EVERY GOOD DEED IS CHARITY
Two men, Moosa and Ebrahim were both seriously ill and occupied the same hospital room. Moosa was allowed to sit up in his bed for an hour each afternoon to help drain the fluid from his lungs. His bed was next to the room's only window. Ebrahim had to spend all his time flat on his back. Moosa and Ebrahim for hours on end spoke of their wives and families, their homes, their jobs, their involvement in deen, where they had been on vacation, their Haj etc.
Every afternoon when Moosa could sit up, he would pass the time by describing to his roommate all the things he could see outside the window. Ebrahim in the other bed began to live for those one-hour periods where his world would be broadened and enlivened by all the activity and colour of the world outside. The window overlooked a park with a lovely lake. Ducks and swans played on the water while children sailed their model boats. Flowers of every colour and a fine view of the city skyline could be seen in the distance.
As Moosa described all this in exquisite detail, Ebrahim on the other side of the room would close his eyes and imagine the picturesque scene. One warm afternoon the man by the window, Moosa described a parade passing by. Although the other man couldn't hear - he could see it. In his mind's eye as the Moosa by the window portrayed it with descriptive words.
Days and weeks passed. One morning, the nurse arrived to bring water for their baths only to find the lifeless body of the man by the window, who had died peacefully in his sleep. She was saddened and called the hospital attendants to take Moosa's body away. As soon as it seemed appropriate, Ebrahim asked if he could be moved next to the window. The nurse was happy to make the switch, and after making sure he was comfortable, she left him alone.
Slowly, painfully, he propped himself up on one elbow to take his first look at the real world outside. He strained to slowly turn to look out of the window beside the bed. It faced a blank wall. Ebrahim asked the nurse what could have compelled his deceased roommate who had described such wonderful things outside this window. The nurse responded that Moosa was partially blind and could not even see the wall. She said, "Perhaps he just wanted to encourage you."
Lessons: There is tremendous happiness in making others happy, despite our own situations. Shared grief is half the sorrow, but happiness when shared, is doubled. If you want to feel rich, just count all the things Allah has endowed you with that money can't buy. |