good deeds, a worthy name, and a wholesome reputation; for by these a man is remembered without cease, and when he is gone people say, “Why should we not be like him?”

Abu Shrawan (Anushirwan) said, “Come, then, let us do good and reflect upon it.” Caesar remarked, “When you reflect on good, you do good; and when you do good, you attain your goal.” Yaʿfurjīn added, “May Allah protect us from a thought which, if we give it voice, would shame us; if we mention it, would embarrass us; and if we keep it hidden, would leave us regretful.” Caesar then asked Anushirwan, “What thing is dearest to you?” He replied, “Dearest to me is to fulfil the need of anyone who deems me capable of meeting it.” Caesar said, “As for me, I would rather not commit a sin at all, so that I need not fear any king.” Such were their words.

Observe, O Sultan of Islam, how they conducted themselves with their subjects. You must heed their sayings, examine their deeds, and read their stories in the books, reflecting on the descriptions of their justice, equity, fine conduct, and good repute—praise that will remain on people’s tongues until the Day of Resurrection.

The Commander of the Faithful ʿUmar ibn al-Khattab—may Allah be pleased with him—displayed such justice and statesmanship that he carried out the legal punishment upon his own son, and the latter died under it. Whenever he dispatched governors to their posts he would say, “Buy your mounts and weapons out of your own stipends; do not reach into the Muslims’ treasury; and do not shut your doors to those with needs.”

ʿAbd al-Raḥmān ibn ʿAwf related: “One night ʿUmar ibn al-Khattab summoned me and said, ‘A caravan has encamped at the city gate, and I fear that, if they sleep, some of their goods may be stolen.’ I went out with him, and when we arrived he said, ‘You sleep,’ and he himself stood guard over the caravan the whole night.”

ʿUmar—may Allah be pleased with him—also said, “It is incumbent upon me to travel in order to meet the people’s needs throughout the lands, for among them are weak folk who, because of distance, cannot come to me with their petitions. I must therefore tour the provinces, observe the conduct of the officials, follow their course, and see to the Muslims’ needs; no year in ʿUmar’s life would be more blessed than such a year.”

Anecdote: Zayd ibn Aslam said, “One night I saw ʿUmar ibn al-Khattab making his rounds with the night patrol. I followed him and said, ‘Will you allow me to accompany you?’ He answered, ‘Yes.’ When we left the…"