Omar bin Abd al-Aziz, the Ascetic Caliph

An Excerpt from Page 157

The People’s Respect for Omar (Bin Abd Al-Aziz) after his Death.

It was reported that Ibrahim bin Hisham bin Yahyah bin Yahyah Al-Anani had related to us on the authority of his father and that of his grandfather as saying: “I was sitting in the company of Hisham bin Abd Al-Melek when he received a man who came to him and said: ‘Ye Emir of the Faithful, Abd Al-Melek gave my grandfather a piece of land and it was later approved by Al- Waleed and then by Suleiman. But when Omar bin Abd Al-Aziz (may Allah bless his soul) became Caliph, he took it from him.’ Then Hisham said to this man: ‘repeat what you said!’ The man then repeated: ‘Ye Emir of the Faithful, Abd Al-Melek gave my grandfather a piece of land and it was later approved by Al-Waleed and then by Suleiman. But when Omar bin Abd Al-Aziz (may Allah bless his soul) became Caliph, he took it from him.’ Then Hisham said:

'By Allah I am surprised by what you say. You mentioned those who gave property to your grandfather and those who approved it, and yet, you do not say a blessing word on them. And then you mentioned the one who took it from him and yet you say a blessing word on him! Indeed, we have approved of what had been decreed by Omar (may Allah bless his soul)'