40 HADITHS FOR CHILDREN WITH STORIES

by Prof. Dr. M. Yasar KANDEMIR Published by M. Yasar Kandemir at Smashwords Co yri!ht " #$%% by M. Yasar Kandemir Smashwords Edition& 'i(ense Notes All ri!hts reser)ed. No art of this ubli(ation may be re rodu(ed& stored in a retrie)al system& or transmitted in any form or by any means& ele(troni(& me(hani(al& hoto(o yin!& re(ordin! or otherwise& without the rior ermission of the (o yri!ht owner. E*mail+en!lish,islami( ublishin!.net -eb site+ htt +..www.islami( ublishin!.net CONTENTS Foreword The Birds A Thorn The Coat The Mirror The Meanie A host A Nei!h"or in #aradise Tooth Medi$ine The Wa%%et The #oison The Be%t An!er The Ra$e The o%d The Thie& The Morse% The Mone' The Mediator Hide and See( S)oi%s)orts The Cherr' Tree The Bra*e Son The +id The Ta%ented Chi%d The #%asti$ #%ate The Fo,ntain-#en A Liar The Chestn,t Tree

The E$ho Bread The Miser The Shoes The Car S.o(e S,n-Dried Bri$(s The ,est The Woods.an The B%ood' Fi%e The Do! The /e%%ow Cow So,r$es O& The Ahadith FOREWORD My dear (hildren& /od Almi!hty wishes for all 0is ser)ants to be ha y. 0e sent us ro hets in order to tea(h us how. 1he ro hets are the !uides and tea(hers of human bein!s. 1hey tea(h us the (ommands of Allah Almi!hty and how we should li)e in this world. 1his has been so sin(e the first ro het& Adam& to the last ro het& Muhammad 2 ea(e be u on them3. As you already 4now& the sayin!s of our Pro het are (alled hadiths. 5ur belo)ed Pro het 2 ea(e be u on him3& who brou!ht us the 6ur7an or the (ommands of our 'ord& e8 lained to us these Di)ine (ommands throu!h his hadith. 0e tau!ht us throu!h his sayin!s what we need to do in order to be ha y both in this life and in the 0ereafter. -e should often read the holy sayin!s of our Pro het if we want to understand the (ommands of Almi!hty /od& and if we want to learn our reli!ion in the most erfe(t way. 9or (enturies many Muslim s(holars ha)e ut our Pro het7s sayin!s to!ether into bou:uets of forty whi(h made them easier to learn. I also wanted my fortieth boo4& whi(h I ha)e written for you& to be a (olle(tion of forty sayin!s of our !lorious Pro het. I 4now that you li4e )ery mu(h to read stories& so I ha)e resented these sayin!s in the form of tales written around the sayin!s of the Pro het. My belo)ed (hildren& I ho e you will en;oy readin! this boo4& and if you li4e it& would you lease ray for me< M0 /asar +ande.ir THE BIRDS 5ne day& a hunter set his net on the ban4s of a stream. Many birds& whi(h !ot lured by the !rain in the net& fell into his tra . -hen the hunter (ame to !ather his net& the birds suddenly flew away with the net. 1he hunter was astonished by their (oo eration and (oordination when he saw all the birds flyin! to!ether with the net. 0e de(ided to follow them to see what was !oin! to ha en. A man& whom he met on his way& as4ed him where he was rushin! to. Pointin! the birds in the s4y& the hunter said he was !oin! to (at(h the birds. 1he man lau!hed and said+ =May /od !rant you some sense> Do you really thin4 you (an (at(h birds on the win!<? 1he hunter said+

=If there was only one bird in the net I wouldn7t stand a (han(e. @ut wait and seeA I will (at(h them.? =1he hunter was ri!ht. -hen the ni!ht fell& the birds all wanted to !o to their own nests. Some of them ulled the net to the woods& others headed toward the la4e. Some wanted to fly to the mountains& others to the bushes. None su((eeded and finally all of them (rashed down with the net. 1he hunter (ame and (au!ht all of the birds.

Poor birds> If only they had 4nown the followin! sayin! of our Pro het they would ha)e always flown in the same dire(tion& and then they would not ha)e !otten (au!ht by the hunter+ 1Do not se)arate &ro. one another2 The %a." that a"andons its herd wi%% "e eaten "' the wo%&03

A THORN 5n(e u on a time there was a terrible unishment under way in a (ertain (ountry. 1hey were feedin! the (riminals to the hun!ry lions. Peo le would !ather to wat(h this horrifyin! s(ene. 1he (riminal that day was a sla)e who had es(a ed from his owner. 0e was left in the middle of an arena surrounded by hi!h walls. 1hey let a hun!ry lion into the arena. At first the lion !ot ready to oun(e on the oor man& but suddenly it sto ed and started to li(4 the sla)e7s hands>

1he s e(tators were astonished. 1hey as4ed the sla)e why the lion had not atta(4ed him. 1he sla)e said+ ?5ne day& I saw this lion in the forest. A thorn had lod!ed itself in its aw& and it was in !reat ain. I ulled out the thorn and sin(e that day we ha)e been !ood friends.? Peo le !ot tou(hed by this story. 1hey set both the lion and the sla)e free. 1o the eo le7s amaBement the lion was followin! the sla)e as if it was his et (at.

-hat a wonderful sayin! of our Pro het+ 1 od shows his .er$' to those who are .er$i&,%0 Ha*e $o.)assion to $reat,res on earth so that those in hea*en .a' ha*e .er$' ,)on 'o,03 THE COAT Ahmad the she herd was )ery sad. 0e had lost almost e)erythin! he owned durin! the terrible years of war. 0is wife had died and he had also lost his son. -hen he lost his ;ob in town& he be!an to wor4 as a she herd in the (ountryside. 5ne day& as his shee !raBed near the road& he saw a !rou of eo le ta4in! a youn! man to the hos ital in town. It was ob)ious that this youn! man was e)en oorer than him. 0e was shi)erin! in his thin ;a(4et. Ahmad the she herd immediately too4 off his own (oat& whi(h he had owned for years& and ut it on the youn! man.

As the youn! man was waitin! in the hos ital to be e8amined& he was sur rised to hear someone (allin! him =Dad.? 0e loo4ed u but he (ouldn7t re(o!niBe the youn! man standin! in front of him. 1he latter& who had (alled him dad& was sur rised as well. 0e a olo!iBed& sayin!& =I7m sorry& sir. I had mista4en your (oat for my father7s& whom I ha)en7t seen for many years. I thou!ht you were my father.? 1he si(4 man as4ed him who his father was. After tal4in! for a few minutes& he realiBed that the youn! man was the lost son of Ahmad the she herd. 0e told the youn! man that he did not ma4e a mista4e and that the (oat had really belon!ed to his father. After bein! e8amined at the hos ital& he returned to the )illa!e& a((om anied by she herd Ahmad7s son. 0ow true is the sayin! of our belo)ed Pro het& 1E*er' (indness wi%% "e rewarded ten&o%d03

THE MIRROR 5n(e u on a time& a )iBier was wal4in! around the mar4et with his hi!h offi(ials. 0e (ame a(ross the sla)e mar4et. Pitiful eo le who had lost their freedom were bein! sold one by one. 1he )iBier a roa(hed the sla)es. 0e wanted to see them more (losely. Cust then& an old sla)e said to the )iBier+ =1here is a stain on your turban& sir.?

1he )iBier too4 off his turban and e8amined it. 1he sla)e was ri!ht. 1his meant that he had been wal4in! throu!h the mar4et with a stained turban for hours and e)erybody had seen it. 0ow embarrassin!> 1hen he loo4ed at his (om anions sadly and said to them+ =You saw the stain on my turban& yet you (losed your eyes and didn7t tell me anythin! about it. I ;ust realiBed that my real fried was that oor sla)e. I (annot let my true friend be sold as a sla)e> @uy him immediately and set him free.?

