Islamic Character

Great and small weigh alike in the scales of justice An Egyptian came before Umar ibn Khattab, seeking refuge from oppression. Umar granted his request, and then the Egyptian explained what had befallen him. “The son of the governor of Egypt, Muhammad ibn Amr ibn al-Aas, ran a race with me and I won it. He became so incensed at this that he started lashing me with a whip and shouting, ‘I am a nobleman’s son! Take that!’ On hearing this, Umar immediately wrote to Amr ibn al-Aas to bring his son to Madinah. When they arrived, Umar summoned the Egyptian, handed him a whip and told him to start lashing Muhammad, the son of Amr ibn al-Aas. When the Egyptian had given the son a good whipping, Umar told him to start whipping the father, because, in the first place, it was the father’s power that had made it possible for Muhammad ibn Amr ibn al-Aas to subject the Egyptian to a beating. “I have beaten the one who beat me,” said the Egyptian. “Now I need not beat anyone else.” If you had beaten him, we would not have stopped you,” said Umar. “But if you yourself let him go, that is your choice.” Then turning to Amr ibn al-Aas, he asked: “Since when have you been enslaving people who were free when their mothers bore them?” (IBN ABDIL HAKAM)