Takhrij Hadith 1397: "Umar (may Allah be pleased…"

Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) appointed 'Iyad ibn Ghanm over the Levant. News reached Umar that 'Iyad had taken a private bathhouse and appointed deputies. So, Umar wrote to him ordering him to come, and he arrived. Umar made him wait for three days before granting him permission to enter. Umar then called for a woollen cloak and said: “Wear this.” He handed him a shepherd's bag and three hundred sheep, saying: “Drive them.” So 'Iyad drove them. After he had gone a short distance, Umar said: “Come back.” 'Iyad came running until he reached him. Umar said: “Do such-and-such with them, now go.” He left, and when he had gone far, Umar called out to him: “O 'Iyad, come back!” Umar kept repeating this until 'Iyad was dripping with sweat in his woollen cloak. Umar said: “Bring them to water on such-and-such a day.” He brought them on that day, and Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) went out to him and said: “Draw water for them.” So 'Iyad drew water until he filled the trough and quenched the sheep's thirst. Umar then said: “Drive them, and bring them to water on such-and-such a day.” Umar continued to make him do this for two months. 'Iyad secretly reached out to Umar's wife, with whom he shared a family relation, and said: “Ask the Commander of the Faithful why he is angry with me.” When Umar entered upon her, she asked: “O Commander of the Faithful, why are you angry with 'Iyad?” Umar replied: “O enemy of Allah! What do you have to do with this, and since when do you interfere between me and the Muslims? You are merely a toy to be played with and then left aside.” 'Iyad sent word to her asking: “What did you do?” She replied: “I wish I had never known you! He kept reprimanding me until I wished the earth would split open and swallow me.” 'Iyad waited for as long as Allah willed, then he secretly reached out to Uthman (may Allah be pleased with him) and said: “Ask him why he is angry with me.” Uthman asked: “O Commander of the Faithful, why are you angry with 'Iyad?” Umar said: “Has 'Iyad gone to you and said: ‘He is one of the elders of Quraysh?’” After that, Umar left him for two or three months, then summoned him and said: “So, you took deputies and built a bathhouse. Will you repeat this?” 'Iyad replied: “No.” Umar said: “Return to your post.”