The fear of accoutability
As Salamu Alaikum wa rahmatullahi wa barakatuh,
Umar RA was very well-known for his JUSTICE. He did not spare even his son.
Abu Shahma (RA) was a son of Umar (RA) by Luhayya al-Yamaniyya. His real name was Abd al-Rahman al- Asghar or al-Awsat (RA) . He fought in the battles in Egypt. After the conquest of Egypt he built a house for himself in Fustat.
One day in the company of a friend he inadvertently drank wine and became unconscious. The following day he went with his friend to Amr bin Al Aas (RA), confessed their guilt, and wanted to be punished. Amr bin Al Aas (RA) said that as they had drunk the wine inadvertently, and were feeling repentant, that was enough and no further punishment was called for.
Abu Shahma (RA) did not wish to avail of the benefit of inadvertence. He insisted that he should be punished according to law, failing which he would bring the matter to the notice of the Caliph. Thereupon Arm bin Al Aas (RA) inflicted the usual punishment of lashes in the compound of his house. Abu Shahma's (RA) head was also shaved off in the house of the Governor.
The Reporter reported the matter to Umar, and Umar addressed a letter to Amr b. Al Aas (RA) in strong terms as follows:
"O Amr bin Al Aas (RA) it has come to my notice that you have been derelict in the performance of your duty. You have shown undue favor to Abu Shahma (RA) by awarding him punishment in your house rather than at a public place. You were apparently moved by the consideration that he is my son. You should know that in such matters I cannot tolerate any concession to a person on the ground that he is related to me. As soon as you get this letter send Abu Shahma (RA) to Medina on a naked camel."
Amr bin Al Aas (RA) complied with the instructions and dispatched Abu Shahma (RA) to Madina. In the way Abu Shahma (RA) fell sick and when he reached Madina he could hardly walk.
Umar (RA) was furious, and he ordered that Abu Shahma (RA) should be lashed in the public. Abdul Rahman b. Auf (RA) pleaded that the boy had already been lashed in Egypt and no further punishment was called for Abu Shahma (RA) said that he was suffering, and the punishment should be deferred till he was recovered.
Umar (RA) brushed aside these pleadings Abu Shahma (RA) was flogged publicly (according to some narrations, himself). Abu Shahma (RA) could not withstand the ordeal He fell senseless after a few stripes had been inflicted. He remained in a state of agony for a few days and then died a martyr to the highly developed sense of justice of his father. {Allahu Akbar}
The incident is also authentically described as follows:
This 'equality of all before the law' could be demonstrated by several incidents from the Rightly Guided Khulafah such as the case of Abu Shahma (RA), the son of Khalifah Umar (RA), who died as a result of flogging after he was convicted of fornication or drinking even though the public had pity for him and demanded that he be let off the hook but the Khalifah rigidly applied the Qur'anic maxim "and let not the pity for them prevent you from executing the order of Allah if you truly believe in Allah and the Last Day and let a party of believers witness the event" 24:2 [Shah Wabullah: 1zalatul Khifa p.151
Another version describes as follows:
When the boy was on death bed Umar (RA) said to him, "When you meet the Holy Prophet (Sallaho Alaihe Wassallam) tell him that Umar (AR) is following his injunctions strictly."
Umar RA was very well-known for his JUSTICE. He did not spare even his son.
Abu Shahma (RA) was a son of Umar (RA) by Luhayya al-Yamaniyya. His real name was Abd al-Rahman al- Asghar or al-Awsat (RA) . He fought in the battles in Egypt. After the conquest of Egypt he built a house for himself in Fustat.
One day in the company of a friend he inadvertently drank wine and became unconscious. The following day he went with his friend to Amr bin Al Aas (RA), confessed their guilt, and wanted to be punished. Amr bin Al Aas (RA) said that as they had drunk the wine inadvertently, and were feeling repentant, that was enough and no further punishment was called for.
Abu Shahma (RA) did not wish to avail of the benefit of inadvertence. He insisted that he should be punished according to law, failing which he would bring the matter to the notice of the Caliph. Thereupon Arm bin Al Aas (RA) inflicted the usual punishment of lashes in the compound of his house. Abu Shahma's (RA) head was also shaved off in the house of the Governor.
The Reporter reported the matter to Umar, and Umar addressed a letter to Amr b. Al Aas (RA) in strong terms as follows:
"O Amr bin Al Aas (RA) it has come to my notice that you have been derelict in the performance of your duty. You have shown undue favor to Abu Shahma (RA) by awarding him punishment in your house rather than at a public place. You were apparently moved by the consideration that he is my son. You should know that in such matters I cannot tolerate any concession to a person on the ground that he is related to me. As soon as you get this letter send Abu Shahma (RA) to Medina on a naked camel."
Amr bin Al Aas (RA) complied with the instructions and dispatched Abu Shahma (RA) to Madina. In the way Abu Shahma (RA) fell sick and when he reached Madina he could hardly walk.
Umar (RA) was furious, and he ordered that Abu Shahma (RA) should be lashed in the public. Abdul Rahman b. Auf (RA) pleaded that the boy had already been lashed in Egypt and no further punishment was called for Abu Shahma (RA) said that he was suffering, and the punishment should be deferred till he was recovered.
Umar (RA) brushed aside these pleadings Abu Shahma (RA) was flogged publicly (according to some narrations, himself). Abu Shahma (RA) could not withstand the ordeal He fell senseless after a few stripes had been inflicted. He remained in a state of agony for a few days and then died a martyr to the highly developed sense of justice of his father. {Allahu Akbar}
The incident is also authentically described as follows:
This 'equality of all before the law' could be demonstrated by several incidents from the Rightly Guided Khulafah such as the case of Abu Shahma (RA), the son of Khalifah Umar (RA), who died as a result of flogging after he was convicted of fornication or drinking even though the public had pity for him and demanded that he be let off the hook but the Khalifah rigidly applied the Qur'anic maxim "and let not the pity for them prevent you from executing the order of Allah if you truly believe in Allah and the Last Day and let a party of believers witness the event" 24:2 [Shah Wabullah: 1zalatul Khifa p.151
Another version describes as follows:
When the boy was on death bed Umar (RA) said to him, "When you meet the Holy Prophet (Sallaho Alaihe Wassallam) tell him that Umar (AR) is following his injunctions strictly."
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