O people, in the time of the Messenger of Allah ﷺ revelation used to descend, and through it we could recognize men both outwardly and inwardly—their excellence and their flaws. But now revelation has ceased to come to us, so we judge each person by what he shows openly, while Allah knows the secrets of his heart. For my part, and that of my governors, we exert ourselves so that we take nothing except with due right and give nothing except with due right.
If you wish to see how a ruler’s justice and piety earn him noble remembrance and lasting honour, look at the reports about ʿUmar ibn ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz. No one from the houses of Umayya or Marwān received praise and commendation like his; such acclaim is claimed for him alone and bestowed on him alone, because he was just, devout, generous, of beautiful conduct and pure heart.
Story: In the days of ʿUmar ibn ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz a severe drought struck. A delegation of desert Arabs came to him and chose one of their number to speak. The man said, “O Commander of the Faithful, we have come to you in dire necessity. Our skins cling to our bones for lack of food, and our relief lies in the public treasury. That wealth cannot be free of one of three possibilities: it is either Allah’s, or His servants’, or yours. If it is Allah’s, Allah has no need of it. If it belongs to His servants, then give it to them. And if it is yours, then give it to us in charity, for Allah rewards those who give in charity.”
ʿUmar ibn ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz’s eyes filled with tears. He said, “It is exactly as you have described,” and he ordered that their needs be met from the public treasury. When the Bedouin turned to leave, ʿUmar said, “Man, just as you have conveyed the needs of Allah’s servants to me and made me hear their words, now convey my words and raise my need to Allah the Exalted.” The Bedouin lifted his face toward the sky and said, “My Lord, deal with ʿUmar ibn ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz as he has dealt with Your servants.” He had scarcely finished speaking when clouds gathered and a heavy rain fell. In the downpour a large hailstone struck a brick and broke it open, revealing a sheet of parchment on which was written: “This is a writ from Allah, the Mighty, granting ʿUmar ibn ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz freedom from the Fire.”
Story: It is said that one night ʿUmar ibn ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz was reviewing the affairs of the people and their registers by the light of a lamp. A servant of his came and spoke to him about a matter that concerned