BISMILLAH IR RAHMAN IR RAHEEM THE ANGEL OF THE CLOUD Adapted for children from an authentic Hadith by Khadeijah Stephens Copyrighted 2000, by the Mosque of the Internet and Khadeijah Stephens www.mosque.com TERMS OF PUBLICATION AND DISTRIBUTION The Mosque of the Internet grants permission to Islamic schools, organizations or Muslim individuals to download, copy, print, publish, record and/or distribute this story either for profit or non-profit without reimbursement to the Mosque of the Internet providing the following six conditions are complied with in full and without exception. The Mosque of the Internet owns and retains the copyright of this story and no other person/s, school, organization or individual etc., owns or has any right or claim to the copyright. No alterations whatsoever are made. Reference to The Mosque of the Internet with its internet address www.mosque.com appears on the front cover. Should artwork be included in its publication the artwork must conform with Islamic principles, for example no drawings of human beings. The Mosque of the Internet is informed of its publication and ten copies of the published book sent to the Mosque of the Internet. If any of these conditions are not met then all previously mentioned permission/s are automatically revoked and legal action will be taken to the maximum extent of the copyright infringement jurisdiction law in the State of Delaware, USA will be sought. A long time ago a traveler set out on a journey across a very barren piece of land. There wasn't a tree or a blade of grass anywhere to be seen, just miles and miles of parched, dry land. As the traveler continued his journey he happened to glance up into the bright, blue sky and saw, much to his surprise, a lone white cloud. There wasn't another cloud anywhere else in sight. He was even more surprised when suddenly he heard a voice call out from the cloud "Water the garden of so and so" whereupon the cloud changed directions and floated towards a rocky piece of land and showered it and the land around with rain! The traveler could not believe his eyes, so he thought he would go and investigate. When the traveler reached the rocky piece of land he saw that someone had made an irrigation canal, and that it circled a piece of lush, green land. He walked a little further and found a farmer busy diverting the water with his spade and then spreading it over the garden. The traveler went to him and inquired: "O worshipper of Allah, what is your name?" and the man told him. It was the same name the voice in the cloud mentioned! The farmer wondered why the traveler wanted to know his name, so he told him about the cloud and how he heard a voice ordering it to change direction and shed its rain upon his garden. The traveler knew the farmer must be doing something rather special to receive such a blessing in the midst of all that dry, sun soaked land, so he asked what he did with all his produce. The farmer told him that he planted different crops which he harvested as soon as they were ready and give one third away in charity to the poor. The second third he used to feed his family, and the remaining third he kept as seeds so that he could plant the next crop. Isn't it wonderful to hear of someone with such a kind and generous heart. He wasn't greedy, he didn't sell what he had grown, instead he thought of the poor and needy and gave it to them. That is the reason why Allah blessed him. Allah always rewards those who give in charity, sometimes He doubles the amount and other times He gives much, much more. Do you know someone who is kind to the poor like the farmer? Wouldn't it be nice to be like him? A note for Parents and Teachers: "Allah outspreads and restricts His provision to whomsoever He will of His worshipers. Allah has knowledge of all things." Koran, Chapter 29 verse 62 Allah orders us to pay the obligatory zakat at the end of Ramadan and encourages the giving of charity at other times of the year. From this hadith, and others like it, we realize that although we may try to give in charity, it is impossible to do so. Why? Because Allah in His Mercy repays all charity, sometimes doubling it , tripling it, quadrupling it and so on. Please remember Muslim orphanages in your charitable giving. Incidentally, the Mosque of the Internet neither requests nor accepts any financial donation. |
CopyrightŠAhmad Darwish - ahmad@mosque.com