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Anfal, a rich young girl, sat waiting impatiently at the doctor’s clinic to get the results of a medical test. She was in a hurry to attend a party and feared she might be late for her appointment with the hairdresser. She never thought the result would be anything important. It was just a precaution insisted upon by her family. She had never suffered any serious illness, apart from the odd ache in her limbs. Then, it was her turn to see the doctor. She hurried inside to get it over with as quickly as possible. She was surprised to see the doctor look sad and concerned as he asked, “Is this yours?”
She answered, “No, it is my daughter’s.”
She wanted to know the truth and thought that perhaps he would hide the truth, if she told him it was her own. He asked her to have a seat, so she sat feeling somewhat afraid.
She looked at him anxiously, as he said,”Why did not you send a man to get the results?”
Anfal said, “It was on my way so there was no need to send someone else.
“The doctor looked sadly at her and said, “You seem to be an educated girl. You understand the nature of life.”He stopped talking, and she began to tremble.
She asked, “What do you mean doctor?”
The doctor said, “The result indicates that there is a blood disease.”
He looked down at his papers and remained silent. Anfal had to ask him to give her more information.
She cried in fear, “Is it cancer?”
He did not look at her, but a cloud of sadness covered his face. It was as if he was sentencing her to death. She said in a broken voice, “I am finished then.”
The doctor knew then that she had lied, but it was too late to hide the truth. He looked kindly at her and said, “I am sorry for you. Why did you lie? Anyway life and death are matters within Allah’s power. Many sick people live long and many healthy ones die.”Anfal felt as if she were drowning, as if a hard fist was cruelly squeezing her heart. She tried hard to regain her strength and said, “I do apologize. Thank you doctor.”
The doctor encouraged her saying, “Be strong and optimistic. Medical science is constantly progressing. Some of today’s incurable sicknesses can be cured tomorrow I still have hope. Leave me your telephone number.” She repeated the number automatically without knowing what she was saying. Feeling great shock and bitterness, she again thanked the doctor and left.
At home she kept the truth to herself. She did not know how to share it. Anyway, everyone was busy, getting ready for the party. Her mother asked, “Have you been to the doctor? Why did not you go to the hairdresser?” It was just a by-the-way question, needing no answer. She briefly said, “I am not going to the party !”. She went upstairs into her room and locked the door. She stretched out on her bed fully clothed and listened to her family’s voices, as if they were coming from a far away place. The wind seemed to her to be a funeral sad tune, lamenting her approaching death. The bedroom seemed strange to her as she would be leaving it soon. What about the house? It would not remember her. She was just a guest. Others would take her room and soon forget her. She tried to cry but tears did not help. She looked around her in pain. Those curtains that she had tried so hard to get, would stay after her. It would not have mattered if they had been made of the roughest fabric, she would leave them for others. She wished she had not troubled herself for such things. She wished she had saved her time and money for more useful things, which could have been helpful to her in her difficulty.She wondered, “What is useful to me?”
She was young, beautiful and rich with everything her heart could desire. Could anything help her and save her from death? She had always longed for an official job with a good salary. She had it, but could it save her from death? An idea struck her. She hurried to the phone while everyone was away. She dialed the doctor’s number and asked eagerly, “If I travel abroad can I find a cure?” He said, “There is nothing new abroad. It is a waste of money.”She put the phone down and sat on a nearby chair. Her salary would not change matters.
She walked through the house’s rooms as if saying her farewells. She paced the small garden and looked at the trees. She whispered, “I wish these trees knew I am leaving them, those stones, walls…I wish these doors knew my hands will soon no longer open them. I wish those flowers, that I planted and watered knew. How often the thorns and hard stones tore my hands! How often I watered those dying flowers with my tears when there was no water. I wish they knew the meaning of my departure. These fruiting trees were tiny when I planted them. I did my best to help them flourish until they grew up healthy and fruitful. Will they know I am soon leaving? Will they remember my days in their company? What about these seats, I used to rest on. Will they miss my presence? Will they be ready for someone else to settle on them? My writing desk felt my writing in tears and in smiles, does it know I am leaving? Will it miss my pen and papers in its drawers?
