𝗪𝗜𝗦𝗗𝗢𝗠 𝗙𝗥𝗢𝗠 𝗢𝗠𝗔𝗥

 𝗪𝗜𝗦𝗗𝗢𝗠 𝗙𝗥𝗢𝗠 𝗢𝗠𝗔𝗥

Known as "al-Faarook" (the Criterion) for his foresight and inborne ability to distinguish between truth and falsehood. Sayyidna Umar has enjoyed the rare privilege of having been identified as the man most likely to have become a prophet after prophet Muhammad ﷺ, if ever there were to be such an inheritance. No doubt, the wisdom and leadership exhibited in his biography furnishes sufficient evidence for this. Sayyidna Umar has always been my favourite Sahabi. His courage in Truth, Foresight and unwavering commitment to Justice has drawn me to his character and person above that of any other companion. His was the first biography that I had ever read after the Seerah of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ. Throughout the years of study and contemplation over this great man's life and words, I have extracted 3 of the greatest lessons and key insights that have grounded me and made me more discerning in my adult life. I believe that you too may be enriched by these sagacious truths. .......................... (1) 𝙏𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚 𝙞𝙨 𝙣𝙤 𝙜𝙤𝙤𝙙 𝙞𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙞𝙣𝙙𝙞𝙫𝙞𝙙𝙪𝙖𝙡 𝙬𝙝𝙤 𝙣𝙚𝙞𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙤𝙛𝙛𝙚𝙧𝙨 𝙖𝙙𝙫𝙞𝙘𝙚 𝙣𝙤𝙧 𝙖𝙘𝙘𝙚𝙥𝙩𝙨 𝙞𝙩 A wonderful and sobering truth that invites humility and self awareness in all situations. As per the wise African proverb.... ɴᴏ ᴍᴀᴛᴛᴇʀ ʜᴏᴡ ʙɪɢ ᴛʜᴇ ᴇʟᴇᴘʜᴀɴᴛ, ᴛʜᴇ ᴊᴜɴɢʟᴇ ɪꜱ ᴀʟᴡᴀʏꜱ ɢʀᴇᴀᴛᴇʀ As a (very reluctant) social media influencer myself, I am daily reminded of this truth. Indeed. No man is too great to be corrected, neither is any person too insignificant to be singled out for direct conversation and advice. This reminds me to remain humble to the criticism and advise of total strangers on the internet, but also to be courteous enough to return warm greetings or engage in light hearted banter if only to acknowledge another person's presence and individuality Yes, you do exist and I Remember you from last week's comment. There is no such thing as being "too big" to respond to the questions or comments from the audience that acknowledged you in the First place. But in the age of social media celebrity, vanity metrics and egomaniacal displays of self importance - it is common to see open displays of arrogance and aloofness from people who simply consider themselves too important to engage with the "little people". (Unless you have +100K subs, enjoy a celebrity status or are offering paid endorsements, you are invisible to many so called "influencers") I know this because I have worked with a number of them and they have no problem admitting that being "too accessible" is bad for their image 🤷‍♂️. A great deal of arrogance is exercised when persons of influence purposefully refuse to acknowledge or respond to their direct audience, purely to portray an air of "exclusivity" for fear of appearing "too accessible". وَلَا تُصَعِّرْ خَدَّكَ لِلنَّاسِ وَلَا تَمْشِ فِى ٱلْأَرْضِ مَرَحًا ۖ إِنَّ ٱللَّهَ لَا يُحِبُّ كُلَّ مُخْتَالٍۢ فَخُورٍۢ Prophet Muhammad ﷺ wasn't arrogant or self absorbed, he didn't ignore the "little people". He would initiate Salaam even in the presence of children and didn't see himself as part of the elite and privileged class (with all that inflated Alpha-male top 1% earner hyperbolic chatter 🦜) Sayyidna Umar's wise words have kept me grounded and cognisant of my own ego when receiving genuine advice, feedback and correction. (2) 𝘼𝙧𝙧𝙤𝙜𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚 𝙩𝙤𝙬𝙖𝙧𝙙𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙖𝙧𝙧𝙤𝙜𝙖𝙣𝙩 𝙞𝙨 𝙖 𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙢 𝙤𝙛 𝙃𝙪𝙢𝙞𝙡𝙞𝙩𝙮 Following on from the first advice. It is important to keep things in perspective because all good things come in moderation. Not everyone has time to respond to your questions, have a chat or even acknowledge your queries. Sometimes time simply does not permit, despite all the goodwill in the world. Conversely, it should also be understood that many people have learned the hard reality that comes with simply being "too open" . Unfortunately, this can invite serious trouble as some unprincipled people use the cloak of "Naseeha" to attack and ridicule people. For this, Sayyidna Umar reminds us that there are indeed clear boundaries and inviolable lines to be drawn, beyond which it is wholly appropriate and even necessary to repel arrogance with greater (but appropriate) arrogance. Imam as-Shaafi expressed it in the following poetic form "And if you have but tasted the world, then be informed that I have devoured it..." In other words, humility towards others is a choice - not an absolute right that people should expect, especially when they are not being humble in how they choose to deliver their "Naseeha". لَّا يُحِبُّ ٱللَّهُ ٱلْجَهْرَ بِٱلسُّوٓءِ مِنَ ٱلْقَوْلِ إِلَّا مَن ظُلِمَ To be arrogant with the arrogant is indeed a form of humility as it simply demonstrates that your kindness is not to be taken for a weakness, you are indeed more than capable of returning the same hand, but you CHOOSE not to. People must Know this, and you should remind them once in a while. There is no moral obligation for anyone to accept disrespect, ridicule and insult in the name of humility (or "Naseeha") - never hesitate to shut such conversations down immediately and sternly. Disrespect is indeed contagious, you teach others how to treat you. (3) 𝘿𝙤 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙩𝙚𝙨𝙩𝙞𝙛𝙮 𝙩𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙖𝙘𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙤𝙛 𝙖𝙣𝙮 𝙢𝙖𝙣 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙬𝙝𝙤𝙢 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙣𝙚𝙞𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙘𝙤𝙣𝙙𝙪𝙘𝙩𝙚𝙙 𝙗𝙪𝙨𝙞𝙣𝙚𝙨𝙨, 𝙩𝙧𝙖𝙫𝙚𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙙 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙣𝙤𝙧 𝙙𝙧𝙖𝙬𝙣 𝙩𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙢𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙩𝙖𝙡 𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙨𝙝𝙞𝙥 Finally and most importantly....NEVER vouch for another person's moral character (either in favour or against) unless you have experienced them in one of the three situations and scenarios outlined by Sayyidna Umar al-Farook. • Conducted Business • Connected through intimate family ties • Travelled with them These are clear tests of character and it is almost impossible to conceal the true moral frame of the individual when money, family ties and the temptations of being in a foreign environment are brought into the equation. Human beings are complicated and they only ever project the best version of themselves publicly. Abstain from making Tazkiyyah of people based on superficial interactions. فَلَا تُزَكُّوٓا۟ أَنفُسَكُمْ ۖ هُوَ أَعْلَمُ بِمَنِ ٱتَّقَىٰٓ Be cautious, be discerning and be slow to condemn yet slower to exalt the virtues of any individual without first having experienced their character through business, marriage or travelling. This is perhaps the most valuable and insightful advice from Umar Ibn Al-Khattab, especially in the age of social media influencers and celebrities. May Allah bless Sayyidna Umar and revive his spirit of Siqd, Adaala, Himma, Hamaasa, Shuja'a and Ghira through us. Ameen 🙏