598 – ʿAbd Allah related to us; Muhammad ibn ʿAbbād related to us; Ḥātim related to us, from Hishām ibn Saʿd, from Zayd ibn Aslam, from his father, who said:

I saw ʿAbd Allah ibn Arqam come to ʿUmar—may Allah be pleased with him—and say, “Commander of the Believers, we have a large haul from the booty of Jalula: vessels and silver. If you can spare a day, instruct us as to what you wish to be done with it.” ʿUmar replied, “When you see me free, inform me.”

One day he came and said, “Today I see that you are free.” ʿUmar answered, “Yes. Spread a leather mat for me.” In the place he indicated they spread it out, and he ordered that the money be poured upon it. He then came, stood over it, and said:

“O Allah, when this wealth came to mind I recited, ‘Beautified for people is the love of worldly desires…’ (Āl ʿImrān 3:14) to the end of the verse, and also, ‘so that you may not grieve over what has escaped you nor exult in what He has given you’ (al-Ḥadīd 57:23). Yet we cannot help but rejoice in what has been made attractive to us. O Allah, enable it to be spent rightly, and I seek refuge in You from its evil.”

A little later someone brought one of his sons, a small child named ʿAbd al-Raḥmān ibn Buhayya. The boy said, “Father, give me a ring.” ʿUmar replied, “Go to your mother and she will give you some sawiq (barley drink).” By Allah, he did not give him anything.