'ater& the )iBier had the followin! hadith of the Pro het framed and sent it to his men so that they would ne)er for!et this in(ident+ 1A M,s%i. is the .irror o& another M,s%i.03

THE MEANIE4 It was a beautiful summer day and (hildren were layin! on the shore of a stream. Amon! them was a boy named /affar& but all the (hildren (alled him DMeanie7 be(ause of his (ruel treatment to animals. /affar was bored with the !ame they were layin!A he wanted to lay somethin! that was more e8(itin! and interestin!. 1he other (hildren made some su!!estions& but he thou!ht they were all borin!. /affar (alled aside some of his friends who thou!ht li4e him. Soon they announ(ed that they had (ome u with a fun !ame. 1he other (hildren wondered what this !ame (ould be. /affar and his friends snea4ed behind their friend Ali& who was new in town& and didn7t 4now how to swim. 1hey (au!ht his hands and le!s and threw oor Ali into the stream>

Ali ani(4ed. 0e stru!!led hard to swim& but the harder he tried the more he san4. 0e started s(reamin! for hel . /affar and his friends were lau!hin! as he s(reamed. 5ne of the other (hildren :ui(4ly too4 off his (lothes. It was Ismail. Ismail was a bra)e 4id and only he (ould stand u to /affar. As soon as he saw what they had done to Ali& he rose u a!ainst them. In a few minutes& he brou!ht Ali safely to shore. 1he other (hildren (on!ratulated Ismail. A man assin! by had seen e)erythin!. 1he well*dressed& 4ind*fa(ed man went u to Ismail& and uttin! his hand on his shoulder& said+ =My dear boy& you ha)e a(ted ;ust as the way our belo)ed Pro het has ordered. May Allah be leased with you. 5ur Pro het said in one of his hadiths+

1A M,s%i. is the "rother o& another M,s%i.0 He neither o))resses hi. nor %ea*es hi. in e*i% hands03

A HOST 5n(e u on a time& a trader was (omin! ba(4 home late at ni!ht. Suddenly he saw an old& oor bla(4 man re arin! to s end the ni!ht ne8t to a wall. No one a((e ted him into their houses fearin! that their (hildren would be s(ared of him. 1he trader de(ided to hel him. 0e too4 him into his house& offered him hot sou & !a)e him (lean (lothes and a room to stay.

In the middle of the ni!ht& the old man slee in! near the window suddenly wo4e u with a noise. 0e saw that two bur!lars were tryin! to enter the house throu!h the window. 1he bla(4 man raised his hands and shouted loudlyA =-hat are you doin! there<? =5h my mother> A !host>? s(reamed the bur!lars when they saw the bla(4 man in white a;amas& and they threw themsel)es from the window. 5ne of them bro4e his le! and the other in;ured his head. @e(ause of the noise& the trader and his family wo4e u and they (a tured the bur!lars.

0ow wonderful is the reminder of our Pro het+ 1Certain%' A%%ah he%)s His ser*ant5 as %on! as he he%)s his "rother23

A NEI HBOR IN #ARADISE 5n(e u on a time a Sultan was wal4in! around the (ities. 0e had (han!ed his (lothes so that no one would re(o!niBe him and he too4 one of his sla)es with him. 0e wanted to 4now what his eo le really thou!ht about his administration. It was winter and )ery (old. 0e went into a small mos:ue. 1wo oor men were sittin! in a (orner& shi)erin!. 1hey had no la(e to !o. 1he Sultan a roa(hed them& wonderin! what they were tal4in! about. 1he funny one was (om lainin! about the (old weather+ =After I die& when we !o to Paradise& I will not let our Sultan enter Paradise. If I see him a roa(hin! the !ates& I will ta4e off my shoe and hit him on the head.? 1he se(ond man as4ed& (uriously+ =-hy would you 4ee our Sultan out of Paradise<?

=5f (ourse I would not let him enter. -hile we are freeBin! here& he is sittin! (omfortably in his warm ala(eA he doesn7t 4now how we li)e. 0ow (an he be my nei!hbor in Paradise< I don7t need any su(h nei!hbor there.? 1hey both lau!hed. 1he Sultan said to his sla)e+ =Do not for!et this small mos:ue and these two men.? -hen the Sultan returned to the ala(e& he sent his men to the mos:ue. 1hey brou!ht the two oor men to the ala(e. 1he two men were uBBled about what was !oin! on. After they waited in fear& they were ta4en into a lu8urious room and were told+ =You shall eat& drin4& and li)e here and you shall ray for our Sultan and you shall not ob;e(t for him to be your nei!hbor in Paradise>? -hat a 4ind*hearted Sultan he is& isn7t he< 5ur Pro het 2 ea(e be u on him3 raised those who hel the needy in the followin! hadith+ 1Whosoe*er ta(es $are o& a "e%ie*er4s need in this wor%d5 od wi%% ta(e $are o& his need in the Herea&ter03

TOOTH MEDICINE 5ne day a )ery well*dressed stran!er went to a restaurant in town. 0e told the waiter+ =I would li4e some well*done roast beef and some salad& lease.? As soon as he bit his first ie(e& he s(reamed with ain+ ?Ahhhhh> My tooth is hurtin! a!ain>? Another stran!er a roa(hed& holdin! a lar!e ba! in his hand. 0e too4 a small bottle from his ba!. 0e oured some li:uid onto a ie(e of (otton and handed it to the man in ain. =Swi e this (otton on your a(hin! tooth&? he said. 1he man did as he was told. Suddenly& he e8(laimed+ =Stran!e> I don7t feel the ain anymore>? E)eryone !athered around the man with the lar!e ba! as4in! to buy that wonderful dru!. 1he bottles in his ba! were soon sold out. An hour later& the man with the tootha(he and the man with the ba! met at the railway station. 1hey dis(ussed how rofitable their business had been in that town and (on!ratulated one another. 1hey sat and waited for the ne8t train. Cust then two oli(emen (ame and arrested them. 5ne of the eo le who had bou!ht the fa4e medi(ine had !one to the oli(e station when the medi(ine hadn7t sto ed his tootha(he. 1he oli(e (hief (alled the two men into his offi(e and as4ed them+ =-hat is your reli!ion< Are you Muslim<? -ithout raisin! their heads& they said =-e are Muslim& than4 /od.? 1he oli(e (hief !ot e)en an!rier. =0a)e you not heard the hadith of our Pro het+ 1Whoe*er de$ei*es ,s is not one o& ,s03

1hen he unished the men. THE WALLET 5n(e u on a time& there was an ill*natured mer(hant who had lost his urse at the mar4et with E$$ !old (oins in it. 0e loo4ed e)erywhere tryin! to find it& and as4ed e)eryone if they had seen it& but he (ouldn7t find it nor had anyone seen it. 1hen he hired a town (rier to announ(e that he would !i)e one hundred !old ie(es as a reward to anyone who found the wallet. A man 4nown as Feli the Shoema4er found the lost urse. 0e was a )ery honest man. 0e de(ided to 4ee the urse until he (ould find its owner. -hen he heard the town (rier ma4in! an announ(ement he went to the trader and !a)e the urse ba(4. 1he trader was not only ill*naturedA he was also stin!y and a liar. 0e was ha y that his urse had been found& but he did not re)eal this to Feli. 0e o ened the urse and started to (ount his money& sayin!+ ?5h> I see you ha)e already ta4en the money I had romised as a reward.?

Feli too4 hold of the mer(hant7s la els and shoo4 him. =0ow dare you> Yes& I am oor& but I am not a thief or a s(oundrel. You don7t ha)e to !i)e me the money you romised& but do not a((use me of stealin! your money>? -hen the mer(hant did not retra(t his a((usation& they both ended u in (ourt. After listenin! to both sides& the ;ud!e realiBed the mer(hant was lyin!. 0e de(ided to !i)e him a hea)y unishment. =1he mer(hant says that %$$ !old liras were ta4en from his urse& yet the shoema4er says that he did not ta4e any money. I belie)e both arties. I !uess the urse found by the shoema4er was not the mer(hant7s& rather it belon!s to somebody else. 1herefore& it will stay under rote(tion until the real owner is found. 1he miserly mer(hant re!retted his a(tions& but it was too late. 1his reminds us one of the Pro het7s hadith+ 1He who doesn4t than( )eo)%e does not than( od either03

THE #OISON 0uusayin was returnin! from town to his )illa!e. 0e was ha y be(ause he had sold all his !oods in the town7s mar4et. 0e sto ed to rest by a fountain. =I7ll let my don4ey !raBe a bit& while I ha)e a snooBe under that tree&? he thou!ht. Cust as he was about to slee & he remembered the money in his moneyba!. 0e thou!ht he should ut it in a safe la(e. 0e o ened it and loo4ed at the (oins. 1hey all were there& and there were none missin!. 0e ut the ba! inside his shirt and drifted off to slee . Gnfortunately& there was a thief in the tree who saw e)erythin!. 1he thief was a )ery bad man and he had s ent all his life harmin! other eo le. 0is eyes !limmered when he saw 0usayin7s moneyba!. Slowly& he (limbed down the tree and too4 out a straw and a ;ar of oison. 0e s read some of the oison on the straw.

