Where did we get our Glory?

Ibn Shihâb reports:

‘Umar went out to Shâm (Greater Syria) and Abû ‘Ubaydah b. Al-Jarrâh was with us. They came to a ford while ‘Umar was on his camel. He dismounted his camel, took off his leather socks, placed them on his shoulder and took the reins of his camel and began to go down the ford. Abû ‘Ubaydah said, “O Leader of the Believers! You are doing this?! You take off your leather socks, put them on your shoulder, take your camel’s reins and go down the ford?! I wouldn’t want the people of this land to see you in such a state!” ‘Umar said, “If only someone else had said this o Abû ‘Ubaydah. You have made a lesson for the Ummah of Muhammad – Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him! We were the lowliest of people but Allah gave us might and glory through Islam. If we seek glory through other than what Allah gave us glory through, He will abase us (again).”

In another version Abû ‘Ubaydah said:

O Leader of the Believers, should the armed forces and elite of Shâm meet you in this condition? ‘Umar replied, “We are a people whom Allah gave might and glory to through Islam, so we will never seek glory through anything else.”

Reported by Al-Hâkim, Al-Mustadrak Vol.1 pp61, 62. He declared it to be sahîh according to the criteria of Al-Bukhaârî and Muslim. Al-Dhahabî and Al-Albânî concur. See Al-Albânî, Al-Sahîhah Vol.1 p50.

More:

1. Umar on obeying the Muslim Ruler
2. Fathers for the Ummah
3. Praying for the Muslim Ruler
4. The Disease of this Ummah and its Doctor
5. Supplication or the Sword? [oppressive rulers]
6. The scholar, the ruler, and your brother
7. Imam Ahmad on Rebelling against Rulers