Hz. Omar’s (ra.) Wish to Participate in a Supplication
Hazrat Omar -may Allah be pleased with him-, while strolling through the city streets one night, saw a house illuminated by candlelight. Overcome by curiosity, he approached the house and heard an elderly woman spinning wool and reciting a poignant poem.
The Poem Recited by the Elderly Woman and Hz. Omar’s (ra.) Reaction
The lines of the poem recited by the woman touched Hazrat Omar’s heart deeply:
“May the blessings and peace of the righteous be upon Prophet Muhammad Mustafa -peace and blessings of Allah be upon him-. O Messenger of Allah! May all distinguished personalities offer mercy to you. You would worship at night, and weep profusely in the early hours. But death reaches everyone gradually. Alas! If I knew whether the abode of the Hereafter would bring me together with my beloved (Prophet)!”
Listening to this deeply meaningful poem, Omar -may Allah be pleased with him-, was moved to tears and wept for a while. He then knocked on the door. The elderly woman at the door asked who it was.
“–Omar bin al-Khattab.”
The woman, anxiously, asked, “What business does Omar have with me, what is he looking for here this hour?” Omar -may Allah be pleased with him-, calmly replied:
“–If you love Allah, open the door, do not fear!”
and the woman opened the door. Hazrat Omar asked the woman:
“–Would you please recite the poem you recited earlier again?!”
He wanted to hear it again. The woman began reciting the poem again, and when she reached the last couplet, Omar -may Allah be pleased with him-:
“–I request that you include me among you!”
said. Upon this, the woman changed the last line of the poem as follows:
“Alas! If I knew whether the abode of the Hereafter would bring me together with my beloved (Prophet), myself and Omar? O Allah, the Forgiving (Ghaffar)! Grant forgiveness to Omar!”
Omar -may Allah be pleased with him-, expressed his satisfaction with this sincere supplication and returned. (Ali al-Muttaqi, XII, 562/35762)