An Islamic Treasury of Virtues
2. What is Faith?
~ 72 ~
Umar, “Abu Bakr was purer than pure musk, while
I am more wayward even than my household
camels.”
(ABU NU‘AYM)
TO PRAISE SOMEONE TO HIS FACE IS TO
DESTROY ONESELF
A certain individual came before Umar and began
extolling the latter’s virtues. “You are destroying
me and destroying yourself,” was Umar’s reply.
NOT LETTING PRAISE GO TO ONE’S HEAD
Dhiba ibn Mohsin recounts how he once told Umar
that h was a better man than Abu Bakr. On hearing
such praise Umar broke down, and said, “Just one
day and one night in the life of Abu Bakr are worth
more than the whole of my life!’ Then he asked,
“Shall I tell you which day and which night I am
referring to?” “Please do, Commander of the
Faithful,’ replied Dhiba. “The night I am referring to
was when the Prophet fled from his adversaries in
Makkah. Abu Bakr was the only man to go with
him. The day I am referring to was the day of the
