The Rough Mat That Made Umar Cry
Word had reached Umar ibn al-Khattab (RA) that there was a strain in the relationship between the Prophet ﷺ and his wives. Concerned, Umar decided to visit the Prophet and seek clarity.
Arriving at the Prophet’s quarters, he found Rabah (RA), the gatekeeper, sitting at the entrance with his legs stretched out. No one could enter without the Prophet’s approval, and Rabah held the responsibility of conveying such permissions.
“Rabah,” Umar said hesitantly, “Could you ask the Prophet if I may enter?”
Rabah looked towards the Prophet ﷺ, whose demeanor was solemn. He said nothing.
“Rabah, please ask again,” Umar repeated, more anxious this time.
Rabah glanced at the Prophet once more. There was still no response.
Growing uneasy, Umar finally raised his voice to where the Prophet could hear him. “O Messenger of Allah, perhaps you are denying me entry because of my daughter Hafsa? If she has displeased you in any way, I am ready to take responsibility. If it is your wish, I will discipline her myself!”
The Prophet ﷺ, moved by Umar’s emotional outburst, gestured for Rabah to let him in.
Inside, the sight that greeted Umar brought him to tears.
The ruler of an expanding Islamic empire lay on a humble mat woven from date palm fibers. No bedding softened its surface, and the rough mat left imprints on the Prophet’s blessed body. A pillow, stuffed with coarse palm fiber, supported his head, while a few scattered leaves lay by his feet. On the wall hung a small collection of tanned leather pieces and other modest items.
Umar’s eyes welled up as he took in the simplicity of this room.
The Prophet ﷺ noticed his tears. “What makes you cry, Umar?” he asked gently.
“How can I not cry?” Umar replied, his voice trembling. “The rulers of Rome and Persia live in palaces of luxury, while you, the Messenger of Allah, sleep on this rough mat. You deserve so much more!”
The Prophet ﷺ, smiling with serene wisdom, responded, “O Umar, are you not pleased that they have this world while we have the Hereafter?”
This was no isolated incident but a testament to the character of a man who lived his message: a life of utter humility and devotion to his Creator, free from the shackles of materialism.
A Prophet's Poverty by Choice
For the researcher who questions whether material ambitions underpinned the Prophet’s claim to prophethood, this moment stands as a profound refutation. His was a life not of excess but of giving—of enduring hunger while ensuring that others were fed.
Aisha (RA), his beloved wife and the daughter of the first caliph, Abu Bakr (RA), once described their household’s circumstances:
“There were months when no fire would be lit in our kitchen because we had no food to cook. Our sustenance during those times was dates and water. Occasionally, the people of Madinah would send milk from their goats, and we would mix it with the dates.”
Despite such conditions, the Prophet ﷺ responded to complaints about his meager living arrangements with these words:
“I am like a traveler who takes rest under the shade of a tree for a short while and then moves on.”
This analogy encapsulates his worldview. Life was but a temporary journey, and the comforts of this world were mere distractions from the eternal bliss of the Hereafter.
Rejection of Fame and Power
Fame, a desire for universal acclaim—could such motives have driven the Prophet ﷺ? Hardly. In pre-Islamic Arabia, poets were celebrated figures. Their verses were lauded, hung on the walls of the Kaaba, and recited in grand festivals.
The Qur’an, with its unmatched linguistic beauty, left even the Prophet’s fiercest opponents in awe. The Quraysh, while vehemently opposing his message, openly admitted that its eloquence surpassed any poetry or prose they had ever encountered.
If fame were his aim, he could have easily claimed authorship of the Qur’an. As a celebrated poet, he would have received admiration rather than persecution. But he did not. Instead, he proclaimed that the Qur’an was the word of Allah, not his own, and for this, he endured mockery, boycotts, and relentless oppression.
Neither was power his ambition. Early in his mission, the Quraysh leaders attempted to sway him with promises:
“If you desire wealth, we will amass it for you. If you seek leadership, we will make you our leader. If you crave kingship, we will crown you as our king. Even if it is women you want, we will offer you the most beautiful women of our tribes.”
The Prophet ﷺ rejected all their offers unequivocally, saying, “I am not driven by what you offer. I have been sent only as a Warner. My message is from Allah: to guide you to peace in this world and eternal success in the Hereafter. Whether you accept it or not, I will continue to deliver it.”
A Life of Humility
Even when power did eventually come to him, the Prophet ﷺ lived as humbly as ever. He forbade his companions from showing him undue reverence, saying:
“Do not exaggerate in praising me as the Christians exaggerated in praising the son of Mary. I am only a servant of Allah. Call me the Servant of Allah and His Messenger.”
He worked with his own hands, mending his sandals, sewing his clothes, and helping with household chores. When his companions prepared to slaughter an animal for food, he joined them in gathering firewood.
His simplicity was not an affectation but a lived reality. The marks of his mat remained on his body, and the message of his life was reflected in his actions: he was a Prophet among his people, not above them.
The Lover of the Poor
Muhammad ﷺ was no philosopher preaching abstract ideals from ivory towers. He lived the principles he taught. He stood with the poor, tied stones to his stomach to endure hunger, and wept in the stillness of the night before his Lord.
His message and life were inseparable—a practical demonstration of his teachings. He was a companion to his followers, a servant of his Creator, and a light to humanity.
He reminded his followers of the sacredness of humility and care for the less fortunate, saying:
"Seek me among the weak, for it is by their prayers that you are provided for and granted victory."
(Sunan Abu Dawood)
And in a Divine Hadith (Hadith Qudsi), Allah declares:
"I am with the broken-hearted."
The shade of his message—like the shade of a tree—offered comfort to the weary travelers of life. And when the time came, he left, moving on to the eternal abode, leaving behind not a kingdom of wealth but a kingdom of hearts.
