Islamic Character

Doing one’s family bidding is no mark of faith Jabir ibn Abdullah had just bought one dirham’s worth of meat and was taking it home, when he met Umar ibn Khattab. The latter asked him what he was carrying and Jabir told him, “Something that my family want very badly; I have bought them a dirham’s worth of meat.” Umar went on repeating the words. “Something that my family want very badly,” so often that Jabir wished he had lost the dirham before buying the meat, or else that he had not met Umar. According to another tradition, Umar said: “What, whenever they want something, do you buy it for them? Have you forgotten this verse: ‘You squandered away your precious things in your earthly life and took your fill of pleasure.’” (46:20) (AL-BAYHAQI, ALSUNAN AL-KUBRA)