave of Mughirah ibn Abi Shuaba, Umar ibn
Khattab, the second Caliph lay mortally wounded.
So quickly was he losing blood that when he drank
some milk, its whiteness flowed from his wounds. It
was then that these words came to his lips: “Lord,
did I but have a world full of gold, I would use it to
escape the Lord’s punishment before it descended
upon me.” Abdullah ibn Abbas then spoke up,
reminding Umar of the time in Makkah, when “the
Prophet prayed to the lord that he might strengthen
Islam through you. The Muslims at the time were in
an abject state. Then you became a Muslim and a
source of strength for Islam. Through you, Islam
achieved great glory. You emigrated with the
Prophet and were by his side in every battle. When
the Prophet died, he was well pleased with you.
And so was Abu Bakr, the first Caliph of Islam
whom you served so faithfully as assistant and
advisor. Then, after him, you became Commander
of the Faithful. It was through you that God
brought great cities within the Islamic Empire, and
