- ʿAbd Allah reported to us; my father reported to me; ʿAbd Allah ibn Yazid reported to us; Musa ibn ʿAli reported to us; he said: I heard my father say that Muʿawiyah ibn Khudayj narrated:
“ʿAmr ibn al-ʿAs sent me to ʿUmar ibn al-Khattab—may Allah have mercy on him—with news of the conquest of Alexandria. I reached Madinah at midday, tethered my mount at the mosque gate, and went inside. Just then a young maidservant came out of ʿUmar’s house; when she saw me in my travel-worn clothes, I turned away. She said, ‘Respond to the summons of the Commander of the Believers.’
“ʿUmar then said, ‘Girl, do we have any food?’ She brought some bread and olive oil. He told me, ‘Eat.’ I ate, though shyly. He urged, ‘Eat, for the traveller is fond of food.’
“Next he said, ‘Girl, do we have any dates?’ She brought me dates on a platter. He said, ‘Eat,’ and I ate, still embarrassed.
“Then he asked, ‘Muʿawiyah, what did you say when you entered the mosque?’ I replied, ‘I assumed the Commander of the Believers was taking his midday rest.’ He said, ‘What an evil thing you said—or presumed! If I were to sleep during the day, I would be neglecting the people under my care; and if I were to sleep at night, I would be neglecting myself. So how can I sleep with these two responsibilities upon me, Muʿawiyah?’”