I wish they all knew I am leaving. I wish I had known I was leaving, then I would not have cared so much for this life. I would not have felt proud and arrogant…Had I known I were a guest in this world I would not have been cheated or tempted by its luxuries… Had I known this I would have been aware that leaving a simple life is easier than leaving a luxurious one… Had I lived a simple life, I would not have found it difficult to cross from this world to the next. My family is now enjoying the party…how often I longed for such parties, how much I cared for fashion and hairstyles! Can they help me now?”
Anfal threw herself down on the nearest chair as if she had realized a truth previously unknown to her. She said, “What shall I take with me? Nothing but the coffin and my deeds. What kind of deeds will go with me on my long journey? Nothing! Yes, nothing!” She remembered her friend Sarah, who used to advise her and guide her to the right path of Allah.
She used to remind her of the Qur’anic verse: …and make provision, for the provision is the guarding of oneself. (AI-Baqarah:239)
She had never considered the importance of good deeds. Now she was in need of such deeds to present to Allah. She would stand to give her account, but what would she say? How could she expect Allah’s mercy when she disobeyed His orders? How could she ask for forgiveness when she never even thought of obeying Him in her life’s affairs? She wished she had read the Holy Qur’an instead of all those cheap novels. She wished she had gained some knowledge of her religion instead of reading film-star magazines. She continued wishing she had done few things, and not done other things. She wished she had not angered this person or that, and had never lied or gossiped about anyone. She wished she had not been proud and despised the poor.
She said, “I wish I could start my life all over again to make-up for my errors and to obey Allah’s orders. I worshipped my desires and ignored my Creator. I wish I could live for a while to make up for my sins.”
She remembered a Qur’anic verse, her grandfather used to recite: Until when death overtakes one of them he says: Send me back, my Lord. Haply I may do good in that which I have left. By no means! It is a mere word that he speaks, and before them is a barrier until the day they are raised. (AI-Mominoon:99)
Here she said, “Oh God, I do mean it…”
Tears burst from her eyes. She cried bitterly in repentance, not pain. She decided to obey Allah in all His orders if she lived a bit longer. The phone rang and she walked towards it lazily. Tears in her eyes she said, “Yes?”
Someone said, “Can I speak to Miss Anfal?” She knew the speaker. It was her doctor.
She said, “Yes, speaking.”The doctor said cheerfully, “Congratulations my daughter! There is nothing wrong with you. Thank God!”
She was stunned with surprise. She did not know what to say. “No disease? How? You are joking, doctor!”
The doctor said, “May Allah protect me I am not joking. I have just got an apology from the analyst. He explained that there was a mix-up with the names. Your name was written instead of someone else. I have your medical report here in front of me. You are quite well. Be thankful to Allah my daughter.”
Excitedly she said, “Thanks be to Allah, Thank you doctor.”
She put the phone down, feeling as if she was new-born. She knew she was safe for a while, but death would certainly come one day. She had no time to waste. However long she lived she was a guest. The first thing she did was to perform her prayer, which she had neglected for a long time. She promised Allah to obey His orders to pray, fast, and stick to wearing decent clothes. She would also give up whatever Allah had forbidden. In order not to forget this, she wrote the Qur’anic verse on a placard and hung it on the wall. On the other side she wrote a wise saying:
“Repent the day before you die. Because you do not know when you will die, then always be repentant.” |
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The Tea Set and the Rose
A motivational story about sharing and caring during Eid
Ramadan was coming to an end soon and there were just a few days before Eid. I had to do some last-minute Eid shopping. I was around in a store. I saw a cashier hand this little boy his money back saying :“I’m sorry, but you don’t have enough money to buy this toy tea set.”
