ISLAMIC VIRTUES

them in a vice.” At these words, Umar, the second Muslim Caliph, exclaimed: “Praise be to God, who has put me among a people who will straighten me when I become crooked.” Rising above Love and Hate When the Prophet emigrated from Makkah to Madinah, the keys of the House of God in Makkah were in the custody of one Uthman ibn Abu Talhah, they having remained in the keeping of his family for several generations. One day, the Prophet asked Uthman for the keys, but the latter refused to hand them over, and spoke rudely to him. The Prophet heard him out but all he said finally was: “Uthman, perhaps you will live to see the day when I shall have these keys in my hands. I shall then be in a position to give them unto whom I will.” “It will be a day of disgrace and woe for the Quraysh when the keys of the Kabah are in the hands of one such as you”, replied Uthman. After the conquest of Makkah, God’s Messenger reigned supreme there, and asked for the keys of the Kabah to be handed over to him. When the keys were actually in his hands, his own cousin and son-inlaw, Ali ibn Abi Talib, arose and asked for them to be given to him. The Prophet, however, did not respond, Instead, he summoned Uthman ibn Talhah. When he stood before him, the Prophet handed him the keys, saying, “Here are your keys, Uthman. This is a day of righteousness and fulfillment of promises.” Receiving Praise, not with Conceit, but with Humility According to Naafi someone launching into extravagant eulogies to Abdullah ibn Umar, addressed him as “most noble of men, son of the most noble".“Neither am I the most noble of men, nor am I the son of the most noble,” replied Ibn Umar. “I am just one of God’s servants; in Him do I have hope, and Him do I fear. By God, you are bent on destroying a man with such praise.” o An honest person cannot afford to live as an indifferent member of society.