An Islamic Treasury of Virtues
6. Humility
~ 157 ~
with them came great wealth. The enemies of Islam
were put to flight at your hand, and you were
destined to die a martyr. Blessed are you.” “You
lead one astray with your misleading talk,” said
Umar, then added, “But Abdullah! Will you testify
on my behalf on the Day of Resurrection?”
Abdullah ibn Abbas said that he would. At this
point Umar’s head lay in the lap of his son, who
was also called Abdullah. Umar said he would like
his head to be on the ground. Abdullah ibn Umar
raised his father’s head from where it rested and
laid it on his ankle. “Let my cheek touch the
ground,” insisted Umar. Abdullah did as his father
told him. Then Umar said to himself, “Woe betide
you, and woe betide your mother, if God does not
forgive you.” Whereupon he breathed his last.
(AL-TABARANI)
NEVER CONSIDERING ONESELF ABOVE
SERVING GOD
Abdullah ibn Masud relates that in the Battle of
Badr there was one camel to every three Muslims,
and that they used to take it in turn to ride. The
Prophet of God fared no better than the rest. He too
