Daily Lesson 129

Sayyiduna Abu Bakr’s and Umar’s رضي الله عنهما kindness to an old Woman

In the time of Sayyiduna Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه, in a small area of Madeenah, there lived a blind elderly woman who had no one to help her and attend to her needs.

When Sayyiduna Umar ibn Al Khattab رضي الله عنه came to know of this, he became very uneasy and decided to take it upon himself to attend to her need. After all, every believer is full of love and Sayyiduna Umar رضي الله عنه being a very great believer had an even greater level of love.

The next day Sayyiduna Umar رضي الله عنه went in secrecy, but when he reached, he was surprised to find someone had already been and had already attended to the needs of this blind woman.

When this happened for a few days, Sayyiduna Umar رضي الله عنه became very frustrated at someone surpassing him in this golden opportunity to serve a person in need.

He was curious too and so hid in one corner the next day. Sayyiduna Umar رضي الله عنه did not have to wait long as soon a man entered. When Sayyiduna Umar رضي الله عنه looked closely, it was non-other than the Caliph of the time, Sayyiduna Abu Bakr رضي الله عنه!

Moral:

1) We learn from this story, how the great companions looked out for and cared for one another.

2) They looked for opportunities to be of help and service to others. In fact, we learn from this incident that they competed to be the person who served others.

3) What’s most remarkable is that the great services of theirs were done in secrecy and would not be advertised. They were done only for the sake of Allah Ta’ala.

So children, let us too find someone whom we can help and be of service to. Maybe an elderly neighbour or relative or a disabled person living nearby and after taking permission from our parents let’s try to help them.

To read last week’s hadeeth lesson on ‘A Believer is a treasure of love’ Click here