Anas ibn Malik said, "I came to the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, while he was on a seat with a bad woven on it. He had a pillow under his head made of skin stuffed with fibre. There was a cloth between his skin and the seat. 'Umar visited him and wept. The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, 'What made you weep, 'Umar?' He said, 'By Allah, Messenger of Allah, I am only weeping since I know that you are more noble with Allah than Chosroes and Caesar. They both live in what they live of this world while you, Messenger of Allah, are in the place I see.' The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, 'Are you not content, 'Umar, that they have this world while we have the Next?' I replied, 'Yes, Messenger of Allah.' He said, 'That is the way of it.'"
Behaviour with people - Al-Adab Al-Mufrad 1163
Anas ibn Malik said, "I came to the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, while he was on a seat with a bad woven on it. He had a pillow under his head made of skin stuffed with fibre. There was a cloth between his skin and the seat. 'Umar visited him and wept. The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, 'What made you weep, 'Umar?' He said, 'By Allah, Messenger of Allah, I am only weeping since I know that you are more noble with Allah than Chosroes and Caesar. They both live in what they live of this world while you, Messenger of Allah, are in the place I see.' The Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said, 'Are you not content, 'Umar, that they have this world while we have the Next?' I replied, 'Yes, Messenger of Allah.' He said, 'That is the way of it.'"
Commentary on the Hadith
This profound narration from Al-Adab Al-Mufrad reveals the exemplary character of the Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) and his complete detachment from worldly comforts. The description of his simple seating arrangement, with its rough weaving and humble pillow made of skin stuffed with fiber, demonstrates his voluntary poverty despite being the most honored of creation before Allah.
'Umar's emotional response stems from his deep recognition of the Prophet's spiritual status contrasted with his material circumstances. While worldly rulers like Chosroes of Persia and Caesar of Rome enjoyed palaces and luxury, the Messenger of Allah chose simplicity. The Prophet's response contains profound wisdom - he redirects 'Umar's perspective from temporal comparisons to eternal realities, affirming that the believers' true reward lies in the Hereafter.
This teaching emphasizes the Islamic principle of zuhd (asceticism) - not as rejection of worldly provisions, but as prioritizing spiritual wealth over material accumulation. The Prophet's contentment with his simple lifestyle serves as a timeless lesson in distinguishing between means and ends, reminding believers that this world is merely a pathway to the eternal abode.