The kindness and patience of the poor cobbler | Kahani Guzar

It was a long time ago. In a village in Yemen, there lived a poor cobbler named Ayyub. Ayyub lived in a mud hut with his wife. They had been married for many years, but they still had no children. Ayyub had grown old, but he still hadn't given up hard work. Ayyub had a rented shop in the village market, where he would spend all day mending and polishing people's broken shoes. He worked diligently and diligently at his job, never greedy for money but striving to do the best he could. He used whatever money he earned to support himself and his wife. Despite his poverty, Ayyub was a man who trusted in Allah. He would swallow the despair of his poverty and would often say to his wife, "Barirah, we are indeed poor. Perhaps Allah has hidden what is good for us somewhere, and we will surely find it someday." The plight of Ayyub's household was such that they rarely had two meals a day. But they often had to endure starvation. But these days, their hardships were even worse. It was the month of Ramadan, and there was nothing in their house for either Sehri or Iftar. The next day, when it was time for Sehri, Ayyub and Barira, deeply disappointed, ate the dry bread they had soaked in water the previous night and continued their fast with it. They had nothing but helplessness. Allah had not blessed them with children who could help them in their old age. They had no support in this world except Allah. That day, after Sehri, Ayyub prayed and left home for his shop. While Ayyub was working in his shop, suddenly a young man appeared outside the shop . His clothes were covered with dust, as if he had come from a long journey. Ayyub looked at his foot and saw that the shoe was completely broken. The young man said in a voice filled with shame and thirst, "Father, I'm fasting. It's difficult for me to walk further because my shoe is broken, and I don't have a single coin in my pocket to buy a new pair of shoes. Will you, in the name of Allah, help a traveler ?" Ayyub looked at him for a moment. [Music] He himself was waiting for a customer who could give him some money for the Iftar items. But when Ayyub saw the young man's helplessness, he smiled and said, "Sit down, son. You've traveled a long way . You must be tired. So rest for a while. You're like my son. It 's my duty to help you. I'll stitch this shoe right now." Ayyub picked up the shoe and took out the finest leather he had left. He set to work with complete dedication and devotion . The young traveler sat there, amazed, watching this poor man living in his small shop. How could someone be so generous? When the work was finished, Job handed the shoe to the young man. The young man put it on and said lovingly, "Baba, I will never forget this kindness of yours. I will certainly repay you. Times may change, but kindness is never wasted." Job replied without raising his eyes , "Go, traveler, to God. I did not trade with you. I dealt with a tribe with whom business never incurs losses." The young man left, and the shop fell silent again. Job had no idea that the shoe he had stitched was actually the beginning of a great test. The next day, a merchant in town, who collected taxes from the entire village's shops, announced that the tax on all shops and merchants in the market was being doubled. Anyone who failed to pay by the end of the week would have their shop confiscated and be expelled from business . This news was like a bolt of lightning striking the poor. Ayyub stood in front of his small shop like a statue. He felt as if the ground had slipped from beneath his feet. He barely managed to cook his daily meal. There was nothing at home for iftar. So how could he pay this double rent? It wasn't long before the shop owner appeared. He said sternly, "Ayyub, I want my back rent and this month's rent. If you don't pay before the end of the week, I'll transfer this shop to someone else and take you to the Qazi. There's no more time left. The Sahib doesn't show mercy, and I won't lighten my pockets for you." That evening, Ayyub returned home with heavy steps. He had iftar with water and dates, sat in a corner, and said to his wife in a choked voice, "Barira, there's no choice now. All the doors are closed. We have nothing to eat, and that shop from where we used to earn our living is gone." We earn our livelihood. [Music] They too want to snatch it from us. [Music] Barira consoled him and said with great confidence, "The doors of our servants are closed. Allah's door is open. So what if the ruler has power? Allah's roof is always over our heads." That night, Job raised his trembling hands to the sky and prayed to God, "O Allah, I am your weak servant. I have no strength of my own. You alone are my support. What kind of trouble has fallen upon me? O