Umar (ra) and the pious young shepherd.

**marwen** · 11-06-2010

This is a very beautiful short story, but a very touching message for myself first, and for all muslims :

When Umar RadhiAllahu anhu was anonymously traveling around the environs of Madinah, dressed in his usual old and tattered clothes he came upon a young shepherd tending his flock. Umar RadhiAllahu anhu requested that he milk one of the sheep so he could satisfy his thirst. He offered the young boy money for the milk.
The shepherd said he would willingly give him a drink, but the sheep were not his, they were entrusted to him by the owner and he did not have the owner’s permission to offer any milk to any body.
Umar RadhiAllahu anhu being the wise guardian of his people took the opportunity to test this young boy suggesting that he sell him one of the sheep so he could milk it and then slaughter it later if necessary, while the shepherd profits from the money Umar RadhiAllahu anhu was prepared to pay him. He offered the shepherd an explanation for the missing sheep suggesting he tell the owner that a wolf had eaten one of the flock, that nobody would know the truth. The young shepherd exclaimed, “What about Allah?”

Such love and fear and strength of Yaqeen!

Fearing Allah when you're alone is the best indicator of how strong our Imaan is : when you're at work and no one (except Allah) can see you, but you prevent yourself from betraying your boss or stealing public money. When you're at home alone and your room door is closed, your alone with your laptop, but you prevent yourself from visiting dirty websites, because you feel that Allah is seeing you right now.
If we can't do that, then there should be something wrong with our Imaan, and we're in a big danger if we don't work hard to increase our fear of Allah alone.