the south of Iran, accompanied by his wife and daughters. Shortly
after their arrival the man fell ill and later died, leaving his wife
and daughters. Without his support they became poor and suffered. So
fearing the mockery of enemies, she fled Balkh with her daughters to
Samarkand.
On the day she arrived the weather was very cold, so she left her
daughters in a mosque and went out in search of food. She passed by
two groups of people. One was gathered around a Muslim who was the
Sheikh and the other group around a Zoroastrian (Majusi) who was the
security officer of the city.
She first went to the Muslim Sheikh and described her situation
saying, "I am a woman of a respectable family, with daughters whom I
have left in the local mosque and I have come in search of food." He
asked her, "Bring me proof that you are from a respectable family."
She replied, "I am a stranger in this town and therefore do not know
anyone to testify for me." She departed from him brokenhearted. She
then went to the Zoroastrian and explained her situation to him,
telling him about her noble background and her orphaned daughters who
were, waiting her return in the local mosque. She also mentioned to
him how the Muslim Sheikh had treated her. The Zoroastrian stood up
and sent some womenfolk to bring her daughters and took all of them to
his house. There he showered them with honour and generosity. He fed
them fine food and clothed them in rich garments.
That night the Muslim Sheikh saw in a dream the Day of Resurrectionand
the banners were unfurled around Holy Prophet Muhammad (Peace be
Upon him). Ahead of him, was a green palace made of emeralds, its
balconies of pearls and rubies and domes of pearls and corals. He
asked Holy Prophet Muhammad (Peace be Upon him), "Messenger of Allah,
for whom is this palace?" Holy Prophet Muhammad (Peace be Upon him)
replied, "For a Muslim." The Muslim Sheikh replied, "I am a Muslim!"
Holy Prophet Muhammad (Peace be Upon him) said, "Prove to me that you
are a Muslim?" At that, the Muslim Sheikh was dumbstruck. Holy Prophet
Muhammad (Peace be Upon him) then said, "You asked a woman to produce
proof of her respectability and therefore my question to you is, can
you produce proof that you are a Muslim?" At this point the Muslim
Sheikh felt remorse about his treatment towards the woman and her
orphaned daughters.
In the morning, he immediately set out to find the woman. He learnt
she was staying with the Zoroastrian and so called for him. When the
Zoroastrian arrived, the Muslim Sheikh requested that he sends the
woman and her daughters to him. The Zoroastrian replied, "Under no
circumstance! I have received great blessings from her." The Muslim
Sheikh said, "Take a thousand dinars from me and bring them to me."
Zoroastrian shouted, "Impossible! The one who showed you the palace in
your dream has made it (the palace) for me. Are you surprised because
I am not a Muslim? By Allah (SWT), I did not sleep last night, before
I and my family accepted Islam at that noble woman's hand and I dreamt
something similar to what you dreamt; Holy Prophet Muhammad (Peace be
Upon him) asked me, "Is that noble woman and her daughters with you?"
I replied: "Yes, Messenger of Allah." Holy Prophet Muhammad (Peace be
Upon him) said, "This palace is for you and your family. Allah (SWT)
created you a believer in eternity." At that the Muslim Sheikh
remained sorrowful and grieved for the missed opportunity of earning a
lofty position in Paradise, due to his neglect of the widowed woman
and her daughters.
Holy Prophet Muhammad (Peace be Upon him) has said, "The one who
strives on behalf of the widow and the needy is like a warrior in the
path of Allah". (Bukhari and Muslim) May Allah guide us to what is
right for indeed, He is Generous, the most Kind, and the most
Merciful!
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