The Prophet and His Companions
Al-Risala (English), March 1985, p. 23
By Maulana Wahiduddin Khan
Maulana Wahiduddin Khan is named as the default author of the periodical; a piece that carries another writer’s byline is credited to that writer.
The Prophet and His Companions
1985 3 March 23-24 The Prophet and His Companions (180)
Not giving oneself priority over one’s subjects.
Abu Ubaida Ibn Jarrah was with an army in Syria when the plague struck there. When Umar heard about this, he wrote to Abu Ubaida, saying that he had urgent work with him. “If you receive my letter at night,” he wrote, “then I abjure you to set off before the morning, and it you receive it by day, then I abjure you to set off before the night.” When Abu Ubaida received the letter he said: “I know what work the commander of the Faithful has with me.” He wrote back to Umar, explaining that he was among an army of Muslims, and could not give himself priority over his men. “I know what work you have with me,” he wrote. “You want to save one who is doomed. When you receive my letter, forgive me for not complying with your wish and allow me to remain here. Umar burst out weeping when he read this letter. The people around him enquired, “Commander of the Faithful, has Abu Ubaida died?” “No,” Umar replied, “but he’s as good as dead.”
