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| Sikaki was a skilled artist an
artisan. With great expertise and interest, he made such a nice
and beautiful inkpot that it could be presented to the king. He
expected that, appreciating his artistic skill, the king would
encourage him as far as possible. So, with countless hopes and
thousand of desires, he presented that inkpot to the king. In
the beginning the king was very impressed by his artistic skill
but afterwards an unpleasant event occurred that caused an
extraordinary change in Sikaki' s life and way of thinking.
When the king was observing the skilled artistry of the
beautiful inkpot and Sikaki was lost in the world of thoughts,
the people informed that a scholar-literary person or jury is
about to enter the court. As soon as the scholar entered, the
king got so much absorbed in welcoming and talking to him that
he forgot Sikaki and his skilled artistry. This incident caused
an adverse and deep effect on the heart of Sikaki.
He realized that now he would not receive the encouragement
he had expected and all his desires and hopes are useless now.
But Sikaki's high spirited mind did not allow him to be in
peace, so he started thinking as to what should he do. He
decided to do what the others have done and go on the same way
that the others have gone (uptill now). Therefore, he decided to
search for his lost hopes in the world of knowledge, literature
and books. Although for a wise man who has passed the days of
his young age, it was not easy to study with young children and
to start right from the preliminary stage. But he did not have a
choice . After all whenever the fish is taken out of water, it
is fresh.
Worse than that, in the beginning he did not find any sort of
interest in himself regarding reading and writing. Perhaps
spending a long time in artistic works and handicraft was the
reason for stagnancy in his scientific and literary talent. But
neither his advanced age nor lack of capability, none of these
could change his decision. With great enthusiasm and zeal for
attaining knowledge, he strictly got busy with his studies,
until another incident occurred:
The teacher who was teaching him Shafi 'I jurisprudence (fiqh
Shafi 'I), taught him this lesson: "The teacher believes that
the skin of a dog becomes clean (tahir) after tanning." Sikaki
repeated this sentence a lot of times so that at the time of
examination he should be able to succeed. But when he was asked
to answer this question, he said: "The dog believes that the
skin of a teacher becomes clean after tanning."
The audience upon hearing this answer started laughing. It
was clear for everybody that this old man is absolutely
incapable of reading and writing. After this incident Sikaki not
only left the school , but he left the town and went towards the
jungle. By chance, he reached the foot of a mountain, where he
saw that the water is falling drop by drop from the top and due
to the continuous falling of water, a hole had been formed in
that hard stone. He reflected for sometime, a good idea crossed
his mind like lightning. And he said: "Maybe my heart is not
ready to accept (knowledge) but it is not harder than this
stone. It is impossible that continuous studying and hard work
would be ineffective."
Therefore, he came back and with hard work, he got busy in
the attainment of knowledge. As a result he was reckoned as one
of the popular scholars of his time.
Imam Ali (a.s.) Says: "Books are the gardens of learned." and
"The man of learning is alive even after his death. The man of
ignorance is dead even while he is alive." |
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Sayyed
Jawad Ameli, a great Mujtahid, was having his dinner when
someone knocked at his door. A servant from his master,
Ayatullah Sayyed Mehdi Bahrul Uloom, appeared and said: "Your
master has sent for you to come immediately. He has just sat
down for his dinner but refuses to eat until he sees you."
There was no time to lose. Seyyid Ameli left his dinner and
rushed to Ayatullah Bahrul Uloom's residence. Just as he
entered, the master looked disapprovingly at him and said: "Sayyed
Jawad! You have no fear of Allah! Don't you feel ashamed in
front of Allah?"
This came as a shock to him, as he could not remember doing
anything to incur the wrath of his master. He said: "My master
may guide me where I have failed."
Ayatullah Bahrul Uloom replied: "It is now a week that your
neighbor and his family are without wheat and rice. He was
trying to buy some dates from a shop on credit but the
shopkeeper refused to grant him any more credit. He returned
home empty-handed and the family is without a morsel of food."
Sayyed Jawad was taken by surprise. "By Allah", he said, "I
have no knowledge about this."
That is why I am displeased all the more.
How can you be unaware of your own neighbor? Seven days of
difficulties have passed and you tell me you do not know about
it. Well, If you had known and ignored him despite your
knowledge, then you would not even he a Muslim," Ayatullah Uloom
adjoined.
Then he instructed him to take all the dishes of food before
him to his neighbor. "Sit with him to eat, so that he does not
feel ashamed. And take this sum for his future ration. Place it
under his pillow or carpet so that he is not humiliated, and
inform me when this work is completed, for not until then shall
I eat." |
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| A'bdullah Ibn Masud had been
one of the close companions of the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.) and had
developed into being a distinguished and zealous personality of
Islam. During the caliphate of Hazrat U'thman, he suffered a
bout of illness, which eventually resulted in his death.
Hazrat U'thman once came to pay him a visit and finding him
distressed, asked, what distresses you so greatly?
My
sins, he answered.
Tell me your wish so that I can fulfill it for you.
I desire God mercy, replied Ibn Masud.
The caliph asked, if you permit, I could call for the doctor.
It is the Doctor who has made me sick, replied Ibn Masud.
If you want, I could present you with gifts from the Public
Treasury.
Ibn Masud retorted, at the time when I was in need, you did
not give me a thing and now that I am not in need, you wish to
shower me with presents!
Hazrat U'thman insisted, Let these gifts be for your
daughters then.
They are not in need of your presents, Ibn Masud replied
tersely. I have instructed them to recite the chapter Al-Waaqiah
every night, for surely, I have heard the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.)
say: One, who recites the chapter Al-Waaqiah every night, shall
never be afflicted by poverty.
Imam Sadiq (a.s.) said: "The honor of a Mu'min lies in night
worship and his esteem lies in his being independent of the
people". |
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Once
upon a time there was a man who had a big garden. He had planted
many fruit trees and cared for them till they bear fruits. Now
he wanted to pick up the fruits and sell them to make money for
his family.One fine day while picking fruits with his son,
the man saw a stranger sitting on the branch of a tree and
picking the fruits. This man become angry and shouted, "Hey you!
What are you doing on my tree? Aren't you ashamed of stealing
fruits in the day time?" The stranger on the branch just looked
at the gardener but didn't reply, and continued picking the
fruits. The gardener was very angry and shouted again, "For a
whole year I have taken care of these trees, you have no right
to take the fruits without my permission so come down at once!"
The stranger on the tree answered, "Why should I come down?
This is the garden of God and I am the servant of God, so I have
the right to pick these fruits and you should not interfere
between the work of God and his servant." The gardener was very
surprised at this answer and thought of a plan. He called his
son and said, "Go bring a rope and get this man down from the
tree." His son brought the rope and the gardener ordered him to
tie the stranger to the tree. The gardener then took a stick and
started to beat the stranger. The stranger began to scream. "Why
are you beating me? You have no right to do this."
The gardener paid no attention and continued beating him. The
stranger screamed, "Don't you fear God, you are beating an
innocent man? The gardener answered, "Why should I fear? This
wood in my hand belongs to God and I am too the servant of God,
so I have nothing to fear, and you shouldn't interfere with the
work of God and his servant." The stranger hesitated and then
spoke, "Wait don't beat me, I am sorry for taking the fruits.
This is your garden and I should seek your permission before
taking the fruits. So, please forgive and set me free."
The gardener smiled and said, "Since you have now realized
your mistake, I will forgive you but remember that God has given
all his servants brains so every person's deeds are in his own
hands." Then the gardener untied him and let him go free. |
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