my [Music] Lord, support me and do not leave me alone." That night, Job slept, trusting in Allah. But fate had prepared something for the next morning that he had not even imagined. In the morning, when Job went to the shop, a man stood at the door. His presence smelled of musk. He was dressed in a magnificent attire. Job was surprised to see him, but his face was familiar. This was the same poor traveler whose shoes Ayyub had stitched. But today his condition was not the same as yesterday. In fact, he had changed a lot. The young man greeted and smiled, " Didn't you recognize me, Baba? I am the same traveler you honored yesterday. I am Haliyar, the son of the city's famous merchant." The young man continued, "Yesterday I set out on some important errand . I lost my way and my pockets were empty. If it weren't for you, I might not have been able to return. Today I have come to repay your debt." The merchant's son placed a heavy velvet bag on the broken table and said, "This bag contains 50 gold coins. This is recompense for your kindness and for mending your shoes." When Ayyub heard this, he thought for a moment and then slowly slid the bag back to the young man, saying, "Young man, I stitched your shoes for the pleasure of Allah, not for this gold or any other reward. And good deeds that can be bought or sold are not valued by Allah. " Hearing this, the merchant's son was astonished. He said, "My father, you're a poor man. Your shop is going to be lost because you can't pay the rent. So why are you refusing this gift? With this much money, you'll be able to survive well even if you don't work for several days . So why are you refusing?" Ayyub replied with a patient smile . "If I take the gold, it will become a worldly debt. I did that kindness to you only for the sake of Allah, and Allah will reward me for it." The young man insisted, but Ayyub stood firm like a mountain. Finally, the merchant's son left. The sun hadn't yet set. The merchant's clerk arrived with his soldiers and stopped in front of Ayyub's shop. The clerk opened the royal warrant and read it loudly . By the merchant's order, and in appreciation of the kindness of that noble man, who had been unintentionally and without greed for his son, all the troubles of Ayyub the cobbler this year are forgiven, and his kindness is commended. Hearing this, Ayyub was overjoyed , having escaped one trouble, but he knew not what a mountain the next trial would bring upon him. When the caravan left, the shop owner immediately appeared. The owner said in a stern voice, "Ayyub, congratulations to the merchant on his pardon. The merchant has abandoned his case. I have no rent. I am convinced that you are both wretched and helpless. Either bring me my money before tomorrow morning or remove your tools from the shop yourself before I return. Otherwise, I will not be able to respect your old age." With this, he left. Ayyub returned home with a heavy heart. That night, Ayyub sat with his wife, eating dry bread for Iftar. He looked into Barira's eyes and softly said, "Barira, we escaped the merchant's sword, but now we are under the sharp edge of debt. We have no choice." Quietly, Barira got up and went to the old trunk in the corner of the room and took out a necklace . Barira placed the necklace in his hands and softly said, "Take it, now is the time to sell it and save your livelihood." Hot tears rolled down Ayyub's cheeks as he took the necklace. He didn't want to do this, but the poor man was helpless. The next day, Ayyub left home. As he approached the goldsmith's shop, he heard a child crying. He looked closer and saw a grieving mother sitting in a corner, a small child in her lap. Ayyub heard the mother crying and saying to her daughter, " Have courage, my daughter. I don't even have a coin for medicine. Allah will surely show me a way." Seeing this, a fierce battle raged within Ayyub. After some thought, Ayyub quickly went to the goldsmith's shop. He took out the necklace, sold it without even weighing it, and ran to this mother. He placed all the money in her trembling hands and softly said, " Go to the doctor quickly. Get medicine and rations for the girl. This is a blessing from Allah." It is. Don't fold it. The woman was astonished. Then Ayyub left. He was convinced that the shop was gone, and that he had lost his last refuge in the world. When Ayyub reached the shop, he began to pack his things. He stood in the middle of the shop and looked at the corners that had witnessed his youth. [Music] During this silence, an old man came in through the door, holding a stick in his hand, and said to Ayyub, "It's time for you to leave. You're closing the door so early." Ayyub took a deep breath and said, "Yes, Baba, there's no money in your pocket." [Music] So this shop no longer belongs to this poor