223 – Hārūn ibn ʿAbd Allāh related to us; he said: ʿIṣmah ibn Sulaymān told us; he said: Ibn al-Simmāk informed us:

ʿUmar ibn ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz was once distributing apples among the people. One of his sons came along and took an apple from the pile. ʿUmar quickly sprang toward him, pried open his hand, took the apple, and threw it back with the others. The boy ran to his mother for help, and she asked, “What is the matter, my dear son?” When he explained what had happened, she sent two dirhams to the market and bought some apples. She ate some, gave him some, and set a portion aside for ʿUmar.

When ʿUmar had finished the work before him and entered her room, she brought out a plate of apples. He asked, “Where did these come from, Fāṭimah?” She told him the story, whereupon he said, “May Allah have mercy on you. By Allah, I had been longing for them.”