Manners in Speech

Deferring to the better-informed Abdullah ibn Umar tells of how, after the death of the Prophet, people in both Arabia and Persia started breaking their pledges to Islam. They claimed that, with the Prophet dead, there was no point in continuing to follow Islam, for it had only been because of him that Muslims received divine succour. Using this argument, they won over the people of Nihawand, with whom they forged an alliance. The Prophet’s successor, Abu Bakr, called together the Emigrants and Helpers, and told them that the Arabs were turning away from Islam and had stopped paying zakat on their goats and camels. As for the Persians, they intended to attack the Muslims along with their new allies from Nihawand. “They say that now that the Prophet has gone, God will not assist the Muslims. What advice do you have to give me” I am just an ordinary man like anyone of you. In fact, I am the least able to bear the burden of the Caliphate.” There was a long interval of silence after Abu Bakr had finished speaking. This was finally broken by Umar, who then offered the Caliph his advice. (KANZ AL-UMMAL)