ISLAMIC VIRTUES

ventured his companion, “He can put some oil in the lamp.” Umar told him not to do so. Then he got up and put the oil in the lamp himself. “I was Umar ibn Abdul Aziz before I put oil in the lamp, and I am still Umar ibn Adul Aziz,” said the Caliph. WHILE WORSHIPPING GOD, DO NOT INCONVENIENCE OTHERS The Prophet was once in retreat in the mosque when he was disturbed by the sound of loud recitation. Raising the curtain, he said to the worshippers, “Look, you are all intent on beseeching God, but in so doing you must not trouble others. Don’t raise your voices to outdo each other while reciting the Quran.” SHOWING NO FAVOURITISM Abdullah ibn Arqam came before Umar one day and said to him: “Commander of the faithful, there are some ornaments and silver dishes among the articles that have come into the treasure from Jalula. Please look at them and tell us what to do with them.” Remind me of this when you see that I am free,” replied Umar. A few days later, Abdullah did so when the Commander of the faithful appeared to have nothing to occupy his attention. Umar then went to the treasury and had the ornaments and dishes brought before him. The moment he saw them, he recited the fourteenth verse of the chapter Al-Imran: “The satisfaction of worldly desires through women and children and heaped up treasures of gold and silver, and pedigreed horses, and cattle and lands is attractive to people. All this is the provision of the worldly life; but the most excellent abode is with God.” Then Umar said: “We cannot help but rejoice in something that has been made tempting to us. Lord, may we spend it aright. Protect us from its evil.” Just then one of his own sons, Abdul Rahman, came along and asked his father for a ring, Umar did not give him the ring instead he said: “Go to your mother, she will feed you barley soup.” o Small, individual changes can indeed bring big results.