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In the same way he was very cautious when giving a fatwah (legal formal opinion in Islamic law).
One day somebody came to ask him a fatwah . When he put forward his question, lbn `Umar answered,
"I have no knowledge concerning what you are asking about." The man went his way. He had hardly left
the place when Ibn `Umar rubbed his hands happily saying to himself, "Ibn `Umar has been asked about
what he doesn't know, so he said, ` I don't know!'" He was very much afraid to perform ijtihaad
(independent judgment in a legal question) in his fatwah, although he was living according to the
instructions of a great religion, a religion which grants a reward to the one who makes a mistake and two
rewards to the one who comes out with a correct righteous fatwah. However, lbn `Umar's piety deprived
him of the courage to make any fatwahs.
In the same way he refrained from the post of judge. The position of a judge was one of the highest
positions of state and society, guaranteeing the one engaged in it wealth, prestige, and glory. But why
should the pious Ibn `Umar need money, prestige, and glory? The Caliph `Uthmaan once sent for him
and asked him to hold the postion of judge but he apologized. `Uthmaan asked him, "Do you disobey
me?" Ibn `Umar answered, "No, but it came to my knowledge that judges are of three kinds one who
judges ignorantly: he is in hell; one who judges according to his desire: he is in hell; one who involves
himself in making ijtihaad and is unerring in his judgment. That one will turn empty-handed, no sin
committed and no reward to be granted. I ask you by Allah to exempt me." `Uthmaan exempted him after
he pledged him never to tell anyone about that, for `Uthmaan knew Ibn `Umar's place in people's hearts
and he was afraid that if the pious and virtuous knew his refraining from holding the position of judge,
they would follow him and do the same, and then the Caliph would not find a pious person to be judge.
It may seem as if Ibn `Umar's stance was a passive one. However, it was not so. Ibn `Umar did not
abstain from accepting the post when there was no one more suitable to hold it than himself. In fact a lot
of the Prophet's pious and virtuous Companions were actually occupied with fatwah and judgment.
His restraint and abstention would not paralyze the function of jurisdiction, nor would it cause it to
be held by unqualified ones, so Ibn `Umar preferred to devote his time to purifying his soul with more
worship and more obedience. Furthermore, in that stage of Islamic history, life became more comfortable
and luxurious, money more abundant, positions and authoritative ranks more available. The temptation
of money and authoritative ranks began to enter the hearts of the pious and faithful , which made some of
the Prophet's Companions - Ibn `Umar among them - to lift the banner of resistance to that temptation by
means of making themselves models and examples of worship, piety, and abstention, refraining from
high ranks in order to defeat their temptation.
Ibn `Umar made himself a "friend of the night", praying at night, crying, and asking forgiveness
during its latter hours before daybreak. He had once, during his youth, seen a dream. The Prophet
interpreted it in a way which made the night prayer `Abd Allah's utmost hope and a means of his delight
and joy.
Let us listen to him, while he narrates the story of his dream: During the Prophetic era, I saw a
dream in which I was riding a piece of brocade which let me fly to any place in Paradise I wished. Then I
saw two approaching me, intending to take me to hell, but an angel met them saying, "Don't be afraid,"
so they left me. My sister Hafsah narrated the dream to the Prophet (PBUH), who said, "What an
excellent man `Abd Allah is. If he is praying at night, then let him pray more."
From that day until he met with Allah, he never stopped performing his night prayer, neither while
staying in one place nor while traveling. He was frequently praying, reciting the Qur'aan, and praising
Allah. Like his father, his tears rolled down abundantly whenever he heard a warning verse in the
Qur'aan.
Ubaid lbn `Umar said: I was once reading to `Abd Allah lbn `Umar this verse: "How will it be for
them when We bring from every nation a witness, and bring you to witness over them all? On that day
those who disbelieved and disobeyed the Messenger will wish the earth to be split open and swallow
them, but they will never conceal GOD any of their saying " (4:41-42) Ibn `Umar began to cry till his
beard was wet from his tears. One day he was sitting among his brothers reading "Woe to those who give