0e silently a roa(hed 0usayin& who was slee in! dee ly. 0e lanned to 4ill him and ta4e his money by sim ly blowin! the oison throu!h the straw into 0usayin7s mouth.

Cust as the thief was about to administer the oison& 0useyin suddenly sneeBed. 1he thief was sur rised& and swallowed& ta4in! all the oison into his mouth. 0e died immediately. 5ur Pro het said+ 1A%%ah har.s the )erson who h,rts others03

THE BELT Nihat was a )ery nau!hty (hild. 0e used to hurt his brothers. 0e was always :uarrelin! and was )ery rude. 0is beha)ior u set his mother terribly. She would always ad)ise him+ =Dear& don7t hurt other eo le7s feelin!s. Don7t say rude thin!s to eo le.? @ut Nihat would ne)er admit that he was wron!. 0e would say+ =It7s not my fault. I ha)en7t done anythin! wron!. 1hey made me an!ry& whi(h made me beha)e li4e that.? 5ne day his mother told him that if he didn7t :uarrel with anyone until e)enin! she would buy him a belt that he had seen in a sho window. 0e really wanted that belt. 0is brothers o)erheard what his mother had said and tried to i(4 an ar!ument with him. @ut they (ouldn7t ma4e him an!ryA Nihat had de(ided to (ontrol himself for on(e. In the e)enin! his mother (alled him+

=I see that you (an (ontrol yourself for a belt. You should do this for /od& as this is what 0e ordered& not for sim le& material thin!s.? If only someone had told Nihat the followin! hadith+ 1I !,arantee that an'one who does not &i!ht e*en when )ro*o(ed5 sha%% "e !i*en a .ansion in )aradise03

AN ER 0alit was a )ery stron! (hild. 0e (ould lift a stool strai!ht u from the !round with only one hand. Nobody (ould beat him at s(hool in wrestlin!. 0e mostly wrestled a!ainst his friend Nurettin. 5ne day Nurettin and 0alit wrestled in the s(hoolyard a!ain. Nurettin lost. 0e was so an!ry that he went into the (lassroom and s(ribbled all o)er 0alit7s boo4s. 1his made 0alit )ery an!ry. 0e ;um ed on Nurettin and un(hed him on the nose. Nurettin7s nose started to bleed& and the blood !ot all o)er his (lothes and on the (lassroom floor. 1heir (lassmates all felt bad when they saw what had ha ened. 1he tea(her s(olded 0alit and told him the followin! hadith+ 1A stron! )erson is not the one who "eats his ri*a%s in wrest%in!5 ",t a stron! )erson is the one who $ontro%s his an!er03

THE RACE 0usnu was a !ood (hild. Gnfortunately& he had lost his si!ht in a traffi( a((ident& but he ne)er !a)e u on life. E)ery day he demonstrated that he (ould mana!e to li)e without bein! a burden to others. Many times he e)en went from his )illa!e to the town and (ame ba(4 all by himself. In the same )illa!e there was an arro!ant boy (alled MurtaBa. 5ne day& MurtaBa wanted to ma4e fun of 0usnu and (hallen!ed him to a ra(e from the )illa!e to the town. 0usnu a((e ted. =54ay& but on one (ondition. If I win the ra(e& you will !i)e me your ;a(4et.? MurtaBa lau!hed. =If you win& you (an ha)e the ;a(4et&? he said. 0usnu had one more (ondition. =I set the time for the ra(e.? MurtaBa thou!ht that 0usnu would ne)er win& so he a!reed. 0usnu set the time of the ra(e for a moonless ni!ht. 1he road to the town assed throu!h the forest. It didn7t matter to 0usnu if it was ni!ht or day. 0e wal4ed as he always did and rea(hed the town. @ut MurtaBa !ot lost. 0e fell down into many holes and bran(hes whi ed his fa(e. 0e arri)ed in the town half an hour later than 0usnu. Poor MurtaBa> If only he had 4nown the followin! hadith then he wouldn7t ha)e a(ted in su(h a way. 1A%%ah re*ea%ed to .e6 Be h,."%e and %et none o& 'o, "e arro!ant toward others043

THE OLD Aylin was a snobbish and arro!ant !irl. @ut then one day her father died and she be(ame )ery de ressed. She always layed by herself in the !arden of their )illa. She didn7t want to tal4 to the !irl ne8t door& @edriye& be(ause they were )ery oor. 5ne day @edriye (ame runnin! into Aylin7s !arden& sayin!+ =My father is )ery ill. 0e (ould be dyin!. 0e wants to see you. 0e wants to say somethin! )ery im ortant to you.? Aylin s urned and said+

=As if a oor man (an tell me somethin! im ortant> Your house robably smells really bad and no one would want to !o into a bad*smellin! house.? A few minutes later @edriye (ame ba(4 with tears in her eyes. =My father has to tell you somethin! really im ortant. Your father buried some !old ;ust before he died. 5nly my father 4nows where the !old is buried. =Your father told him not to mention the !old to you until you be(ame a !rown u & but as he is about to die he wants to tell you now. Please hurry>?

-hen Aylin heard what @edriye was sayin! she ran to the nei!hbor7s house. @ut they were too lateA the oor man had ;ust died. Aylin was )ery an!ry with herself and she re!retted her a(tions. -as the !old the only thin! that she had lost< No& she had also lost her (han(e to !et to Paradise be(ause she had (lun! to her old bad habits. 5ur Pro het said the followin! for su(h eo le+ 1No one who has arro!an$e in his7her heart sha%% enter )aradise5 e*en the wei!ht o& a .,stard seed03

THE THIEF Nuri was a oor& sim le farmer. Some eo le thou!ht he was an in(om etent loser be(ause he ne)er meddled himself in anybody7s business and wouldn7t s ea4 unless he had to. 5ne day& someone who was re)iously re uted to be a wise erson stole Nuri7s don4ey. -hen he saw that his don4ey had !one& Nuri set out to the mar4et to buy a new don4ey. As he was wal4in! around the mar4et he saw his own don4ey there for sale. 0e went u to the seller and said+ =1his is my don4ey. It was stolen from me last wee4.? 1he thief was a man without shame. 0e re lied+ =You7re mista4enA I bou!ht this don4ey when it was a foal and raised it myself.? -hen Nuri heard this& an idea o((urred to him. 0e (o)ered the don4ey7s eyes and said+ =If this is your don4ey& then tell me& whi(h is his blind eye<? 1he thief hesitated a moment& and then re lied+ =0is ri!ht eye.? Nuri un(o)ered the eye and showed the seller that the eye (ould see ;ust fine. =5h& I7m sorry& I !ot (onfused. 5f (ourse& it7s his left eye.? =5n(e a!ain& you are wron!&? said Nuri& o enin! the left eye. 1he other eo le in the mar4et had !athered around. 1hey realiBed that it was really Nuri who was the wise man. 5ur Pro het (ursed those eo le who steal other eo le7s belon!in!s+ 1Ma' A%%ah A%.i!ht' $,rse thie*es23

THE MORSEL @esim was a !ood (hild. 0is father was wealthy& so he had e)erythin! he wanted. @ut he 4new nothin! about how less fortunate eo le li)ed. 5ne day& as he was !oin! to lay football& a do! started to (hase him. 0e ran )ery fast but the do! (au!ht him in a narrow alley. Cust then& @esim stumbled o)er a stone and fell down. -hen he o ened his eyes he saw a boy& about his own a!e& and the boy7s mother. 1he mother was dressin! his wounds. 1hey had sa)ed him from the do! and too4 him to their home to (lean his wounds. @esim than4ed them. 0e was )ery sur rised when he saw their home. 1heir furniture was )ery sim le and ordinary. -hen he sat down to share dinner with them he was )ery un(omfortable. 0e felt that e)ery bite he ate stu(4 in his throat. 1he ne8t day @esim too4 some food re ared by his mother to the boy and his mother. 1hen he ate dinner with themA this time he felt better about what he ate. Soon the two boys be(ame !ood friends. @esim was a mer(iful and 4ind (hild& and this is why he beha)ed in a((ordan(e with the followin! hadith of the Pro het+ 1The )erson who is sated whi%e his or her nei!h"ors are h,n!r' is not a M,s%i.03

