of festivity in the streets ofMadinah. All the people, both young and
old were dressed in their best clothes, especially for this special
day of Eid.
As it was time for early morning Eid prayers everyone made their way
to an open piece of land on the outskirts of the city.The Prophet
Muhammad (pbuh) arrived and led the prayers. After they had finished
they all greeted each other and everyone was walking back home. The
children running and playing in excitement, smiling and laughing,
without a care in the world. As the Prophet (pbuh) walked back home,he
suddenly became aware of a little boy (Zuhair Bin Saghir) sitting by
himself on the side of the path. The little boy was crying and looked
very sad. The Prophet (pbuh) bent down and patted him on the shoulders
and asked 'why are you crying?' 'Please leave me alone' sobbed the
little boy. The boy didn't even see who was talking to him. The
Prophet (pbuh) ran his fingers through the boy's hair and very gently
and kindly asked him again why he was crying. This time the boy said,
'My father was martyred fighting, and now my mother has married again
and my stepfather does not want me to live at home any more. Today is
Eid and everyone is happy.All the children have new clothes and nice
things to eat, but I don't have any clothes except what I am wearing.
I have no food and I don't even have a place to live.'
The Prophet (pbuh) said tohim, 'I know how you feel,I lost both my
mother andfather when I was a little boy.' The boy was surprised to
hear that it was an orphan who was comforting him, and whenhe looked
up to his great surprise it was the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), and he
immediately jumped up tohis feet out of love and respect.
The Prophet (pbuh) said tohim 'If I were to become your new father and
Ayesha you new mother, and Fatima your new sister, would that make you
feel better?' 'Oh yes, that would be the best thing in the world!' The
boy started smiling. The Prophet took him home and gave him new
clothes and good food on this beautiful day of Eid. The boy indeed had
a wonderful Eid that day.
We should think of others that are less fortunate than ourselves on
this beautiful day of Eid. Not everyone has such a wonderful day. It
is a day of celebration, but take a moment to stop and thinkof those
who are less fortunate than ourselves.
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