Monday, December 3, 2007

What Shall I Answer to my Imam-e-Zamana (atfs)?

Sheikh Zainul Abidin Mazandarani, a student of the author of (the book) Jawahir and (also of) Sheikh Ansari, lived in the city of Kerbala. In connection with his generosity and alms-giving, it has been recorded that he would borrow as much money as he could and then distribute it amongst the needy, and his debts would then be repaid by those coming to Kerbala from India.
One day a destitute arrived at his door and asked for alms. Not having any money with him, the Sheikh picked up his copper jar, handed it to him and said: "Take this and sell it." A couple of days later when his family members realized that the jar was missing, they created an uproar, shouting: "A thief has taken away our jar." When the Sheikh, who was in his library, heard the outcry, he said to them: "Do not accuse the thieves for I am the one who has taken the jar." Once, on one of his trips to Samarrah, he fell seriously ill. Mirza Shirazi paid him a visit and began comforting him, whereupon the Sheikh said to him: "I am not at all fearful of death; my uneasiness is due to the fact that according to our beliefs, when we die, our souls are taken in the presence of the Imam-e-Asr (12th Imam) (peace be upon him). If, at that time, the Imam were to question me: "O' Zainul 'Abidin! With the credibility and esteem that we had bestowed upon you, you could have borrowed a greater amount of money for helping the needy than what you used to; why then did you not do so? … What shall I answer him?'" It is reported that Mirza Shirazi was greatly affected by these words; returning home, he brought out all the religious taxes that lay in his house and distributed them amongst the needy.
(Reference : Anecdotes for Reflection, Volume 3, pg72)
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Saturday, December 1, 2007

Farsighted

A Jew lost his invaluable ring and accidentally a poor Muslim fellow found it. When this Muslim came to know that it belongs to that Jew he went to return him. The Jew smiled and asked him:"Do you know its value?"
The Muslim replied:"Yes."
"You found this and you are also a poor and a needy!" said the Jew.
"Yes, you are right." The Muslim replied.
The Jew asked,"Did it not come to your mind that by selling this ring you can live a comfortable life as you had an excuse that it belonged to a Jew?"
The Muslim told him,"Why, I should have thought that way?"
"So why did you return this ring to me while I was not knowing that you have found it?" Questioned the Jew.
The poor Muslim replied:"We believe on the Day of Judgement. I told myself that if I do not give this ring to the owner, then during the accounting of the deeds of the people during qayamat my Prophet Hazrat Mohammad (pbuh) and your prophet Hazrat Musa (a.s.) would be sitting together and you will be complaining about this to your Prophet (a.s.) and then your Prophet (a.s.) would complain to my Prophet (pbuh) that a person belonging from your Ummah (nation) has done such an act. And at that moment my Prophet (pbuh) would not be able to answer him. I have returned this ring so that on the Day of Judgement I save the honour of my Prophet (pbuh).
(Lessons from stories, Mohammad Mohammadi Ishtehardy)