THE MONE/ It was Ramadan and Ethem had !one to the ba4ery to buy some bread to !et ready for iftar. 1here was a lon! :ueue in front of the ba4ery. As the time to brea4 the fast a roa(hed the eo le be(ame more and more im atient. 1he ba4er was worried about the eo le in the :ueue. It was not easy for him to wor4 :ui(4ly& to ma4e sure e)erybody had bread and ta4e the (orre(t money. It was almost time to brea4 fast when Ethem7s turn (ame. 1he ba4er was really tired by that time& and by mista4e he !a)e Ethem too mu(h (han!e. At first Ethem hesitated& and loo4ed at the ba4er7s fa(e in sur rise. =Is there somethin! wron!<? the ba4er as4ed. =No&? Ethem said and he too4 the money. 0e ran home from the ba4ery. At dinner Ethem was worried and distra(ted. -hen he went to bed that ni!ht he be(ame e)en more worried. 0e felt as if an in)isible man was as4in! him+ =-hy did you do that< -hy did you ta4e money that wasn7t yours<? 0e thou!ht that he should tell his mother e)erythin!A but then he (han!ed his mind and didn7t say anythin!. 0e 4new that his mother would be an!ry and blame him. 0e had ni!htmares all ni!ht lon!. -hen he wo4e u in the mornin! he didn7t feel better. 0e loo4ed at the (alendar on the wall. 1here was a hadith written there& whi(h read as follows+

1Sin is the thin! whi$h dist,r"s 'o,r heart and the thin! 'o, don4t want others to (now03

Ethem felt his fa(e turnin! red& as if our belo)ed Pro het had s o4en this hadith ;ust for him. 0e immediately went to the ba4ery and !a)e the ba4er7s money ba(4& a olo!iBin! for not ha)in! returned it sooner. THE MEDIATOR It was a (old winter day. Isa was !oin! to s(hool when he ran a(ross a oor (hild. 1he (hild wasn7t e)en wearin! a (oat. 0is shoes were old& worn and wet. Isa was mo)ed when he saw this. 0is family wasn7t ri(h either& but they (ould buy what their son needed. Isa de(ided to follow this boy. 0e was sur rised to see that the boy was !oin! to the same s(hool. 0e didn7t re(o!niBe him from s(hoolA he hadn7t seen him there before. 0e wondered what he (ould do to hel the boy& but he didn7t 4now what. 0e would ha)e !i)en his boots that he had been wearin! for two years& but he didn7t ha)e a s are air. At lun(htime he saw the boy a!ain and as4ed him if he wanted to be friends. Soon they be(ame really !ood friends. 1he other boy7s father had died a few years a!o. 0e li)ed with his

mother and two little sisters and they had ;ust mo)ed to the nei!hborhood. Isa shared his lun(h with him that day. 1hat e)enin!& Isa said to his father+ =5ur tea(her !a)e us an assi!nment today. -e need to find out how we (an hel the oor.? 0is father !a)e him some ideas and told him of some ways to hel the oor. 1he ne8t day& Isa went to the =0el the Poor 9oundation? in the nei!hborhood. 0e met a man there& who had a )ery 4ind fa(e. 0e told him about his friend7s situation and as4ed for hel . 1he man be(ame )ery ha y for what Isa had done and (on!ratulated him for his a(tion. 0e told Isa to find out where his friend li)ed and said to him+

=@oth Allah Almi!hty and our Pro het lo)e (hildren li4e you. You ha)e a(ted in a((ordan(e with the followin! hadith+ 1One who .ediates &or $harit' is rewarded "' od as i& he had )er&or.ed this $harit' hi.se%&03

HIDE AND SEE+ Ihsan was layin! hide and see4 with his friends. -hen it was time to hide he found a !ood hidin! la(e behind a (hestnut tree near the street. It would be hard to find him there> Cust then& an old man with a white beard (ame u to him. 1he man was a stran!er. =Son& I need dire(tions& (an you hel me<? the old man said.

Ihsan turned round and ut his fin!er to his li s& si!nallin! the old man that he should be :uiet. 1he man did not understand why he needed to be :uiet& and loo4ed at Ihsan in sur rise. 0e as4ed+ =-hy do you want me to be :uiet< I as4ed you a :uestion. If you 4now the answer& ;ust tell me. If you don7t& then ;ust sha4e your head. I (annot understand the 4ids in town. 1hey are so stran!e&? the old man !rumbled. -hen the erson who was =it? saw the old man tal4in! to someone behind the tree he realiBed that someone must be hidin! there. 0e a roa(hed silently. 1he old man H who was !rowin! im atient H said+ =5b)iously& no one has tau!ht these (hildren the followin! hadith+ 1It is a $harit' to !i*e dire$tions to so.eone who is sear$hin! &or a )%a$e03

0e turned away and wal4ed off. Ihsan felt ashamed of what he had done. 0e for!ot about the !ame he was layin!. 0e ran after the man and as4ed for his for!i)eness. 1hen he too4 him to the la(e he was loo4in! for.

S#OILS#ORTS A)ni was a !ood boy most of the time. 0e ;ust had one roblem. 0e was )ery (ontentious and his friends didn7t li4e his bad (hara(ter. 5ne day in the autumn the (hildren were all sittin! by the la4e and tal4in! about seas and la4es. 1hey were sayin! that seas were dee er and (older than la4es. As always& A)ni too4 u the o osin! )iew. 1his time his friends didn7t ar!ue with himA they 4new him )ery well by now. 1hey be!an to s4i stones. 1hin& flat stones s4i ed o)er the blue water li4e flyin! birds. 9aru4 was able to s4i his stones further than anyone else that day. 0is stones went a lon! way& s4i in! toward the horiBon.

A)ni felt ;ealous and said+ ='et me see your stones.? 9aru4 o ened his hand and showed A)ni his stones. 0is stones were no different than anyone else7s. @ut s oils ort A)ni always loo4ed for a reason to i(4 a fi!ht. =5h. You ha)e ta4en the thinnest stones. 5f (ourse& su(h thin stones will !o a lon! way& anyone (an do that.? 9aru4 was an easy*!oin! boy and said+

=All ri!htA why don7t we e8(han!e stones< You ta4e mine and I7ll ta4e yours.? @ut the result was the same. 'im in! 0aydar& who had been hurt in a traffi( a((ident& a roa(hed A)ni. =You are in a bad mood today. And you7re not )ery lu(4y either&? he said to his friend& !ently. A)ni was an!ry be(ause he hadn7t been able to s4i the stones and shouted at 0aydar& =-hat do you 4now& you (ri le>? 1he other (hildren be(ame )ery an!ry with A)ni. 1hey all lo)ed 0aydar and hated to see anyone treat him badly. 1hey told A)ni that he had been )ery unfair and mean. A)ni7s beha)ior !oes a!ainst what our Pro het told us in the followin! hadith+ 1Do not ar!,e with 'o,r M,s%i. "rothers and sisters2 Do not .a(e &,n o& the.23

THE CHERR/ TREE Ali and Aisha (limbed the (herry tree and be!an to eat all the ri e (herries. Ali noti(ed that the (herries han!in! at the bran(h*ti s loo4ed better.

=1hose bran(hes loo4 thin and won7t hold your wei!ht. 1hese are ;ust as !ood&? Aisha said to Ali to sto him from !oin! to the thin bran(hes. @ut Ali didn7t listen. 0e (ould thin4 of nothin! but those (herries. 0e (rawled toward the thin outer bran(hes of the tree. @efore lon!& he found himself on the !round alon! with a bro4en bran(h. 0e had bro4en not only the lon! bran(h of the treeA but also his le!. 0e had to stay home for many wee4sA he (ould only wat(h the other (hildren (limbin! the tree and i(4in! all the (herries.

