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 twisting on the cap,
she slipped out the back doorand 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. She cleared her throat with
the most disgusting sound she could muster; No good. Finally she took
a coin from her 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'm talking to my brother from Lahore whom I haven't seen in
ages," he said without waiting for a reply to his question.
"Well, I want to buy an mmm..."
The Pharmacist stared back in the same annoyed tone.
"He's really; really sick.... and I want to buy a miracle."
"I beg your pardon?" saidthe Pharmacist.
"My brother name is Aslam and he has something bad growing inside his
head and my Daddy says only a miraclecan save my brother now. So how
much does 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 littlegirl, "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 Mommy says he needs an operation. But my Daddy
can't pay for it, so I want to use my money."
"How much do you have?" asked the man from Lahore.
"Ten and half rupees. Andit'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 littlebrother."
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't longuntil Aslam was home again and doing well.
Mom and Dad were happily talking about thechain 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 miraclecost ... Ten and
half rupees ...plus the faith of a little girl.
Noble Qur'an says:"And when I am ill, it is He Whocures me."(26:80)
And mom also knew exactly how much a miracle cost ... selfless
devotion to their profession by doctors likeAshraf Beg ...
Noble Qur'an says: "Thosewho before them, had homes (in Medina) and
had adopted the Faith; they show their selfless love and affection to
those (Muslims) who came to them for refuge, and they entertain no
desire in their hearts for things they give out (to the needy), 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 achieveprosperity." (59:9)
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