The Well That Never Dried

Indeed, Allah commands justice and good conduct...

Some dreams feel so vivid, so loaded with meaning, that they linger in your mind long after you wake up.

The Prophet ﷺ had one such dream.

He ﷺ was standing beside a deep well, bucket in hand, drawing water with the steady rhythm of someone accustomed to providing for others. This wasn't rushed or frantic.

It was the measured work of a man fulfilling his responsibility to quench the thirst of those depending on him. He drew as much as Allah had willed for him to draw, then he handed the bucket to Abu Bakr (RA).

Abu Bakr (RA) took the bucket and began his work at the well.

But the Prophet ﷺ, with the honesty that characterized all his observations, noted something: "There was a weakness in his pulling." Before anyone misunderstands, this wasn't about sin or spiritual failure.

Abu Bakr (RA) pulled what he could, with the same steady devotion that marked everything he did. But the dream suggested his time at the well would be shorter, his approach different.

Then came the moment that must have made the Prophet ﷺ sit up in his dream.

Umar (RA) took over the bucket, and everything changed.

"I never saw a person stronger than him in performing that work," the Prophet ﷺ would later recount. This wasn't just about physical strength. It was about the sheer force of will, the relentless determination, the absolute commitment to the task at hand.

But here's where the dream becomes truly remarkable. Under Umar's (RA) leadership at the well, something unprecedented happened: "Every single person drank to their fill, and even the animals had knelt down so that they could drink."

Think about that image for a moment.

Not only were all the people satisfied, but the abundance was so great that even the animals—who couldn't ask for water, couldn't demand their rights, couldn't advocate for themselves—were provided for completely.

What the Prophet ﷺ was seeing in this dream was nothing less than a preview of the next phase of Islamic expansion and governance.

Abu Bakr's (RA) caliphate would indeed be brief but crucial, holding everything together, dealing with the false prophets, and ensuring the foundation remained solid.

But Umar's (RA) era would be something else entirely.

Under his leadership, the Islamic empire would expand at a pace that still amazes historians. Damascus, Jerusalem, Alexandria, the entire Persian Empire—all would come under Islamic rule during his ten-year reign.

"I never saw a person stronger than him in performing that work." This wasn't about showing off or displaying power for its own sake. Umar's (RA) strength was completely directed toward service.

Pulling from the well of Islamic guidance and governance to satisfy the thirst of an entire civilization. His legendary stamina wasn't for personal glory.

It was for the widow who needed justice, the orphan who needed protection, the merchant who needed fair trade regulations, the soldier who needed proper equipment, the scholar who needed support for learning.

Perhaps the most beautiful detail in the entire dream is that final image: even the animals kneeling to drink.

In a world where the voiceless often went unheard, where the powerless were frequently ignored, Umar's (RA) justice would be so comprehensive that even those who couldn't speak for themselves would be cared for.

This wasn't metaphorical.

Historical accounts tell us about Umar's (RA) concern for animals, his regulations about their treatment, and his intervention when he saw them being mistreated. What's striking about this dream is that there's no mention of the well running dry.

Under Umar's (RA) vigorous leadership, the source of Islamic guidance and justice seemed inexhaustible. The harder he worked, the more there was to give.

This reflects something profound about Islamic leadership when it's done correctly—the more you give of yourself in service to Allah and His people, the more capacity you seem to develop for even greater service.

This dream reminds us that Islamic leadership has always been about service. The Prophet ﷺ drew from the well, then passed the bucket to those who would continue the work.

Each leader brought his own style, his own strengths, his own approach to the eternal task of providing what people need from Islamic guidance.

But some, like Umar (RA), brought such strength to the work that their era became legendary not for what they took, but for how much they were able to give.

Reflect on this:

  1. How do I ensure that my leadership reflects justice, even when no one is watching?

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👶 SunnahStories

Two brothers lived with Grandma wise,

One was helpful, the other unwise.

Hamza worked and swept with cheer,

While Kareem played, year by year.

“Come and help,” their Grandma said,

“Work brings blessings, don’t be misled.”

Hamza listened, did his share,

Kareem just laughed, without a care.

The storm arrived, the winds did roar,

Rain came rushing, cold and sore.

Hamza’s work had kept them dry,

While Kareem shivered, wondering why.

“My child,” said Grandma, soft but stern,

“From laziness, hard lessons we learn.

For Allah helps the one who tries,

But neglect will bring regretful sighs.”

Kareem then changed, he worked with grace,

Helping his brother to clean the place.

Through effort, love, and hands so true,

Their home was blessed in all they’d do.

For barakah comes in work we share,

And joy is found in deeds most fair.

Reflection Questions:

1️⃣ Why did Kareem avoid doing chores?

2️⃣ How did Hamza’s hard work help during the storm?

3️⃣ What did Kareem learn from his mistake?

What did you think of today's SunnahStories?

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🍉 WatermelonWatch: Day 666 + 667 + 668

🇵🇸 223 Palestinians killed incl. 137 aid seekers in Gaza in 3 days

🇵🇸 18 Palestinians incl. 1 child killed of malnutrition in 3 days

🇵🇸 IOF opened fire on aid-seekers near Salah al-Din street (central), killing 8 people; drone strike on aid security personnel killed 5 people, injured 7 (north); attack on Rafah aid trap killed 2 people, injured 20+; aid attacks on north Gaza killed 4 people, wounded 50+

⛑️ IOF targeted PRCS HQ w/ airstrike in Khan Younis, killing a staff member & injured 2 other members m

🚩 Hamas dismissed calls for it to disarm, saying it would keep weapons & continue “resistance” activities until establishment of a Palestinian state

✈️ Airdropped aid crates struck & killed Uday Al-Quraan, a nurse at Al-Aqsa Hospital, in al-Zuwayyda (central)

🇵🇸 West Bank: IOF shot & killed 17 y/o Palestinian boy & injured 7 others injured amid settler attack on Aqraba

🇵🇸 North: IOF airstrikes in Shujaeya killed 12 people; bombings of Gaza City & Tuffah killed 3 people, wounded others

🌾 Expired food infected 9 displaced people, incl. 4 kids, in Khan Younis w/ food poisoning

🚩 Al-Quds Brigades claims bombing IOF tank in Khan Younis

🔒 Israel released 9 Palestinians abducted from Gaza to Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital (central)

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