Leadership is a Calamity

Hadhrat Abdullah Bin Amr Bin A’as (radhiyallahu anhu) always yearned to see Ameerul Mu’mineen Hadhrat Umar (radhiyallahu anhu) in a dream. Once, very long after Hadhrat Umar’s demise, he appeared in Hadhrat Abdullah’s dream.

In his dream, Hadhrat Abdullah saw a magnificent palace from which Hadhrat Umar (radhiyallahu anhu) emerged. Hadhrat Abdullah: ‘How are you, O Ameerul Mu’mineen?’ Hadhrat Umar: If my Rabb was not Ghafoor and Raheem (Most Forgiving and Merciful), I would have been destroyed.” Hadhrat Abdullah: “What had transpired?” Hadhrat Umar: “Since my death how much time has passed?”

Hadhrat Abdullah: “Twelve years”. Hadhrat Umar: “I have just now been released from the Reckoning.” The justice and piety of Hadhrat Umar (radhiyallahu anhu) were proverbial. When this was the divine apprehension of such a great, illustrious and just leader and ruler, what lies in store for the tyrants and oppressors— for the scoundrels who are kings, presidents, prime ministers, and leaders of a multitude of kinds?