Long, long ago, there lived three pious men in a
country. They were well-known to each other. One of the three was very rich in
that country, one was of the middle class and the last one was very poor. The
first two were popular with all the people as they helped the poor in their
distress. The third man was very poor and very honest. Therefore, the first two
persons wanted to help him but he would not wish to grant their help.
He never wished to take anyone's favor. He always
depended on Allah. He never told lie and bluffed anyone. He worked hard to run
his family. Because of his poverty, he could not give away any money to anyone.
The first two were very proud of their piousness and helping hands to others.
They would give away money to needy people. So, they talked big. Allah sent an
angel to test how kind they were to the people.
At first, the angel came to the rich man's house in
the guise of a needy man. He told, "I have heard, you are a very rich man
in this country. You help the poor. I am a very poor man. I have come to get
your help." After hearing his
words, he helped a stranger. The man told, "My house is far from here, I
can't go back today. So I want to stay tonight at your house." The man was
allowed reluctantly to stay but he was not treated so well.
The next day, the stranger took leave of the rich
man. Then he went to the second man. There he told him the same words as
before. He was not pleased with the sudden appearance of the stranger. However,
he also helped him and gave him shelter for that night. Here also he did not
get as much sympathy from the man as he expected.
The next day he left his house and went to the poor
and needy man. He told, "I am a poor man. I have come to your area from a
far-off place. I will not be able to go back today, so I want to stay in your
house."
The poor man described everything about his poverty
to the stranger and told, "I am also poor like you. I never forget the
almighty, Allah, even in my hardship, and always rely on him. So, don't worry.
You can stay here with me."
He gave the stranger shelter, gave him food he had,
and managed a bed for him to stay comfortably at his house that night. He did
enough for him so that he did not become dissatisfied with his behavior. The
stranger was pleased with his behavior and hospitality.
When the next day, the stranger was going to leave
his house, he told, "I am not a man. I am an angel. Allah has sent me to
test you three pious men in this country." He told this too that he was
pleased with his hospitality. Then he put his hand on the poor man's head,
blessed him, and gave him a bag of gold coins so that his poverty could be
removed. Thus, an Angel blessed the poor man.
No comments:
Post a Comment