In the name of Allah, Most Gracious, Most Merciful.
One day, ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) left his home with Abdullah bin Mas’ud (may Allah be pleased with him) and during the late hours of the night, they saw the glow of a fire burning at a distance. They followed the light until it led them to a home with a burning lamp. Upon seeing the lamp, ‘Umar entered the house and saw an old man sitting with alcohol in front of him and a female singer entertaining him. The old man was caught off-guard by ‘Umar’s sudden attack when he said to him, “I have not seen a sight more shameful than what I have witnessed tonight from an old man who should be awaiting death.”
The old man responded, “Indeed, O Leader of the Believers, what you have done is more shameful. You have entered my house without my permission and spied on me – and is not spying forbidden in Islam?” ‘Umar admitted to the truth of his statement and left the old man’s house, biting his garment and crying as he said, “May the mother of ‘Umar lose him if Allah does not forgive me.” Thereafter, the old man stopped attending the gatherings of ‘Umar. After some time passed, ‘Umar saw the old man in one of the last rows of his gathering and wished to speak with him. Fearing harshness from ‘Umar, the old man approached him cautiously, being asked to come closer and closer until he was finally seated near the Leader of the Believers. ‘Umar asked to have his ear next to his mouth and said, “By the One Who has sent Prophet Muhammad with the truth, I have not informed anyone of what I saw of you that night, nor have I informed ‘Abullah bin Mas’ud, for indeed he was with me.” The old man replied, “O Leader of the Believers! By the One Who has sent Prophet Muhammad with the truth, I too have not returned to those evil actions since the night you entered upon me.” Umar uttered out loud, “Allahu Akbar!” yet no one from the gathering knew what had occurred between the two men.
Gems and Jewels
Compiled by: Abdul-Malik Mujahid
Publisher: Maktaba Dar-us-Salam
ISBN: 9960-897-59-1
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