man. Rahim Baba looked Ayyub straight in the eyes and said in a heavy voice, "You 're saying you've run out of money, when an hour ago I saw you selling a gold necklace at a goldsmith's shop and pocketing a large sum of money. I saw you put all the money into the lap of an unknown woman so she could save her life. Tell me, what kind of treachery is this?" Ayyub calmly said, "Baba, this worldly home is a fair for four days, but the home of Allah endures forever." [Music] The shop was dying, but how could I put stones above my life? Rahim laughed and said, "I thought you had lost, but you have won over the entire village, Ayyub. The Lord who entrusted you with this service will not let you go astray." Then he placed his hand on Ayyub's shoulder and said firmly, " Leave the shop keys here and don't worry about what you've lost. Come to the big mansion tomorrow as soon as the sun rises. Someone wants to meet you there." Ayyub asked in surprise. "A mansion and a poor man like me?" Rahim said as he left. "Big places are for big hearts . Don't delay tomorrow. You will see what your eyes have never seen before." The next day, Ayyub, supported by truth and honesty, entered the big mansion. There, on a high throne, sat the same old Rahim. But this time he wasn't wearing simple clothes. Ayyub was astonished. He realized that the man he'd spoken to yesterday was the state's highest minister. Diwan Rahim smiled and looked at Ayyub and said, "Ayyub, I've heard your truth and seen it with my own eyes. [Music] There are many wealthy people in this state, but there's a dearth of believers." The Diwan took a deep breath and then said, "We 're building a home for orphans and the needy. There will be education for the children, and a dispensary for the poor . I've been looking for someone to oversee all this work and manage the treasury . But I couldn't find an honest person worthy of this service." Ayyub 's heart began to pound. A humble cobbler, yet he had such a huge responsibility and service. But Diwan Rahim wasn't finished yet. He reached out and pulled a priceless diamond from a box, its radiance blinding and placed it before Job. Silence fell over the entire court. The Diwan said seriously, "Now, I know you've worked very hard in your life. Now you have two options. On one side, this diamond. Its value is so great that you and your family can live like kings in a luxurious palace without moving your hands for the rest of your life. And on the other side, this diamond, which requires only hard work. Sleepless nights, caring for people, and a meager salary. Ayyub looked at the diamond. It was the peace, comfort, and security he had long dreamed of. With Barira, he could live a happy and prosperous life without any shortages. Ayyub gently slid the diamond back towards the Diwan. "Sir, this diamond can give me a soft bed, but not sweet sleep. How can I sit in a palace and breathe in peace if someone is sleeping hungry around me ? Comfort only soothes the body . But making someone cry laugh soothes the soul." Therefore, I do not want this stone, a diamond, but a true pearl of service. I ask for service. Diwan Rahim 's face lit up with joy. He stood up from his seat and said with great respect, " This is what I expected from you. You failed even in this last test. Diamond was just an illusion of comfort. But you chose to work hard and serve the poor. Congratulations! Allah has kept this reward in store for you." Then, Job was handed the keys to this new home. Thus began a new journey in Job's life. He had now become the father and support of every orphan and needy child in the village. Time passed. The face of the village changed. Justice became a topic of discussion everywhere. The village's land grew green, and the services Job had undertaken were reflected in every corner of the village. Job now had white hair on his head and slightly stooped shoulders. But her face was more radiant and He had become influential. He had become the father of every orphan and the shield of every poor person. Over time, Ayyub and his wife Barira forgot the pain of not having children. Their courtyard was filled with the village children and their laughter. They were fulfilling their parental duties towards these children. Friends, indeed, kindness to Allah never goes in vain [music]. A person who does good to another person with the hope that only Allah will repay it, receives a reward far beyond their expectations . Friends, I hope you enjoyed our story today. If you did, please subscribe to our channel Kahaani Guzar [music]. Like this video and indicate from which part of the world you are listening to this story. In the comment box [music], write the name of your city or village, as required. Pray prayers and continue serving your parents. Take care of yourself. God bless you.