116 – Hamzah ibn al-ʿAbbās related to me; he said: ʿAbdān ibn ʿUthmān informed us; he said: ʿAbd Allāh ibn al-Mubārak narrated to us; he said: Maʿmar, from Hishām ibn ʿUrwah, from his father, reported:

When ʿUmar ibn al-Khaṭṭāb—may Allah be pleased with him—arrived in Syria, the commanders of the armies and the leading figures of the land came out to meet him. ʿUmar asked, “Where is my brother?” They said, “Who is your brother?” He answered, “Abū ʿUbaydah.” They responded, “He will be with you shortly.”

Abū ʿUbaydah then appeared, riding a she-camel whose only bridle was a rope. He greeted ʿUmar, inquired after his well-being, and then said to the people, “You may leave.” He walked on with ʿUmar until they reached his dwelling, where ʿUmar dismounted and entered. Inside he saw nothing but a sword, a shield, and a saddle.

ʿUmar said to him, “Could you not have acquired some household goods?”—or words to that effect. Abū ʿUbaydah replied, “O Commander of the Believers, this is enough to carry us to the place of repose.”