Ali7s beha)ior was )ery !reedy& wasn7t it< -hat a thou!ht* ro)o4in! warnin! the followin! sayin! of our Pro het is+ 1I& a .an had two strea.s &,%% o& !o%d5 he wo,%d sti%% as( &or a third0 On%' the !ra*e $an satis&' .an4s !reed03

THE BRA8E SON In an(ient days& bandits would wait on the side of the road to rob and 4idna eo le& then they would sell them in the sla)e mar4ets. 5ne day& a oor& old man was (a tured by the bandits. 1he leader of the bandits told the old man+ =If you don7t want us to sell you in the sla)e mar4et& you must brin! us a hundred ie(es of !oldA only then we will let you !o.? 1he old man wrote a letter to his family& sayin!+

=I 4now that you don7t ha)e enou!h money to buy my freedom. I am only writin! this letter to let you 4now what ha ened to me.? 1he old man had a 4ind*hearted and bra)e son. -hen he !ot his father7s letter he went to the bandits and said+ =5h& my lords& I 4now that you will not release my father without a ransom. I am not as4in! you to do this. @ut you (an see that he is a oor& wea4& old man. If you sell him& you will not !et a hi!h ri(e. 1a4e me& and sell me& instead. You will !et mu(h more money this way.? 1he bandits li4ed this offer. @ut they said that they needed to as4 their leader first. 1heir leader (ouldn7t belie)e what he heard. 0e loo4ed at the bra)e son in admiration and said+ =So there are still su(h bra)e sons li)in! on earth. 0ow wonderful> I would sa(rifi(e myself to ha)e su(h a bra)e erson. Come& I !i)e you your father7s life for your sa4e. You and your father are both free to !o>? 1he old man and his bra)e son returned home& e(stati( at the out(ome of their misha .

1his story reminds us of the followin! hadith of the Pro het+ 1A $hi%d $an ne*er re)a' the ri!hts he owes his &ather0 On%' i& he &inds his &ather as a s%a*e and ranso.s his &reedo. has he re)aid his &ather4s ri!ht in &,%%03

THE +ID Ne(i lo)ed !oats )ery mu(hA es e(ially the little 4ids. 0is father !a)e him a 4id as a !ift to loo4 after. Ne(i fed it and raised it durin! the summer. 0e lo)ed it when the 4id ran u to him and !ently butted his hands. Ne(i 7s father always told him+ =Don7t lea)e the door o en& otherwise the 4id will (ome into the house and dama!e the furniture.? 5ne day& Ne(i ran into the house to !et his ball. 0e remembered what his father had told him& but didn7t bother to (lose the door as he was !oin! to be )ery :ui(4. 0e didn7t noti(e that the 4id had run after him into the house. -hile the 4id was sear(hin! for Ne(i & it found itself in front of the bi! mirror in the li)in! room. Another 4id was loo4in! at it. -hen the 4id mo)ed (loser& the one in the mirror (ame (loser& too. It went (raBy when it saw the other 4id a roa(hin!. 1he 4id ut its head down& ran at the mirror& and butted it. It wanted to tea(h the other !oat a lesson. A hu!e (rash was heard throu!h the house. 1he mirror had been smashed into a hundred ie(es. If Ne(i had 4nown what our Pro het had told his two youn! (om anions& Ibn Gmar and Abdullah Ibn Amr he would ne)er ha)e i!nored his father7s ad)i(e+ 1O"e' 'o,r &ather23

THE TALENTED CHILD 1hree women were returnin! from the mar4et with bas4ets in their hands. 1hey sat on a ben(h in order to ta4e a brea4. 1hey started to tal4 about their (hildren.

1he first woman mentioned how a(ti)e her son was and said that he (ould wal4 on his hands for se)eral minutes. 1he se(ond woman said her son (ould sin! )ery well and that e)eryone lo)ed his sin!in!. 1he third woman only listened. 1he other women as4ed her why she hadn7t said anythin!. =My son has no s e(ial talent I (an boast of&? she said. An old man who was assin! by o)erheard their (on)ersation and de(ided to follow them. -hen the women (ame to the street on whi(h they li)ed they sto ed a!ain to rest& lea)in! their bas4ets on the !round. 1heir (hildren saw them and (ame runnin! to their mothers. 1he first woman7s son was turnin! (artwheels. 1he se(ond woman7s son started to sin! one of his mother7s fa)orite son!s. All the women a lauded him. 1he third woman7s son (ame and as4ed+ =Shall I hel you& Mom<? and i(4ed u the bas4et. 1he women sto ed the old man and as4ed him what he thou!ht of their talented (hildren. =I saw only one talented boy&? he said. =0e is the one that is runnin! to hel his mother to (arry her bas4et. 0e has beha)ed in a((ordan(e with the followin! hadith of our Pro het+ 1I ad*ise e*er'one to ser*e their .other03

THE #LASTIC #LATE 1here was a oor (ar enter who was !ettin! old. 0e had lost all his stren!th and now he was !radually losin! his eyesi!ht too. @e(ause of his sha4in! hands he (ould no lon!er hold a s oon ro erly. 0e s illed more food on the table(loth than he was able to ut in his mouth.

0is son and dau!hter*in*law were always tellin! him to be (areful. 1hey would !et )ery an!ry with him& es e(ially when the food dribbled down his (hin. 9inally they set a se arate table away from theirs. 0is little !randson 0asan felt )ery sad about his !randfather. 0e tried to hel him by holdin! the s oon for him& so he would not s ill his food. 5ne day& the old man a((identally dro ed and bro4e his late while he was eatin!. 0e loo4ed at his (hildren sittin! at the table with tears in his eyes. 1hey !ot )ery an!ry. 1hey s(olded him and bro4e his heart. 9rom that time on they ser)ed him his meals in lasti( lates. 5ne day& the (ar enter7s son told his wife not to ut the fruit on the lasti( late& and told her to throw the lates into the trash. 0asan too4 two of the lates and told his mother not to throw them away for they will need the lates in the future. =-hat do you want them for<? his father as4ed. 0asan re lied+ =I will use them for your meals when you !et older.?

0asan7s arents felt )ery ashamed. 1hey started to let their father eat with them on(e a!ain. If the son and his wife had only 4nown that the best way to !et into 0ea)en was to treat our arents well they would robably not ha)e a(ted in su(h a way. 5ur Pro het made this (lear in the followin! 0adith+ 1A%%ah4s )%eas,re is !ained in )%easin! )arents5 and A%%ah4s wrath is in$,rred in ,)settin! the )arents03

THE FO9NTAIN-#EN Celal was the son of a oor (ar enter. 0e was sittin! on the street (orner and (ryin! be(ause he had lost his fountain* en. A well*dressed man was assin! by. 0e sto ed and as4ed Celal what the matter was. -hen he heard his roblem& he too4 a en from his o(4et and as4ed+ =Is this the en you lost<? Celal tried to sto (ryin! and answer+ =No& it is not. My en was not as ni(e as that one.? 1he man admired Celal7s honesty.

=@e(ause you are an honest boy and tellin! the truth& as a reward I am !i)in! you this en. Please a((e t it.? 5ur Pro het told us how /od will reward honest eo le in the followin! hadith+ 1Te%%in! the tr,th %eads to *irt,e and *irt,e %eads to )aradise03

A LIAR 5ne day a man and a woman were on trial in a (ourt. 1he ;ud!e (ame in and the session started. 1he woman made the first s ee(h. She ointed at the s4inny man standin! ne8t to her and said+ =1his man atta(4ed me and too4 away my honor&? and she be!an to wail. 1he man defended himself& sayin!+ =She is lyin!& sir> 1his woman (ame to me while I was (ountin! the money I had earned from sellin! my shee . She wanted my money. She threatened me& sayin! that if I did not !i)e it to her she would (reate roblems for me. -hen I refused she started to s(ream.?

After hearin! them& the ;ud!e 4new who was tellin! the truth and who was lyin!. @ut he said nothin!. 1hen he turned to the man and said an!rily+ =You atta(4ed this oor woman and then (ome and tell us a a(4 of lies. /i)e all the money in your o(4et to this woman or I will ut you in ;ail.? E)erybody was sho(4ed. 1hey hadn7t e8 e(ted the ;ud!e to rea(t in su(h a way. 1he woman !ladly too4 the man7s money and left the (ourtroom rayin! for the ;ud!e. As soon as she left& the ;ud!e told the man to !o and follow her in order to !et his money ba(4. 1he man was on(e a!ain sho(4ed and rushed out :ui(4ly& ho in! to !et his money ba(4. A few minutes later& they were brou!ht ba(4 into the (ourtroom a!ain. 1he man was hurt& and had bruises and (uts on his fa(e. 1he woman s o4e first a!ain. She was )ery an!ry. =Sir& this brute tried to ta4e away the money you had !i)en me.?

