Ta'lim - Part X

Saidina Umar Radiallah hu anh (ra) during the time of his Caliph, used to petrol the streets and suburbs of Madinah himself during the nights to keep a watch. During one of his night-patrols, he noticed a camelhair tent pitched in an open space. He had never seen this particular tent before. Approaching the tent, he found an individual sitting outside, and heard a sort of groan coming out of the tent. He greeted the stranger with ‘Assalammualaikum’ and sat down beside him.
“Whence brother?”
“I am from the desert, and a stranger to this place. I have come to request Amirul Mu’minin for some help in my need.”
“who is there groaning like inside the tent?”
“Please mind your business”
“Do tell me please. May be that I can help you.”
“If you must know, inside there is my wife groaning with labour pains.”
“Is there anybody else to attend her?”
“No one.”
Saidina Umar ra, thereupon, got up and hurried homewards. He broached the subject to his wife Umm Kalthum radiallah hu anha (rha):
“Allah has brought you an opportunity to receive great blessings.”
“What is it, O, Amirul Mu’minin?”
“Yonder, a poor woman of the desert is in child birth, with none to attend her.”
“I am ready to attend her, if it may please you so.”
Umm Kaklthun rha was after all the daughter of Fatimah rha, and grand-daughter of the Prophet; how could she hesitate at the time of such need of forlorn sister, such a service and a devotion which Allah loves best?”
“Then you should make all due haste. Also take a pan, some butter, provisions and other things needed during the child birth.”

Umm Kalthum rha did as she was bidden and left for the place where the tent was pitched. Umar ra followed her close. She entered the tent, while Umar ra made a fire and occupied himself with cooking something which those people could eat. After some time, Umm Kalthum rha called out from inside the tent,
“O Amirul Mu’minin, congratulate your friend on the birth of a son.”
The stranger was much embarrassed when he heard the address ‘Amirul Mu’minin’ and realized the position of the person who had been serving him. But Umar ra put all his fears to rest, saying:
“That is all right, there is nothing to worry about.”
He then placed the pan near the tent, asking his wife to take it and feed the woman. She fed her and returned the pas. Then, Umar ra asked the Bedouin to partake of the food, as he had kept awake the whole night.
Having rendered this service, Umar ra returned home with his wife, telling the person:
“Come to me tomorrow, and I shall see what I can do for you.”
Is there any king, nay a petty chief, or even an ordinary middle class person of our time, who will thus take his wife out of a dead of night, and out in the wilderness, to attend a poor strange woman, while he himself gladly engage in making a fire and cooking food. Leave the worldly rich aside, how many of the religious people would do that? We should realize that unless we really follow in the footsteps of those God-fearing people whom we profess to look up to as our models, we cannot deserve and wish for the special blessings that Allah swt bestowed on them.