100 Moral Stories

THEY ARE NOT IN NEED OF YOUR PRESENTS...!
A’bdullah Ibn Masud had been one of the close companions of the
Holy Prophet (SAW) and haddeveloped 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 dis-
tressed, asked, what distressesyou 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 amnot 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 recitethe chapter Al-Waaqiah every night, for
surely, I have heard the Holy Prophet (SAW) say: One, whorecites the
chapter Al-Waaqiah every night, shall never be afflicted by poverty.
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“The honor of a Mu’min lies in night worshipand his esteem lies in his
being independent of the people.” Imam Sadiq (AS)
“Prayer reverts both what has been destined and what has not been
destined.” Imam Musa (AS)
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Chapter
97
YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL!
It’s a phrase that my mother uses a lot. I used to wonder, “How in the
worldcan Mother call them beautiful?” I am a logical, statistical man. I
call thingsas I see them. I didn’t see beauty.
My mother would tell people this with an enthusiasm they could feel.
She was genuine. She wasn’t telling them they were beautiful to get
somethingfrom them. Most of the time, they were trying to get
something from her. I wondered for years what was wrong with Moth-
er’s perception and vision.Couldn’t she see that all of the people she
called beautiful weren’t beautiful?
You were beautiful only if you had a certain figure and face that was
classed as beautiful by the laws of the world and glamour. Yet when my
mother spoke, people smiled as though Glamour magazinehad listed
them as one of the beautiful people of the year.
It took me years to finally understand my mother’s vision and the
phrase, “Beauty is in the eye ofthe beholder.” My mother had a spirit
that could see the beauty in a person. Most only look on theoutside and
then compare what they see with the standards the world has given
them. That waswhat I was doing. Today when you leave your house,
carefully look at the first person whom you see and notice how beautiful
they are.
They may be balding, fat, wrinkled, pimply, or any of the other things
the world frowns upon asbeauty. Look at them closely and look for the
beauty. If you really look, you’ll see it.
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I didn’t believe that at first until I tried it. Sure enough, as I stared and
opened another set of eyes,I was able to see the beauty in every person.
No matter how rough or worn a person looked, eachpain etched line
held a glimpse of beauty.
You just had to look for the beauty. It’s there. When you leave your
home this morning, look hardat each person. You will start to see the
beauty of every human who you didn’t know existed. Trust me and try
this. If you sincerely look, you will see it. When you get home after see-
ing the beauty infaces you see, look in the mirror. You are beautiful.
Thank you mama for all of the beauty that youhave not only seen, but
added. She used to tell me: “Be like a honey bee which always sits
on beautiful flowers.
”Prophet Muhammad (SAW) said: “Indeed Allah is Beautiful and He
loves beauty.” In other place he (SAW) says: “A believer is beautiful be-
cause Allah has given him beautiful characters.”
Holy Quran emphasizes on remembering the beautiful things Allah
(SWT) has created and praisethem profusely. “And as for the blessing of
your Lord, do announce it.” (93:11)
Allah (SWT) Himself remembers and praises the good creations He
has created; among them is Hisbeloved Prophet Muhammad (SAW):
“And He exalted your praise (O Muhammad).” (94:4)“
Indeed Allah and His Angels are sending blessings upon the Prophet.
O you who believe, sendblessings upon him (you as well) and salute him
with a (becoming) salutation.” (33:56)