its hiding place in the closet.
Little girl poured the change out on the floor and counted it
carefully. Three times, even. The total had to be exactly perfect. No
chance here for mistakes.
Carefully placing the coins back in the jar and twistingon the cap,
she slipped out the back door and made her way to 6 blocks to Rashid's
Drug Store with the big Red Indian Chief sign above the door. Little
girl waited patiently for the Pharmacist to give her some attention
but he was too busy at this moment. Little girl (Tasneem) twisted her
feet to make a scuffing noise; Nothing. Shecleared her throat with the
most disgusting sound she could muster; No good. Finally she took a
coin fromher Jar and banged it on the glass counter. That did it!
"And what do you want?" the Pharmacist asked in an annoyed tone of
voice. "I'mtalking to my brother from Lahore whom I haven't seen in
ages," he said without waiting for a replyto his question.
"Well, I want to buy an mmm..."
The Pharmacist stared backin the same annoyed tone.
"He's really; really sick.... and I want to buy a miracle."
"I beg your pardon?" said the Pharmacist.
"My brother name is Aslam and he has something bad growing inside his
head and my Daddy says only a miracle can save my brother now. So how
muchdoes a miracle cost?"
"We don't sell miracles here, little girl. I'm sorry but I can't help
you," the Pharmacist said, softening a little.
"Listen, I have the money to pay for miracle. If it isn't enough, I
will get the rest. Just tell me how much it costs?"
The Pharmacist's brother was a well dressed man from Lahore. He
stooped down and asked the little girl, "What kind of a miracle does
your brother need?"
"I don't know," Tasneem replied with her eyes welling up. "I just know
he's really sick and Mommysays he needs an operation. But my Daddy
can't pay for it, so I want touse my money."
"How much do you have?" asked the man from Lahore.
"Ten and half rupees. And it's all the money I have, but I can get
some more if I need to."
"Well, what a coincidence," smiled the man. "Ten and half rupees - the
exact price of a miracle for your little brother."
He took her money in one hand and with the other hand he grasped her
hand and said: "Take me to where you live. I want to see your brother
and meet your parents. Let's see if I have the miracle you need."
That well dressed man from Lahore was Dr. Ashraf Beg, a surgeon
specializing in Neuro-Surgery. The operation was completed free of
charge and it wasn'tlong until Aslam was homeagain and doing well.
Mom and Dad were happilytalking about the chain of events that had led
them to this place.
"That Surgery," her Mom whispered. "Was a real miracle. I wonder how
much it would have cost?"
Tasneem smiled. She knew exactly how much a miracle cost ... Ten and
half rupees ...plus the faith of a little girl.
Noble Qur'an says: "And when I am ill, it is He Who cures me." (26:80)
And mom also knew exactly how much a miracle cost ... selfless
devotion to their profession by doctors like Ashraf Beg ...
Noble Qur'an says: "Those who before them, had homes (in Medina) and
hadadopted the Faith; they show their selfless love andaffection to
those (Muslims)who came to them for refuge, and they entertain no
desire in their hearts forthings they give out (to theneedy), but give
them preference over themselves, even though poverty was their (own
lot). And those saved from the covetousness of their own souls, - they
are the ones that achieve prosperity." (59:9)
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:->
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