‘Umar bin al-Khattab went to Syria and Abu ‘Ubaydah was in his company. When they reached a fort, ‘Umar descended from his camel, removed his shoes, placed them on his shoulder and then passed.
Abu‘Ubaydah said in astonishment,
‘O Commander of the faithful! You are doing this? I do not wish that the people of this town see you in this condition!’
Umar retorted,
‘O Abu ‘Ubaydah, if other person were to say this saying of yours, I would have made him an example for the Muslims! We were the lowest of all people and then Allah gave us glory by Islam, and if we seek glory in anything other that what Allah has given us, Allah will disgrace us.
