English Translation

Abdullah said: I found in my father's book, in his own handwriting, that al-Rabi' b. Nafi', Abu Tawba al-Halabi, had written to me. In his letter: Mu'awiya b. Sallam told us, from his brother Zayd b. Sallam, that he heard Abu Sallam say: al-Nu'man b. Bashir told me: I was beside the pulpit of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, when a man said, "I do not care that I do no deed after Islam except providing water to the pilgrims." Another said, "I do not care that I do no deed after Islam except maintaining the Sacred Mosque." Another said, "Jihad in the way of Allah is better than what you have said." Umar b. al-Khattab, may Allah be pleased with him, rebuked them and said, "Do not raise your voices near the pulpit of the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, on a Friday. But when I have prayed the Friday prayer I will go in and ask him for a ruling on what you have differed about." So Allah revealed: {Do you make the providing of water to the pilgrims and the maintenance of the Sacred Mosque equal to one who believes in Allah and the Last Day?} to the end of the whole verse.