Page:Muhammad Diyab al-Itlidi - Historical Tales and Anecdotes of the Time of the Early Khalîfahs - Alice Frere - 1873.djvu/36

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Lŭlŭah el-Fayruz, who was a slave belonging to el-Mughîrah-ibn-Shuàbah, in 23, aged 63 years. He was buried at el-Medînah, in the same building as the Prophet and his e was buried first successor Abu-Bekr.

T is related of ʾOmar that on his return from Damascus to el-Medînah, he withdrew himself from the public in order to study more minutely the circumstances of his subjects. Happening to pass by the hovel of an old woman, and turning towards her, she addressed him, saying, "And what is ʾOmar doing?"

"He has returned from Damascus in safety," was his reply. Whereupon she exclaimed, "Has the fellow, indeed? May he obtain no recompense from God on my account!"

"And wherefore?" asked ʾOmar.

"Because," she replied, "since he has held rule over the Muslims he has never given me one dinâr; no, nor even a dirhem."