By Mawlana Junayd Makda Sahib
The Sparrow, the Robber and the Snake
A gang of robbers were once out robbing. Along the way, they came by three date trees. It looked like an ideal place to stop and rest.
One of the trees was barren and two had ripe dates.
The gang leader while looking up at the trees saw something unusual. He saw a sparrow flying to and from the date trees and the barren tree.
He watched for a while but couldn’t understand what was happening so he climbed the barren tree to see what the sparrow was up to.
To his astonishment, he saw a blind snake sitting there with his mouth wide open and the sparrow came and dropped a date into its mouth. The robber was shocked. The sparrow was feeding the blind snake!
He climbed back down and started crying. He felt so ashamed at being a robber when Allah Ta’ala was so kind to feed a snake through a bird.
He raised his hands and asked Allah Ta’ala for forgiveness. He broke his sword over his knees and threw the pieces away and then went to his people and told them what he saw. They too broke their swords and turned to Allah Ta’ala and changed their ways.
From this incident, we learn how merciful Allah Ta’ala is.
We all show mercy to one and other in one way or another. Some more than others. None can show more mercy than Allah Ta’ala himself.
We should therefore at all times try to obey Allah Ta’ala and if we make a mistake we should not lose hope but rather quickly turn to Allah and ask for forgiveness.
From this story, we also learn how merciful our beloved Nabi ﷺ was, from the way he instructed the sahabi to return the birds where he had found them.
We too should always show kindness to everyone and everything around us. It is hoped that by us showing mercy and kindness to the creation, Allah will show mercy and kindness to us.