Author: Khaled Yaghi Zahi
The Exemplary Figures of History; The Perfect Caliph (Part Two)
It was not long after the new Caliph ascended the pulpit and delivered a historic speech and passed his law regarding the livestock of the government guard and the furniture of the Caliphate that the people realized that this law was not like the previous laws and that they had not seen a Caliph like this in previous Caliphs. This change was not just in the foundation of the building; rather, it was the beginning of all changes, a fundamental reform that had to start from the foundation of the building and was not limited to colors and luxuries. The reform of this garden had to start from the roots, not from the branches and foliage. This desire was not like a lightning bolt that lit up the space in an instant and then disappeared. They were afraid that this Caliph would choose seclusion and step down from the government and leave his work to the people. They were afraid that this benevolent and pious man was reckless and weak and would not be able to turn this great wheel from day one, whose scope stretched from France to China. Yes! From the borders of China to the regions of France, the great apparatus that they called the Umayyad state held their hearts; they feared that this wish that had given them the glimmers of hope from his royal speech would be destroyed.
But this wish came true, and this dream became a real reality in our history…! Umar bin Abdul Aziz did not go to sit in a corner and engage in zekr and admonition; rather, he immediately took over the reins of government and sent circulars to all corners of the country and established a new program of government. The first order he issued was to break the siege of Constantinople and return the Islamic army, which had suffered severe hardships from this siege. He also issued urgent orders regarding important posts and dismissed the oppressive and aggressive rulers. Among them were the cruel governor of Africa, Yazid bin Abi Sulaim, who was accused of imprisoning and torturing people without a legitimate reason, and Usama bin Zaid Tanukhi, the head of the treasury of Egypt, who cut off hands and slit stomachs and committed very serious crimes. He sentenced him to life imprisonment, which he had to spend every year in one of the Islamic centers in prison. He also dismissed all the agents of the Hajjaj and appointed good, capable, trustworthy and determined people. At that time, the Caliph’s bodyguard consisted of 600 people, namely 300 guards and 300 policemen, who at the beginning of their work stopped them from protecting him and said: “it is enough that your death will protect you!” He disbanded the bodyguard. He established permanent pensions for the poor who were unable to work and gave the rest money in return.
Once, two nights passed without him sleeping. He lay down to rest a little. His son came and said, “Are you sleeping and not handling the complaints?” He said, “My son! This is a moment when I want to sleep. I will handle them at noon.” The son said, “Who guaranteed you that you will live until noon?” He got up and handled the complaints and injustices.
Do you know what these injustices were? He made a firm decision to return the vast wealth and property that his family, brothers, and those around him possessed for them if he knew the owners of that property, or they would be returned to the public treasury. He enforced this law for everyone: “Where did this property come from?” He started with himself! He had lands that had come to him from the previous caliphs. He saw that they did not have the legal authority to give them to him. Therefore, consider them as state property.
Yes! This is the correct criterion of religion. Before you advise people, first advise yourself. Otherwise, if the preacher himself does not take advice first, how beneficial will his advice be?
The easiest thing for a person is to wear a big turban, grow his beard, wear a long robe, memorize verses, hadiths, and fine sayings, and sit in the mosque and give a speech. If honesty, sincerity, and action are not with him, he will have no value in the eyes of the angels, nor will he have any weight in the sight of Allah. Speech alone is of no use. And if it is a way to reach the world and earn a living and trade, to become one of the rich in the world, this is the greatest loss.
When a believer recites the verse: (وَفِي السَّمَاءِ رِزْقَكُمْ وَمَا تُوعَدُونَ) Translation: “And your sustenance and what you are promised is in the sky.”
The first thing that is worthy of him is to acknowledge it and believe in it. If he is on the path of truth, he should not fear that he and his children will remain hungry, and if he does not do so, he is a liar, and Umar bin Abdul Aziz was not one of the liars.
He considered his property, and he saw that all of it was from the gifts of the caliphs except for a spring in “Suwayda” which he had acquired from his rights that the public treasury gave to all the people, and these rights were a kind of social security that even the most advanced Western governments do not reach today. He thought about his children, whether the yield of this spring, which is only 150 dinars per year, would be enough for them or not?
He remembered that Allah is the sustainer and that what is destined for you will reach you despite your weakness and that what is not for you, even if you are able, you will not reach it; so he gave up all his properties and tore up their deeds; then he went to the princes of the Umayyad family and gathered them, spoke to them, made them afraid of Allah and explained to them that they had no more right to the public treasury than a desert dweller, shepherd or farmer and that any unlawful wealth they had accumulated belonged to Allah and was not theirs. He asked them to return this wealth; but they refused, so he invited them to a party he had planned for them; He did not give them anything until hunger struck, so he brought them a poor meal of dried dates, lentils and onions, they started eating until they were full, then he brought them a delicious meal that they could not eat. He said: “Do you see? Why did they enter Hell because of food and drink?!” They did not answer. When he saw that tolerance was not a solution, he began to be strict and announced that whoever had a complaint against them or had been wronged should submit his complaint. For this purpose, he formed a special court and took this wealth that they had acquired without reason from them and returned it to the original owners or to the state treasury.
They sent his aunt (whom the Umayyads had special respect for because of her age and honor) as an intermediary, and she went and spoke to Umar; but he replied: “My dear aunt!” The Messenger of Allah (PBUH) passed away and left the people alone on a flowing river. After him, a man succeeded him (Abu Bakr) who did not reduce anything from it. After him, another man (Umar) did not reduce anything. Then another man came and drew a very small amount from it. Then it happened that people kept drawing from other rivers until nothing remained. But by Allah, I will block all those rivers so that the river will continue to flow.
He ordered that coals and a dinar be brought. He threw the dinar into the coals until it became red hot. He took it with something and brought it close to him. He said to his aunt: Don’t you feel sorry for your nephew who will be burned with this on the Day of Resurrection?
She said: Do not let the people speak ill of them.
He said: Who spoke ill of them? The people are demanding their rights.
His aunt came out and said: It is your fault. Why did you marry his father to the daughter of Umar ibn Al-Khattab? Wait, you have no other choice.
Continues…
By admin2