Then the little boy turned to the old woman next to him: ”Granny, are you sure I don’t have enough money?”
The old lady replied: ”You know that you don’t have enough money to buy this tea set, my dear.”
Then his granny asked him to stay there for 5 minutes while she went to look around. She left quickly.
The little boy was still holding the tea set in his hand. Finally, I walked towards him and I asked him who he wished to give this tea set to.
“It’s the tea set that my sister loved most and wanted so much for this Eid. She was so sure that angels would bring it to her.”
I replied to him that may be Allah will send it to her after all, and not to worry.
But he replied to me sadly. “No, the angels can’t bring it to her where she is now. I have to give the tea set to my mommy so that she can give it to my sister when she goes there.”
His eyes were so sad while saying this. “My sister has gone to be with Allah. Daddy says that Mommy is going to see Allah very soon too, so I thought that she could take the tea set with her to give it to my sister.”
My heart nearly stopped. The little boy looked up at me and said: “I told daddy to tell mommy not to go yet. I need her to wait until I come back from the mall.”
“I love my mommy and I wish she doesn’t have to leave me, but daddy says that she has to go to be with my little sister “
Then he looked again at the tea set with sad eyes and very quietly I quickly reached for my wallet and said to the boy.
“What if we checked again, just in case you do have enough money?”
“OK” he said “I hope that I have enough.”
I added some of my money to his without him seeing and we started to count it. There was enough for tea set and even some spare money.
The little boy said: “Jazakallah(Thank you Allah) for giving me enough money!”
Then he looked at me and added “I asked yesterday before I slept for Allah to make sure I have enough money to buy this tea set so that mommy can give it to my sister. Allah heard me!”
“I also wanted to have enough money to buy a white rose for my mommy, but I didn’t dare to ask Allah for too much. But He gave me enough to buy the tea set and a white rose.”
“My mommy loves white roses.”
A few minutes later, his granny came again and I left with my basket.
I finished my shopping in a totally different state from when I started. I couldn’t get the little boy out of my mind. Only Allah knows what went through my mind.
Then I remembered a local newspaper article two days ago, which mentioned of a wealthy drunk man in a sporty car, who caused a fatal accident seriously injuring young mother and her little daughter.
The little girl died right on the scene of the accident and the mother was left in a critical state. The family had to decide whether to pull the plug on the life-assisting machine, because the young mum would not be able to recover from the coma.
Was this the family of the little boy?
Two days after this encounter with the little boy, I read in the newspaper that the young mother had passed away and the funeral would be held early this morning.
I couldn’t stop myself and I felt it my duty to go to the home where the body of the young woman was laying just before they were going to take it away for prayer and burial. Some ladies whom I recognized from our weekly Taalim Halqa were praying for the young lady.
She was there; wrapped in a white shroud, a beautiful white rose by her side and the same young boy I met earlier with the tea set against his chest.
I went close to the boy and then smiled at him and passed my hand over his head as I recalled the saying of the Messenger of Allah(peace be upon him): “Whoever caresses the head of an orphan (in affection), solely for the sake of Allah, a good deed will be written to his account for every hair over which he passed his hand, and whoever treated an orphan (boy or girl) with goodness and kindness, he and I will be close to each-other in Heaven as these two fingers”
I left the place, my eyes flowing with tears, feeling that my life had been changed forever. The love that this little boy had for his mother and his sister is still, to this day, hard to imagine. And in a fraction of a second, a drunk driver had taken all these precious persons away from him.
Tomorrow was Eid. Recalling the saying of the Messenger of Allah(peace be upon him): “Whoever supports an orphan from among his own or any other family, he will be as close to me in Heaven as these fingers are close to each other.” I quickly hurried to the store to purchase a beautiful gift for the young orphaned prince who thought me a great lesson of sharing and caring.
Every Eid since then I have made it my duty to honour this orphaned boy.
Moral: Eid is a time to share and care…let us not forget the poor,orphans and needy on this blessed day.
