from His beloved bondmen as a mother keeps her ill child away from harmful things. (Nayki ki Da’wat, pp. 265)

حُبّ دُنیا میں دل پھنس گیا ہے         نفس بدکار حاوی ہوا ہے

ہائے شیطاں بھی پیچھے پڑا ہے      یا خدا تجھ سے میری دعا ہے

صَلُّوۡا عَلَى الۡحَبِيۡب              صَلَّى اللّٰهُ تَعَالٰى عَلٰى مُحَمَّد

Dear Islamic brothers! اَلْـحَمْـدُ لـِلّٰـه عَزَّوَجَلَّ, the character of pious predecessors is a role model for us. These personages know the reality of the world very well. The world comes to them, but they always prefer the Hereafter to the world. Let’s listen to a faith-refreshing parable for persuasion.

The caliph who took no interest in the world

When Ameer-ul-Mu`mineen Sayyiduna Umar bin Abdul Aziz رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه became the caliph, he adopted piety and contentment (became uninterested in the world), rejected luxurious life, stopped eating delicious foods and started using very simple food. Nu’aym bin Salamat رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه has said: I went to Ameer-ul-Mu`mineen Umar bin Abdul Aziz and saw that he رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه was eating bread with olive oil. (Seerat Ibn Jawzi, pp. 180)

Yunus bin Sheeb رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه has said: After caliphate, I saw Ameer-ul-Mu`mineen Sayyiduna Umar bin Abdul Aziz رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه in the state that if I had wanted I could have counted his ribs without touching. (Seerat Ibn Jawzi, pp. 181) His slave has said: One day I came to my master, Ameer-ul-Mu`mineen, he was eating red lentil. I asked: ‘کُلَّ یَومٍ عَدَسٌ!’ i.e. why daily lentils? His wife replied: ‘ہَذَاطَعَامُ مَولَاکَ اَمِیْرِ الْمُؤْمِنِیْن!’  i.e. this is the food of your master, Ameer-ul-Mu`mineen رَضِىَ اللهُ تَعَالٰی عَـنْهُ. (Seerat Ibn Jawzi, pp. 181)