Musannaf Ibn Abi Shaybah 37823 — The words of Umar bin Abd al-Aziz

Nafi' narrates: Abd al-Malik bin Umar said to Umar bin Abd al-Aziz: O Commander of the Believers, what prevents you from carrying out what you intend? By the One in whose hand my soul is, I do not care if the pots boil with me and you. Umar bin Abd al-Aziz (may Allah have mercy on him) said: My son, is this truly from you? Abd al-Malik said: Yes, by Allah. He (may Allah have mercy on him) said: All praise is for the One who has brought forth among my offspring such people as help me in the command of Allah. My son, if I had come to the people suddenly with this thing you have said, I would not have been safe from their rejecting it. And when they rejected it, I would have had no recourse but the sword, and there is no good in a good that comes by means of the sword. My son, I am dealing with the people the way one tames a hard-to-control she-camel. If my life is prolonged, I hope that Allah Almighty will carry out something for me; and if death assails me, Allah Almighty still knows what I intended.