NEW
SHOES!!!
AN INSPIRING STORY ABOUT GIVING SECRETLY DURING RAMADHAN
& EID
---------------------------------------
Umaymah and her brother, Muhammad Yusuf, were excited about
the upcoming days. It was Ramadhan and thereafter Eid, a
time to learn appreciation for the things they had, and
to think of others who didn't have as much.
They had both been saving their money all year long. Umaymah,
sat on her bed and dumped out her money from her money box.
Coins ran all over the blanket. "This is a lot of money.
Ammi says we are supposed to help someone. She wants us
to think about how much we have and then think of someone
who doesn't have very much, and do something nice for them,"
Umaymah said, gathering the money into a pile. "Dump
out your money box, Muhammad Yusuf," she told her brother.
The coins came spilling out of his box onto the bed. "Wow!
We can do a lot for someone with all this money," Muhammad
Yusuf said, smiling. "This is such a special time of
year. I'm glad we can help others."
"But we have to do it secretly, Muhammad Yusuf, remember.
We have to pick someone and do something very nice without
them knowing it is from us. Who should we pick?" Umaymah
asked.
"Let's pick our neighbours, Akila, and Ebrahim. I noticed
that they had holes in their shoes," Muhammad Yusuf
said.
"That's a good idea. We could buy some new shoes for
them. They aren't as blessed as we are. We have a lot of
shoes, don't we?" Umaymah asked with appreciation.
"I have three pairs. You have more. Let's buy some
new shoes for them this Eid," Muhammad Yusuf said,
smiling.
Muhammad Yusuf and Umaymah found their Ammi. She was busy
cooking. She saw her children come into the kitchen. "I'm
going to make some pizzas for tonight," she said, knowing
her family loved to eat that during Ramadan.
"Abba is at the Masjid, in prayer. When he comes home,
after the sun sets, we'll have some time to sit together.
In the meantime, you two look like you've got something
on your minds."
"We want to help the poor. Muhammad Yusuf and I have
been saving our money all year long and we want to help
Akila and Ebrahim, our neighbours," Umaymah began.
Muhammad Yusuf, with excitement, interrupted, "We want
to buy them some shoes."
Ammi smiled at her beautiful children. She was so proud
of them.
"Aren't you hungry, Ammi" Muhammad Yusuf asked.
He knew she had not had anything to eat or drink since dawn
that morning due to Ramadan fasting.
"I'm a little bit, but that is good for me. Don't worry
about me. When you're older, you will understand more and
be able to fast too," she explained Muhammad Yusuf
who was only four years old "Would you like me to take
you to the store to buy the shoes?" she asked.
"Would you, Ammi? Is that all right?" Umaymah
begged.
"Why of course. Let's go," she said.
They drove to the shoe store and went inside. Umaymah picked
out a pair of shoes for Akila.. Muhammad Yusuf picked out
a pair for Ebrahim. They were both so proud that they'd
saved their money so they could do this to help. Later,
they went home and wrapped the shoe boxes in plain brown
paper. They waited anxiously for night to come. It would
be dark and they could deliver their gifts.
The sun began to drop behind the horizon. A little while
later, Abba came home. He and Ammi had some haleem [soup],
then the pies and samoosas. Ammi called to her children,
"Muhammad Yusuf and Ummaymah. Come and have some pizzas,
and some fresh dates." The children came running into
the kitchen. Ammi cut them a big piece.
They gobbled it down quickly as they were anxious to do
their good deed. "Slow down, children," Abba urged,
laughing.
It was soon dark outside. Ammi had the children go and get
the boxes they'd wrapped so carefully. They put their jackets
on and walked quietly over to Akila and Ebrahim’s
house. Ammi whispered, "All right, children. We must
be very quiet and very fast. Muhammad Yusuf, you knock on
the door and then run over here, to this bush, where Ummaymah
and I will be hiding. We'll watch as they come and find
their gifts."
Ummaymah and Muhammad Yusuf giggled with delight. Ummaymah
and Ammi hid, and Muhammad Yusuf tiptoed up to the door.
He put both of the boxes down on the porch, and knocked
hard. Then he ran, and ran, and ran, as fast as he could,
to where Ummaymah and Ammi were. "Shhh," Ammi
whispered. "Someone opened the door."
They watched as Akila and Ebrahim’ came out onto the
porch. "Look! There are presents for us. Someone left
them here," Ebrahim cried out with excitement. He and
Akila looked around. It was very dark and they couldn't
see anyone. They picked up the boxes and took them inside.
They left the front door open as they opened their boxes.
Ammi, Ummaymah and Muhammad Yusuf noticed the tears of joy
trickling down their innocent cheeks.
After a minute or two, waiting to make sure they wouldn't
be seen, Ammi, Ummaymah and Muhammad Yusuf, snuck quietly
back to their house. Muhammad Yusuf started laughing. "Abba!Abba!
We did it! We snuck up and left the presents!"
Ummaymah
added, "They didn't see us, Abba. They don't know it
was us." She was laughing too.
Abba and Ammi stood back and looked at their children. They
were so proud of them. They knew their children knew the
real meaning of giving and of sacrifice. The next morning,
as Ammi, Abba, Ummaymah and Muhammad Yusuf went outside
their house, they saw Akila and Ebrahim’ outside playing.
They were both wearing their brand new shoes. Nobody said
a thing. Ummaymah and Muhammad Yusuf just smiled, because
it is one of the best Ramadan and Eid for them.
"Seven who Allah will grant shade in His shade on the
day when there is no shade except His shade... and a man
who gave something in charity secretly such that his left
hand did not know what his right hand had given..."
Muslim & Bukhari
Moral: 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 think of those who are less fortunate
than ourselves by following the Sunnah of our Prophet Muhammad
(pbuh).
What good habits we will inculcate in our kids is really
a true investment!