(68) Chapter: Leading an Abstemious Life and refraining from the Doubtful

Nafi' (May Allah be pleased with him) reported:
'Umar bin Al-Khattab (May Allah be pleased with him) fixed the payment amounting to four thousand dirhams for each of the early Emigrants, but for his son, he fixed only three thousand five hundred. He was asked: "He is also an (early) Emigrant, why have you fixed a lesser sum for him?" He said: "It was his father who took him along with him. He is not like one who emigrated by himself."

[Al-Bukhari].

Commentary: This Hadith throws light on `Umar's fairness, fear of Allah, uprightness and sense of custodianship. The annual allowance which he got fixed from the treasury for his son was five hundred dirhams less than that given to other Muhajirun. His plea was that since the recipient had migrated to Al-Madinah accompanied by his parents, his grade should have been less as compared to those Muhajirun who had emigrated voluntarily.