The corpse of a beardless youngster who had been murdered was once brought to ‘Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu). The body of the youth had been found lying face down on the road. ‘Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) tried his utmost to investigate and determine what had happened to the youngster and to identify his killer. However, the investigation of ‘Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) did not produce any leads.
His inability to apprehend the killer and mete out justice greatly concerned ‘Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu). He thus turned to Allah Ta‘ala and made du‘aa saying, “O Allah! Grant me success in finding the killer!” The case thereafter went cold with no leads turning up until the year had almost ended. At that point, a newborn baby was found lying on the road in the exact same place where the corpse of the youngster had been found!
When the baby was brought to ‘Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu), he immediately realized that this baby had something to do with the murdered youngster and thus exclaimed, “Insha-Allah I will soon succeed in meting out justice on behalf of the murdered youngster.” He thereafter handed the baby to a woman and instructed her saying, “Look after this baby and take the money for his expenses from us. Watch to see who will come to take this baby from you. When you find somebody kissing this baby and clasping him to their chest then immediately inform me of that person’s location.”
The baby thus began to live with the woman and time passed. One day, when the baby had now grown to become a young child, a slave girl came to the woman and said, “My mistress has sent me to you to request that you send this child to her. She wishes to see the child and will return the child to you thereafter.” The woman replied, “Definitely! Take him to her and I will accompany you.”
They proceeded together until they entered the home of the mistress. There, the woman observed as the mistress set her eyes on the child, grasped him and began to kiss him. The mistress was the daughter of an Ansaari Sahaabi of Rasulullah (sallallahu ‘alaihi wasallam). The woman went to ‘Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) and informed him of what had happened.
No sooner had he heard her report, he immediately took his sword and set out for the home, where he found her father (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) leaning against the door. ‘Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) addressed him asking, “O so-and-so! What is the condition of your daughter?” The Sahaabi (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) replied, “O Ameerul Mu-mineen! May Allah Ta‘ala reward her! She is among the people who best understand and fulfill the rights of Allah Ta‘ala and the father. Together with this, her salaah, fasting and all matters pertaining to her Deen are excellent.” ‘Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) said, “I would like to enter your home so that I may address your daughter and further encourage her to strive in the line of righteousness and piety.” The Sahaabi (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) said, “Wait here so that I may inform the people in the home of your arrival.”
‘Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) agreed and after some time, was invited into the home. When he entered the home, ‘Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) unsheathed his sword. He then addressed the girl with a warning and said, “Speak the truth or else I will put you to my sword!”
The girl immediately realized why ‘Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) had come and replied, “O Ameerul Mu-mineen! Please do not be hasty! By Allah I will speak the truth! There was an old woman who used to visit me. I took her as a mother and she treated me as a daughter and took me as one. Our relationship continued in this way for some time. Eventually, one day she said to me, ‘O my daughter! I need to travel to a certain place. I have a daughter who lives in such-and-such a place and I fear for her safety. I therefore wish to bring her to stay with you until my return.’ She thereafter brought her young son to me whom she had dressed as a young girl. So convincing was her disguise that I did not at all suspect that the person before me was actually a boy. Even when staying with me, the boy would look at me and treat me like any other girl would. This, however, soon came to an end. One day, I awoke from my sleep with a shock to realize that the “girl” staying with me was actually a boy who was in the process of abusing me! I desperately grabbed a knife lying nearby and used it to kill him. I then had his body carried to the place where you had found it. Soon after, I gave birth to the boy’s child and had the baby sent to the place where you found it. By Allah! What I have just told you is the story of the baby and the dead boy.”
‘Umar (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) replied, “You have spoken the truth! May Allah Ta‘ala grant you barakah (blessing)!” He thereafter gave her some advice, made du‘aa for her and left. As he left, he said to her father (radhiyallahu ‘anhu) in high praise of her, “May Allah Ta‘ala grant you barakah in your daughter for what an excellent daughter it is that you have!”
(Manaaqibu ‘Umar ibnil Khattaab [radhiyallahu ‘anhu] – Ibnul Jowzi [rahimahullah] pg. 79-81)
Lesson:
A true Muslim woman will even be prepared to kill a person to preserve her chastity and honour. How lamentable it is that some women are now prepared to kill their chastity and honour to have a ‘good time’ with some person. We need to murder our carnal desires and passions and give life to our imaan and love for Allah Ta‘ala.