1he ;ud!e as4ed her+ =Did he mana!e to !et it<? =Do you thin4 I would !i)e u anythin! to this man<? the woman answered s(ornfully. 1he ;ud!e turned and shouted at her+ =You shameless liar> You a(ted li4e an honest woman& (laimin! this man had atta(4ed you. If that was true you would ha)e fou!ht harder to rote(t yourself than to rote(t the money whi(h wasn7t yours. Now !i)e him ba(4 his money immediately>? @efore !i)in! her a senten(e& the ;ud!e reminded the woman of our Pro het7s followin! hadith+ 1L'in! is i..ora% and i..ora%it' %eads to he%%03

THE CHESTN9T TREE 0usnu was tal4in! to the ;ud!e& ointin! to the sus e(t. =Sir> I left a diamond rin! with this man before !oin! abroad last year. Now I want my rin! ba(4& but he refuses to !i)e it to me.? 1he ;ud!e as4ed Misti4 Kahya& who was sittin! in the bo8+ =-hy didn7t you !i)e him his rin! ba(4<? =0e is lyin!. 0e didn7t !i)e me a rin!&? Kahya answered. 1he ;ud!e turned to 0usnu+ =Do you ha)e a witness who saw you !i)e this man the rin!<?

=No& there was no one with us when I !a)e the rin! to him under a (hestnut tree.? 1he ;ud!e ordered 0usnu to !o and fet(h him a bran(h from the (hestnut tree. A few minutes later the ;ud!e turned to Misti4 Kahya and said+ =-here (ould he be< I wonder when he will (ome ba(4. /o loo4 out the window and tell me if he is (omin!.? Misti4 Kahya did not e)en mo)e from his la(e& but answered+ =0e (an7t be ba(4 in less than three hoursA it7s a lon! way from here.? 1he ;ud!e turned to Misti4 Kahya and said+ ?Not only are you a liar& you are a fool as well> If you had not ta4en the rin! you would not 4now where the (hestnut tree was. 0a)e you ne)er heard the hadith of our Pro het< 1O )eo)%e2 Ne*er %ie2 For %'in! and &aith ne*er $o.e to!ether03

1he ;ud!e !a)e him a hea)y unishment for his (rime. THE ECHO 'ittle RemBi was ta4in! food to his father who was wor4in! in the fields. 0e s otted a shadowy fi!ure behind the ro(4s at the to of the hill. 1hin4in! that it was another (hild he shouted to him& sayin! =0eeeey>? A )oi(e (ame ba(4& sayin! =0eeeey>? from the hill to . Not realiBin! it was an e(ho& he thou!ht that another (hild was u there& ma4in! fun of him. =Cust wait and see what ha ens if I (ome u >? 1he )oi(e answered+ =Cust wait and see what ha ens if I (ome u >? RemBi !ot really an!ry and shouted at the to of his )oi(e+ =Come out and let me see you& you (oward>? -hen the same answer (ame ba(4 to him he started to run toward the (liff. Soon he was tired& but he (ouldn7t see anyone there. 0e thou!ht that the other (hild must be hidin! somewhere else. 0e (limbed u the ro(4s& shoutin! all the while. 0e thou!ht about what he would do to that other (hild when he (au!ht him. @ut that (owardly (hild didn7t dare to (ome out. After a lon! time& he remembered his father. 0e must be )ery hun!ry by now. -hen he !ot to his father he told his father e)erythin! that had ha ened. 0is father listened to him and reminded his son of a ro)erb+ =0e who s ea4s whate)er he wants hears whate)er he doesn7t want to hear.? If RemBi had 4nown the followin! sayin! of the Pro het he would not ha)e a(ted in su(h a way+ 1Let the one who "e%ie*es in od and the Last Da' s)ea( !ood or re.ain si%ent03

BREAD

It was a (old winter day. 0asan was returnin! home with bread he had bou!ht from the ba4ery. Suddenly he noti(ed a oor& s4inny do!& whi(h was so thin that all its ribs (ould be (ounted. 1he do! was starin! at the bread in 0asan7s bas4et and whinin!. 0asan was dee ly mo)ed by this itiful si!ht. 0e said to himself =If I !i)e one of my loa)es to this oor do!& My mother will be )ery an!ry.? 1hen de(idin! that it was worth to ta4e the ris4 of his mother7s wrath& he ut the bas4et down and started to brea4 the bread into small ie(es for the do!. A man who was (omin! ba(4 from the ba4ery heard what 0asan had said. 0e se(retly ut one of his own loa)es into 0asan7s bas4et.

-hen 0asan arri)ed home he was sur rised to find out that he had ;ust as mu(h bread as he had bou!ht from the ba4ery> 5f (ourse& 0asan (ould ha)e e8 lained this if he 4new the followin! hadith of the Pro het+ 1Charit' ne*er %essens wea%th03

THE MISER Ihsan had a stin!y un(le. 0e li)ed mea!erly. 0e neither s ent any of his money& nor !a)e anythin! to anyboy else. 9or this reason& no one li4ed him. 1his oor miser e8(han!ed e)erythin! he owned with !old& be(ause he wanted to see e)erythin! he owned before his eyes. 0e then buried all the !old in his !arden.

E)ery day he too4 the !old out from the !round and (ounted it (oin by (oinA then he buried it a!ain in the same la(e. 5ne day& he (ouldn7t find the !old anymore. Somebody must ha)e stolen it. 0e went (raBy with an!er. Ihsan& when he learned about what had ha ened& went to )isit his un(le and said+ =Don7t (ry for the money. It was not yours. It didn7t belon! to you. If it had& you wouldn7t ha)e buried it in the !arden& but you would ha)e used it for your benefit.? 5ur Pro het who too4 refu!e in /od from stin!iness said in his hadith+ 1A stin!' )erson is &ar &ro. A%%ah5 &ar &ro. )aradise and &ar &ro. other h,.an "ein!s03

THE SHOES It was a lon!& hard winter. Sadi was )ery (old& be(ause his shoes were worn and they let the water in. 9or the first time& he was sorry that his family was oor. 0e thou!ht how ni(e it would be if they had enou!h money to buy a thi(4 (oat and some !ood shoes. 5ne day Sadi was returnin! from s(hool with his ba! in hand. 0e sto ed before the (entral mos:ue ;ust as the adhan for afternoon rayer was bein! (alled. Sadi li4ed to ray in the mos:ue& so he went into the (ourtyard and wal4ed u to the fountains to erform his ablution. 0e left his s(hool ba! on the ben(h and rolled u his slee)es. 0e 4new almost e)erybody who was erformin! ablution there. 0e sat at a fountain and too4 off his shoes. 0is so(4s were dirty and wet. An!rily he threw one of his torn shoes on the !round. 1hen he saw a man rformin! ablution ne8t to him. 1his man washed one le! and then stood u . Sadi noti(ed that that the man had only one le!. Now he was embarrassed. 0e had been worried about his shoes& but that man had only one le!. Maybe he had a lot of money to buy shoesA but money wasn7t e)erythin!. After (om letin! his rayer& Sadi be!an to ray to /od& raisin! his hands hi!h. 0e than4ed /od for his stron! le!s. 0ow wonderful is the followin! sayin! of our Pro het+ 1A%wa's "e $ontent with %ess0 Then 'o, wi%% "e the "est at than(in! od03

THE CAR 0i4met was a !ood student. 0e was !oin! to a se(ondary s(hool far from his home. E)eryday he went to s(hool by bus and returned home the same way. 0i4met had se)eral hobbies. 5ne of them was (ars. 5n the way to s(hool& he (ould tell his friends the model and ma4e of e)ery (ar they saw on the road. 0e was a little sad& as his family didn7t ha)e a (ar. 0owe)er& he ne)er (om lained about this to his family& be(ause he 4new that they (ouldn7t afford one. 0is father was a (i)il ser)ant and barely earned enou!h to feed their family of four. It would be silly to as4 for a (ar. It would also be unfair to as4 more from his father who was doin! his best for his family. 0i4met7s friend Ahmad li)ed in the same nei!hborhood. @ut he ne)er too4 the bus to s(hool. 0e always wal4ed the lon! way there and ba(4. 0i4met (ouldn7t understand why his friend did this. 5ne day& it was rainy and (old. 0i4met was waitin! at the bus sto with his friends. Ahmad assed by in front of them& i!norin! the rain. =Ahmad& the bus will be here soon. -hy are you wal4in!<? 0i4met as4ed. =1han4 you but I ha)e to sto by somewhere else first&? he re lied as he 4e t on wal4in!. 1he same e)ent too4 la(e a few more times in the followin! days. 0i4met started to wonder why Ahmad was not ta4in! the bus. 5ne day& he told his mother about this. 0i4met7s mother 4new Ahmad7s family well. Ahmad7s father had died a few years a!o& lea)in! si8 (hildren behind. 0is oor mother tried to earn money and feed his family by (leanin! other eo le7s houses. Ahmad (ouldn7t ta4e the bus sim ly be(ause his family (ouldn7t afford it. 0i4met felt sad and ashamed. 0e had wished for a (ar& but there were thousands of eo le li)in! in the same (ity who didn7t ha)e enou!h money for food or didn7t ha)e a ro er house to slee in. 0e than4ed /od for e)erythin! that he had. If 0i4met had heard the followin! hadith of our Pro het he would ne)er ha)e felt sad about not ha)in! a (ar+

