In the heart of a bustling town, a wealthy merchant sat within the walls of a mosque, reflecting on the wealth he had amassed. Close by, a humble beggar was fervently seeking divine intervention, his eyes closed in deep supplication. “O Allah, today I desire a meal of this nature and a dessert as delicious as that,” the beggar prayed.
The merchant’s ears caught wind of the beggar’s prayer, and with a hint of disdain, he murmured, “If this beggar had asked me directly, I might have considered fulfilling his wishes. But now, he uses this as an excuse to eavesdrop, hoping I’d be swayed to provide him a feast. I will not fall for his cunning ploy.”
Little did the merchant know that his thoughts were being overheard by a Higher Power. With a heart heavy with disappointment, the beggar retreated to a corner and lay down to rest, feeling defeated.
As fate would have it, a short while later, a kind soul arrived with a sumptuous meal. The aroma filled the air, and the beggar was gently awakened. Surprised and filled with gratitude, he saw the meal that lay before him. This act of kindness had been orchestrated by someone who knew not only of the beggar’s prayers but also of his unfulfilled desires.
Overwhelmed by the generosity, the beggar ate a portion of the meal and returned the rest with a thankful heart. The kind soul disappeared as silently as they had arrived.
The merchant, intrigued by the scene, couldn’t resist his curiosity and approached the beggar. “Do you know who sent this meal?” he inquired.
The beggar replied, “No, kind sir. I am but a laborer, and my wife and child have yearned for such food for a year. However, our circumstances prevented us from fulfilling this wish. Recently, fortune smiled upon me, and I received a small piece of gold. With it, I purchased meat and other ingredients. My wife was cooking when I lost my sight due to an accident. But even in my blindness, I was guided. In a miraculous turn of fate, I stumbled upon a lump of gold weighing half a mithqal (a measure of weight). I sold it and bought the rest of the ingredients for the feast. My wife, consumed by her work, was unaware of my hardship.”
The merchant’s eyes widened as he listened to the beggar’s tale. The beggar continued, “When I lost my sight, I dreamt that a traveler had arrived in our town. He stayed near the mosque, and he sought a meal like the one we were preparing. He would eat it, enjoy its flavors, and then return it. His vision of the food would bring us contentment. But alas, my sight was lost, and I couldn’t fulfill the vision. My only regret is that I couldn’t see the traveler who was destined to taste this food.”
It was then that the merchant realized the profound truth of the situation. The traveler in the beggar’s dream had materialized as an embodiment of compassion. The beggar’s longing, prayers, and willingness to share, even in his own times of struggle, had been answered in ways beyond his imagination.
The merchant shared a solemn realization with the beggar. “I was the one who heard your prayers, and in my arrogance, I dismissed them. Little did I know that Allah’s plan was far greater than my understanding. You have shown me the depth of faith, humility, and selflessness. If only I had listened to your plea with an open heart, I could have been part of this divine blessing.”
And so, the merchant learned that destiny is shaped not only by actions but also by intentions and the willingness to embrace the call of compassion. The beggar’s act of sharing, despite his hardships, had brought a circle of blessings that touched lives in ways unimaginable.
In this story, we witness the inte