‘Would that I were dust!’

‘Would that I were dust!’

1987 11 November 30 ‘Would that I were dust!’ (229) When Umar, the second Caliph, was dying, – struck down by the dagger of Abu Lulu Firoz, – he lay with his head in the lap of his son, Abdullah ibn Umer. Umer said to him, “Rub my cheek in the dust Abdullah,” and his son did as he was asked. Then with his head resting on the ground, Umer uttered these words to himself: “Woe betide you, Umer, and woe betide the one who gave birth to you if God does not forgive you.”

(Tabaqat ibn Saad)

Before he had breathed his last, Umar, like a true believer, wished to be joined with the dust, and thought in fear and trembling what God’s judgement of him would be in the life after death. How different are the unbelievers who give no thought to such matters until it is too late – until they stand before their Maker on the Day of Judgement. The believer bows to God while He is yet invisible. The unbeliever bows to God only when He reveals Himself to him. The Quran gives ample warning to him with the verse: “That day is sure to come. Let him who will, seek a way back to his Lord. We have forewarned you of an imminent scourge the day when a man will look upon his works and the unbeliever cry: ‘Would that I were dust” (78 : 40)