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- Each of you is a shepherd
Each of you is a shepherd
Who is your flock?
Every flock as a shepherd
and every shepherd carries a weight.
When Sa’eed ibn Aamir once advised Umar bin Khattab ر
the leader of the Muslims
his words weren’t just for a ruler
they were for all of us.
He said:
“Fear Allah in how you deal with people and do not fear people in how you are with Allah.
Let not your speech be contrary to your actions
for the best of speech is that which is in accordance with action.
Love those Muslims near to you and those far
as you love yourself and your family.
Do not fear blame of hardship in your quest for what you know to be true.”
These weren’t just nice words
they were a reminder that leadership is a trust.
Umar ر wasn’t just a ruler of lands;
he was a shepherd of souls.
Every decision he made affected families
homes
and futures.
But here’s the thing:
each of us is a shepherd.
“Each of you is a shepherd, and each of you will be asked about his flock.”
Parents are shepherds over their children.
Teachers are shepherds over their students.
Friends are shepherds over each other’s trust.
And even when no one is looking, we are shepherds over our own soul.
One of the most noticeable parts of Sa’eed’s advice was this:
“Let not your speech be contrary to your actions.”
How often do we find ourselves saying one thing and doing another?
Reminding others to pray, while delaying our own.
Speaking of honesty, while cutting corners in private.
Posting reminders online, while ignoring the ones in our own hearts
It’s not about perfection.
It’s about integrity
about making sure our words and actions are not worlds apart.
Another gem in his words:
“Love those Muslims near to you and those far, as you love yourself and your family.”
It’s easy to love people we know.
It’s harder to feel that same compassion for Muslims across the world
whose struggles we can’t see.
But the reminder is clear:
the flock isn’t just local - it’s global.
When one part of the Ummah aches
the whole body feels it.
Sa’eed’s advice still applies to us in every role we hold.
Whether you’re leading a family
a team
a class
or just yourself
you are a shepherd.
Umar bin Khattab ر carried this advice as a ruler.
What advice do you carry with you as a guide in your daily life?
Share it - I’d love to feature some of your responses in a future thread.
until the next letter,
— hidvyaa