Omar & Candle

Omar & The Candle – الشمعة والسراج

The candle of the Muslim Treasury (بيت المال) would be lit for Caliph Omar Ibn Abdul-Aziz for as long as he was dealing with the affairs of the Muslims.

When he finished with their affairs, he would blow it out.

Then his own personal lamp would be lit to complete his personal activities.

He did not want to utilise the candle of the Muslim Treasury (بيت المال) for his personal activities, because it wasn’t his personal property.

أَنَّ عُمَرَ كَانَ تُسْرَجُ لَهُ الشَّمْعَةُ مَا كَانَ فِي حَوَائِجِ الْمُسْلِمِينَ، فَإِذَا فَرَغَ مِنْ حَوَائِجِهِمْ أَطْفَأَهَا، ثُمَّ أَسْرَجَ عَلَيْهِ سِرَاجَهُ

[“Al-Ma’rifah wal-Tarikh”, 1/579 – authentic – إسناده صحيح رجاله ثقات].