1/o, .,st $o.)are 'o,rse%& to those who are %ower than 'o,5 not to those who are hi!her than 'o,03

SMO+E 5n(e u on a time there was a man (alled 0atem. 0e was a ri(h and !enerous man. 0e had many herds of animals that !raBed in the !rassy fields& and he lo)ed to share his wealth with others. 0atem had a it(h*bla(4 horse (alled Smo4e. E)erybody admired this horse for its s eed. It ran li4e a flyin! ea!le. 0atem re!arded Smo4e as the a le of his eye& and he would not !i)e it u for anythin!. 9inally& the fame of 0atem7s wealth and his beautiful horse rea(hed the ears of the Sultan. -hen the Sultan heard about him he (alled his /rand FiBier and said+ =I want to test 0atem7s !enerosity. As4 him to !i)e me Smo4e. 'et7s see what he does.? 1he Sultan7s men set off the ne8t day. 5ne ni!ht when it was rainin! )ery hard they rea(hed 0atem7s house and be(ame his !uests. 0atem !reeted them with ;oy and warmth. 0e ordered his ser)ants to re are food for his !uests. Soon an e8(ellent table was set for dinner and they all sat down to eat. After the meal the !uests were ut u in )ery (omfortable beds& where they sle t soundly.

1he ne8t mornin! when the !uests e8 lained why they had (ome& 0atem be(ame )ery sad and didn7t 4now what to do in his !reat sorrow. =-hat a ity>? he said& =I wished you had told me what the Sultan wanted as soon as you had arri)ed. I 4now that you lo)e horsemeat& and last ni!ht& as due to the bad weather I (ouldn7t

find anythin! else to offer you. So& I slau!htered Smo4e last ni!ht for us to eat& as I had no other alternati)e.? @ut e)en 0atem7s !enerosity aled ne8t to our Pro het7s& who on(e !a)e a sin!le man a !ift of a hundred (amels> 5ur !lorious Pro het stated in the followin! hadith how !reat a (hara(ter trait !enerosity was+ 1A !enero,s )erson is $%ose to od5 $%ose to h,.an "ein!s5 $%ose to #aradise5 and &ar &ro. He%%03

S9N-DRIED BRIC+S 5n(e u on a time& there was a oor man (alled =Murat the /enuine.? 0e was a !ood* hearted man and a de)out Muslim. 5ne day he found a !old in!ot in the sha e of a sun*dried bri(4 while he was re airin! the walls of his house. 0e was so ha y that he didn7t 4now what to do. 0e be!an to thin4+ =9inally I am no lon!er oor. Now I will build a mansion for myself and furnish its rooms with the best furniture and lay the floors with alabaster. 1he !arden will be full of flowers and all 4inds of fruit trees where the most beautiful birds will sin!.? 1hat ni!ht he had lo)ely dreams. 1he ne8t day& he ima!ined how many ser)ants he would ha)e& the !ardeners& (oo4s and butlers who would all wor4 in his mansion. 1he followin! day he (ontinued to dream su(h lo)ely thin!s. All day and all ni!ht he would ;ust dreamA he didn7t e)en eat& drin4& or ray to /od and than4 0im for the health and wealth he had been !i)en> 5ne day when Murat was wal4in! outside the town& dreamin! his dreams& he saw a man (uttin! sun*dried bri(4s by the wall of the (emetery. 1he man was di!!in! out the soil and mi8in! it with water and straw& whi(h he then ut in a mold to ma4e the bri(4s. 1he man told Murat that the bri(4s made from the soil of the !ra)eyard were sturdier than those made from other soil. Murat was sho(4ed. 0e felt as if he had been un(hed. Suddenly he awo4e from his dreams and& (ontinuin! on his way& s(olded himself. =Shame on you> Poor& absent*minded man> 5ne day they will ma4e bri(4s from the soil that (o)ers you. You lost your way when you found that !old. You for!ot to ray and than4 /od. 0owe)er& life ta4es many thin!s ba(4 ea(h day. You are !ettin! (loser to death with e)ery day that asses. Sto dreamin! and indul!in! in fantasies> 1his is a !ift from /odA s end your money wisely& don7t waste it and don7t s end it foolishly>? Cust then& the adhan for noon* rayer rose u from the minarets.

-hen he heard this& Murat went towards the mos:ue with ea(e in his heartA he now 4new what was ri!ht and !ood.

If Murat had 4nown earlier the followin! hadith he wouldn7t ha)e under!one su(h a time of (onfusion+ 1I& I had !o%d as .,$h as Mo,nt 9h,d5 I wo,%d not want to (ee) it with .e .ore than three da's other than the a.o,nt o& .' de"t03

THE 9EST 0amdi was layin! in the !arden when he saw a oor old man with a white beard in the street. 1he man was wal4in! slowly. 0e sto ed at the !ate of 0amdi7s house& a beautiful mansion& to ta4e a breath. =My son& do you mind if I s end the ni!ht in this !uesthouse<? he said. =1his is not a !uesthouse.? 0amdi re lied smilin!.

=-hat is it then<? =It is our home.? =Really< 1hat7s ni(e. -ellIwho built this mansion<? =My !randfather>? =-ho inherited it after him<? =My father>? =So& who will inherit it after your father<? =Probably me.? 1he old man smiled and loo4ed at 0amdi7s fa(e for a little while. 1hen he said+ =As the owner of this house 4ee s (han!in!& then it means you are all !uests in this house& doesn7t it<? 1hen he stood u and (ontinued wal4in!. -hen s(hool started that year& 0amdi told this story in his reli!ion lesson. -hen some of the students thou!ht that the old man had s o4en nonsense& their tea(her reminded them of the followin! hadith of the Pro het+ 1M' re%ation with this wor%d is as a tra*e%er who $ontin,es his :o,rne' a&ter ha*in! rested ,nder a tree03

THE WOODSMAN 1here on(e was a oor woodsman durin! the time of Pro het Moses 2 ea(e be u on him3. 0e (olle(ted woods from the mountains& (arried them on his ba(4& and sold them at the mar4et. 0e li)ed on the little in(ome he earned from this wor4. 1he wor4 was hard& but the woodsman ne)er tired of it. 5ne of his nei!hbors was also doin! the same wor4 but he had a don4ey to ta4e the wood to the mar4et. 1his made the woodsman )ery ;ealous. 5ne day the oor woodsman went to Moses to e8 lain his roblem. =I always ha)e many sores on my ba(4 from (arryin! the wood. I ha)e yet to li)e a ea(eful day. Please& when you !o before the 'ord& e8 lain my situation to 0im and as4 0im to !rant me a don4ey to ta4e my wood to the mar4et.? -hen Moses tal4ed to Allah Almi!hty& he re eated what the woodsman had said. Allah re lied+ =1his ser)ant of mine is sufferin! from ;ealousy. Gntil he rids himself of this illness he won7t feel (omfortable. 0e must !i)e it u . Nowadays the other woodsman7s don4ey is si(4. 1ell him to ray for his nei!hbor7s don4ey. If he does so and the don4ey !ets well then I will !i)e him a don4ey too.? -hen Moses re orted this to the oor woodsman& he be(ame e)en more ;ealous and said+ =No& I (an7t ray to /od for the re(o)ery of my nei!hbor7s don4ey. I am ha y with what I ha)e and I don7t need a don4ey from /od. I ho e 0e doesn7t (ure the don4ey H that will be enou!h for me.?

