Deeds and Rewards

To access all the previous stories of inspiration, please click here.

In the name of Allah, the beneficent, the most merciful.

Don’t be disappointed! A man woke up early in the morning order to do the Fajr prayer (first of the five daily prayers recited by practicing Muslims) in the masjid.

He got dressed, made his ablution and was on his way to the masjid. On his way, he fell and his clothes got dirty. He got up, brushed himself off, and headed home.

At home, he cleaned himself, changed his clothes, and was again on his way to the masjid. As he walked in the dawn, accidentally, he fell again and at the same spot! He got up, brushed himself off and headed home.

At home he, once again, changed his clothes, washed his hands and feet, and walked towards the masjid yet another time, though it was the third time and the way was still not clear as the rising Sun was yet to break the darkness of the night.

Now, on his way to the masjid, he met a man holding a lamp. “May I know who are you?” He asked him. The man with the light replied, “I saw you fall twice on your way to the masjid, so I brought a lamp to light your way”

He thanked him profusely and they started talking as they made their way to the masjid. Once at the holy place, as the first man entered the sacred precincts, he noticed the man with the lamp just stop there. “Why don’t you come into the masjid and pray Fajr with me?” he asked. The second man refused.

He asked him again, but “No” was the only answer he would get. He persisted and wanted to know the reason for such usual behavior, then the second man revealed, “I am Satan”.

He was shocked to hear this reply. But Satan went on to explain, “I saw you on your way to the masjid and it was I who made you fall. When you went home, cleaned yourself and returned on your way to the masjid, Allah forgave all of your sins.

“I made you fall a second time, and even that did not encourage you to stay home, rather, you came back again and with the same vigour and composure continued your journey towards the masjid. And because of that, Allah forgave all the sins of the people of your household. I was afraid if I made you fall one more time, then Allah will forgive the sins of the people of your village, so I made sure that you reached the masjid safely.”

So let us not allow Satan to benefit from his actions.

More importantly, all our choices and decisions in the present time bear consequences on our future, even if they are not apparent immediately.  So do not put off any good that you intended to do as you never know how much reward you might receive from the hardships you encounter while trying to achieve that good. Let us never postpone a pious task, especially if it can bring joy in the life of another being.

Illustrations: Mrs. Vidya, Kuwait

- Heart2Heart Team

 

---

Dear Reader, did this article inspire you in any way? Would you like to share you feelings with us? If so please contact us at h2h@radiosai.org mentioning your name and country. Thank you for your time.

---

To access all the previous stories of inspiration, please click here.