‘Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him) had many virtues. He was the best of this ummah after Abu Bakr (may Allah be pleased with him), and was inspired and guided to the truth. Some verses in the Qur’an were revealed to support his view. When he became caliph, in charge of the believers, he strove to be just and fair, and he explained to the people many things that were in their best interests; he would guide them to the straight path and make life easy for them. This hadith highlights some of his virtues, as the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) told his companions (may Allah be pleased with them) about a dream that he had seen. He said: Whilst I was sleeping, I saw the people passing before me, wearing chemises and garments of different lengths. Some of the people were wearing chemises and garments that came halfway down their chests, and did not cover all of their bodies. Some of them were wearing something other than that, so their chemises were shorter or longer than that, or something in between. Then ‘Umar ibn al-Khattab passed before me, wearing a long chemise that he was dragging behind him. When the Prophet (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) was asked how he interpreted that, he said: “Faith.” In other words, I interpreted it as referring to faith. What is meant by faith here is adhering to it, such as being keen to comply with the commands and heeding the prohibitions, and ‘Umar (may Allah be pleased with him) was foremost in that regard. Hence he saw him wearing a long and covering garment that he was dragging behind him. The fact that he was dragging his garment indicates that his beautiful legacy would remain after he was gone, so that the Muslims might follow his example. It was also said that the chemise in the dream was interpreted as referring to faith because faith, Islam and righteousness are described as garments. Allah (may He be exalted) says: {But the clothing of righteousness - that is best} [al-A‘raf 7:26]. Just as a chemise covers a person’s ‘awrah and prevents the gaze of others falling on it, in like manner faith protects a person from Hell and from falling into shameful worldly deeds and anything that could cause him harm, because faith envelops on all sides and protects him from permitting infractions, just as a garment protects and envelops a person. So whoever does a great deal of acts of obedience and worship will be more covered and protected, whereas one who has fewer righteous deeds to his credit will have less coverage and protection. This hadith highlights the great virtue of ‘Umar ibn al-Khattab (may Allah be pleased with him). It also indicates that deeds are part of faith, and that people of faith vary with regard to their deeds. .