Cealousy is nothin! but an illness. If someone is sufferin! from this disease& he or she will ne)er be ha y. 1he reason why the woodsman was tired and was ne)er at ease was be(ause of his ;ealousy& not the wood he was (arryin!. 0ow wonderfully our belo)ed Pro het e8 lains this situation in the followin! hadith> 1Don4t "e :ea%o,s0 It destro's !ood deeds :,st as &ire destro's wood03

THE BLOOD/ FILE 5ne Day Adam was !oin! sho in!. 0e !ot u early in the mornin! and went to the mar4et. 5ne by one& he la(ed all the items he was buyin! in his small sho in! ba!. 0e had no idea that the file he had bou!ht from the hardware store would ier(e the ba! of li)er he bou!ht from the but(her7s. -hen Adam (ame home from sho in!& he too4 out the bloody file and left it by the door to (lean it u later. A few minutes later& he noti(ed that a hun!ry (at had been attra(ted by the smell of li)er and was li(4in! the file with its ton!ue. 1he stran!e thin! is that the blood on the file was in(reasin! instead of de(reasin!. Adam felt sorry for the oor (at& but he (hased it away to rote(t it from hurtin! itself. 1he (at went a little away and frowned at Adam. It was hun!ry and needed some food& and why was this brutal man (hasin! him away< -hat the oor (at didn7t realiBe was that the blood it had tasted was his own. It had (ut its own ton!ue with the shar file. -hen Adam told his father what had ha ened he lau!hed and said+

=Some eo le are li4e your 4itty. 1hey don7t realiBe that the wron! thin!s they do will hurt them one someday. 1hey !et u set when eo le try to sto them from hurtin! themsel)es& ;ust li4e that (at.?

Adam !rumbled+ =-e should ;ust let them do the wron! and !et their lesson by themsel)es.? 0is father heard him and re lied+ ='ea)in! them with their wron! a(tions is a short(omin! on our art. 5ur duty is to try to deter eo le from doin! wron!. In this way we not only hel those eo le& but so(iety as well.? 1hen he re(ited the followin! hadith to Adam+ 1When an' o& 'o, sees so.ethin! disa))ro*ed ;"' od<5 $han!e it with 'o,r hand0 I& 'o, $annot do this5 then $han!e it with 'o,r ton!,e0 I& 'o, $annot do this5 then $han!e it with 'o,r heart03

THE DO It was har)est time and Memis and his wife were har)estin! their field. As they wor4ed& their little baby sle t under a tree& wat(hed o)er by their do! Karabas.

A little while later Memis and his wife too4 a brea4. -hen they went u where their baby was slee in!& they witnessed a terrible s(ene. 1heir baby was lyin! fa(e down in the (radle& motionless& while Karabas was lyin! a few yards away& (o)ered in blood. Memis went mad. 0e thou!ht Karabas had 4illed his baby so he stru(4 the do! with his s(ythe. Poor Karabas died instantly. Memis was e)en more sho(4ed when his wife told him their baby was fine& ;ust slee in!. 1hey didn7t 4now what to thin4 until they (au!ht si!ht of a hu!e sna4e lyin! dead a few feet away. 1hey realiBed that Karabas !ot wounded after fi!htin! the bi! sna4e and had sa(rifi(ed his life sa)in! their baby. 1hey felt e8tremely sorry about the bi! mista4e they had made. If Memis had a(ted in a((ordan(e with what the Pro het had ordered in the followin! hadith they would ha)e been ha ier+ 1A$tin! with $a,tion is &ro. A%%ah5 and haste is &ro. the De*i%03

THE /ELLOW COW Aunt Aisha lanted beans in her !arden. 1he beans s routed in a )ery short time as the weather had been !ood. 5ne day Aunt Aisha wo4e u to the loud bellows of a (ow in the !arden. She rushed out to see what was ha enin!. 0er nei!hbor7s yellow (ow had bro4en into her !arden and it was tram lin! the youn! beans. Aunt Aisha was etrified when she saw all her efforts !oin! to waste. 1he yellow (ow with a ro e still around her ne(4 4e t bellowin! outside her stable. Aunt Aisha& who was !ettin! an!rier e)ery se(ond& wal4ed towards the (ow with a bi! sti(4 in her hand. Cust then& her nei!hbor7s wife (ame by runnin!. She started to tal4 with a sad )oi(e+ =0er oor (alf died yesterday. She bro4e her ro es three times this mornin!. She is runnin! around& loo4in! for her (alf.?

-hen Aunt Aisha heard this& the sti(4 fell from her hand. She be!an to at the !rie)in! (ow& loo4in! into her sorrowful eyes.

=I see I. She is missin! her baby&? she said. She totally for!ot about the beans. Aunt Aisha erformed a sim le a(t of 4indness. 0ow (ommendable Aunt Aisha7s (han!e of beha)ior was& was it not< It was ;ust as our Pro het ordered in the followin! 0adith+ 1Be a&raid o& od and do not "e $r,e% a!ainst d,." ani.a%s03

SO9RCES OF THE AHADITH 1he @irds+ NasaJ& Kitb al-Immah& 0adith no. KE. A 1horn+ 1irmiBJ& Kitb al-Birr& 0adith no. %L. 1he Coat+ @u4hMrJ& Kitb al-Sawm& 0adith no. NL. 1he Mirror+ AbO DM)Od& Kitb al-Adab& 0adith no. KP. 1he DMeanie7+ @u4hMrJ& Kitb al-Mazlim& 0adith no. Q. A /host+ Muslim& Kitb al-Adhkr& 0adith no. QE. A Nei!hbor in Paradise+ Muslim& Kitb al-Adhkr& 0adith no. QE. 1ooth Medi(ine+ Muslim& Kitb al-Imn& 0adith no. %LK. 1he -allet+ 1irmiBJ& Kitb al-Birr& 0adith no. QN. 1he Poison+ 1irmiBJ& Kitb al-Birr& 0adith no. #R. 1he @elt+ 1irmiBJ& Kitb al-Birr& 0adith no. NE. An!er+ @u4hMrJ& Kitb al-Adab& 0adith no. RL. 1he Ra(e+ Muslim& Kitb al-Jannah& 0adith no. LK.

1he /old+ Muslim& Kitb al-Imn& 0adith no. %KR. 1he 1hief+ @u4hMrJ& Kitb al-hudd& 0adith no. R. 1he Morsel+ Ibn AbJ Shaibah& Al-Musannaf (Ht) V l! "& 0adith no. %LK. 1he Money+ Muslim& Kitb al-Birr& 0adith no. N. 1he Mediator+ 1irmiBJ& Kitb al-#Ilm& 0adith no. %K. 0ide and See4+ 1irmiBJ& Kitb al-Birr& 0adith no. QR. S oils orts+ 1irmiBJ& Kitb al-Birr& 0adith no. NE. 1he Cherry 1ree+ 1irmiBJ& Kitb al-$uhd& 0adith no. #R. 1he @ra)e Son+ Muslim& Kitb al-#It%& 0adith no. #N. 1he Kid+ Ahmad b. 0anbal& Musnad & l! II& 0adith no. #$& %LK& #$L. 1he 1alented Child+ Ibn Ma;ah& Kitb al-Adab& 0adith no. %. 1he Plasti( Plate+ 1irmiBJ& Kitb al-Birr& 0adith no. Q 1he 9ountain*Pen+ @u4hMrJ& Kitb al-Adab& 0adith no. LP. A 'iar+ Muslim& Kitb al-Birr& 0adith no. %$Q. 1he Chestnut 1ree+ Ahmad b. 0anbal& Musnad & l! I& 0adith no. N. 1he E(ho+ @u4hMrJ& Kitb al-Adab& 0adith no. Q%. @read+ Muslim& Kitb al-Birr& 0adith no. LP 1he Miser+ 1irmiBJ& Kitb al-Birr& 0adith no. K$. 1he Shoes+ Ibn Ma;ah& Kitb al-$uhd& 0adith no. #K 1he Car+ Muslim& Kitb al-Adab& 0adith no. E. Smo4e+ 1irmiBJ& Kitb al-Birr& 0adith no. K$. Sun*Dried @ri(4s+ @u4hMrJ& Kitb al-Isti%rz& 0adith no. Q. 1he /uest+ 1irmiBJ& Kitb al-$uhd& 0adith no. KK 1he -oodsman+ AbO DM)Od& Kitb al-Adab& 0adith no. KK. 1he @loody 9ile+ Muslim& Kitb al-Imn& 0adith no. KP. 1he Do!+ 1irmiBJ& Kitb al-Birr& 0adith no. LL 1he Yellow Cow+ AbO DM)Od& Kitb al-Jihd& 0adith no. KK.