Amend Omar

The war ceased, the clashing of swords subsided, the fragments of the dead were scattered, and the banner of faith rose high, proclaiming the Muslims’ victory. The heroes set out to gather the spoils that crowded the battlefield. Among these knights was a valiant warrior, unmatched in his prowess, who had struck down many enemies. Abu Musa al-Ash’ari, may Allah be pleased with him, gave him his share of the spoils but did not fulfill it fully. The man refused to accept anything less than the entirety, leaving not even a mustard seed behind. Consequently, Abu Musa al-Ash’ari had him whipped with twenty lashes and his head shaved.

The man gathered his scattered hair from the ground into a pouch and took it to the city. When he entered to meet the Commander of the Faithful, Umar ibn al-Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him, the man took the hair from his pocket and struck his chest with it. Umar ibn al-Khattab asked, “What is wrong with you?” The man recounted his story. The dormant volcano of anger within the Commander of the Faithful erupted. He wrote to Abu Musa al-Ash’ari: “Peace be upon you. As for what follows, so-and-so son of so-and-so informed me of such and such. I swear to you by Allah: if you committed what you did in the presence of a crowd, then sit in the presence of a crowd so that he may exact retribution from you; and if you committed it in private, then sit in private so that he may exact retribution from you.”