The Emotion and Passion of Ḥaḍrat ‘Umar(ra)

The Muslims were witnessing this scene and in religious indignation, their eyes became gorged with rage, but out of respect they remained silent before the Holy Prophet(sa). Finally, Ḥaḍrat ‘Umar(ra) could bear it no more. He came to the Holy Prophet(sa) and inquired in a trembling voice, “Are you not the truthful messenger of Allāh?” The Holy Prophet(sa) said, “Yes, indeed I am.” ‘Umar responded, “Are we not upon the truth and our enemy upon falsehood?” The Holy Prophet(sa) responded, “Yes, indeed it is so.” ‘Umar said, “Why then should we bear this humiliation in the matter of our true religion?” Upon seeing this state of Ḥaḍrat ‘Umar(ra), the Holy Prophet(sa) concisely said, “Look hither ‘Umar! I am the Messenger of God. I understand the will of God and I cannot act against it and it is He who shall be my helper.” But the indignation in the mood of Ḥaḍrat ‘Umar(ra) was growing, moment by moment. He began to say, “Did you not say that we would perform Ṭawāf around the Ka‘bah?” The Holy Prophet(sa) said, “Yes, indeed I did, but did I also say that this Ṭawāf would definitely be this year?” ‘Umar(ra) said, “No, you did not.” The Holy Prophet(sa) responded, “Then be patient. God-willing, you shall indeed enter Makkah and perform Ṭawāf of the Ka‘bah.” However, in this state of emotion, Ḥaḍrat ‘Umar(ra) was not satisfied. Nonetheless, due to the unusual awe of the Holy Prophet(sa), Ḥaḍrat ‘Umar left and came to Ḥaḍrat Abū Bakr(ra). In his emotion, he asked the same question again, and Ḥaḍrat Abū Bakr(ra) also responded in the same way as the Holy Prophet(sa). However, Ḥaḍrat Abū Bakr(ra) also advised him, “O ‘Umar, look hither! Control yourself. Do not allow for your grip to loosen from the rope of Allāh’s Messenger. By God, this man, in whose hand we have given our own is without a doubt, truthful.” Ḥaḍrat ‘Umar(ra) said that at the time because of his emotion he said such things, but later he felt exceedingly repentant. Moreover, in order to wash away the effects of this weakness as a form of repentance, he performed many voluntary acts as an expiation.1 In other words, he gave charity, fasted, offered voluntary Ṣalāt and even freed numerous slaves, so that this blemish of weakness could be cleansed.”2