Death the Inevitable
LET US PREPARE FOR DEATH…..BEFORE ITS TOO LATE
It was early in the morning at four,
When death knocked upon a bedroom door.
Who is there? The sleeping one cried.
I’m The Angel of Death, let me inside.
At once, the man began to shiver,
As one sweating in deadly fever,
He shouted to his sleeping wife,
Don’t let him take away my life.
Please go away, O Angel of Death!
Leave me alone; I’m not ready yet.
My parents and family depends on me,
Give me a chance, O please!
The angel knocked again and again,
Friend! I’ll take your life without a pain,
It is your soul that Allah requires,
I come not with my own desires..
Bewildered, the man began to cry,
O Angel I’m afraid to die,
I’ll give you gold and be your slave,
Don’t send me to the unlit grave.
Let me in, O Friend! The Angel said,
Open the door; get up from your bed,
If you do not allow me in,
I will walk through it, like a Jinn.
The man held a gun in his hand,
Ready to defy the Angel’s stand..
I’ll point my gun, towards your head,
You dare come in; I’ll shoot you dead.
By now the Angel was in the room,
Saying, O Friend! Prepare for your doom.
Foolish man, Angels never die,
Put down your gun and do not sigh.
Why are you afraid! Tell me O man,
To die according to Allah’s plan?
Come smile at me, do not be grim,
Be Happy, to return to Him.
O Angel! I bow my head in shame;
I had no time to take Allah’s Name.
From morning till dusk, I made my wealth,
Not even caring for my own health.
Allah’s command I never obeyed,
Nor five times a day I ever prayed.
Ramadan came and a Ramadan went,
But I had no time to repent.
The Hajj was already FARDH(Compulsory) on me,
But I would not part with my money.
All charities I did ignore,
Taking usury more and more.
Sometimes I sipped my favorite wine,
With flirting women I sat to dine…
O Angel! I appeal to you,
Spare my life for a year or two.
The Laws of Qur’an I will obey,
I’ll begin my SALAT this very day.
My Fast and Hajj, I will complete,
And keep away from self-conceit.
I will refrain from usury,
And give all my wealth to charity,
Wine and wenches I will detest,
Allah’s oneness I will attest.
We Angels do what Allah demands,
We cannot go against His commands..
Death is ordained for everyone,
Father, mother, daughter or son.
I’m afraid this moment is your last,
Now be reminded, of your past,
do understand your dreadful fears,
But it is now too late for your tears.
You lived in this world, two score and more,
Never did to you, your people adore.
Your parents, you did not obey,
Hungry beggars, you turned away.
Your two ill-gotten, female offspring,
In nightclubs, for livelihood they sing.
Instead of making many more Muslims,
You made your children more non-Muslims?
You did ignore the Mua’dhin Adhaan,
Nor did you read the Holy Qur’an.
Breaking promises all your life,
Backbiting friends, and causing strife !
From hoarded goods, great profits you made,
And for your poor workers, you always underpaid.
Horses and fancy cars were your leisure,
Moneymaking was only your pleasure.
You ate vitamins and grew more fat,
With the very sick, you never sat.
A pint of blood you never gave,
Which could a little baby save?
O Human, you have done enough wrong,
You bought good properties for a song.
When the farmers appealed to you,
You did not have mercy, it is true.
Paradise for you? I cannot tell,
Undoubtedly you will dwell in hell.
There is no time for you to repent,
I’ll take your soul for which I am sent.
The ending however, is very sad,
Eventually the man became mad
With a cry, he jumped out of bed,
And suddenly, he fell down dead.
O my Brother! Take moral from here,
You never know, your end may be near
Change your living and make amends
For heaven, on your deeds depends.
if this poem inspires you,
It can help someone too.
At least take some time, and do not ban
And send it to as many people as you can.
This poem may change many lives.
Please Feel Free to Share.
An Naseehah 