The Candle of Patience

The Orphan of Medina

In the blessed city of Medina, where the call to prayer echoed through the air and the streets were lined with date palms, lived a young orphan named Amir.

Amir had lost his parents when he was just a child and was raised by his elderly grandmother, Fatima. Though they had little, she always reminded him:

"Patience is like a candle—it lights the darkness."

Despite their struggles, Amir never complained. He worked at the marketplace, running errands for merchants to earn enough for a simple meal. But one merchant, Abu Khalid, was especially harsh.

"You are just a poor orphan," he sneered. "You will never amount to anything."

Amir clenched his fists but held back his anger. He had learned from his grandmother that Allah sees everything, and those who are patient will always be rewarded.

The Test of Character

One day, Abu Khalid gave Amir a small leather bag filled with gold coins to deliver to a business partner across the city.

"This is very important," he warned. "Do not lose a single coin, or you will regret it!"

Amir nodded and carefully tucked the bag under his robe.

As he walked through the streets of Medina, he passed by a hungry child sitting on the ground, clutching his stomach. The boy’s clothes were torn, and his eyes were hollow with hunger.

Amir felt a deep pain in his heart.

"This gold is not mine," he thought. "But what would Allah want me to do?"

He reached into his own small pouch and found only one silver coin—all he had earned that day. Without hesitation, he handed it to the boy.

The boy’s face lit up with gratitude. “May Allah bless you!” he whispered.

Amir smiled and continued on his journey, feeling a strange peace in his heart.

The Accusation

When Amir finally reached the merchant’s partner, he handed over the bag.

The man poured the coins onto a table and counted carefully. After a moment, he frowned.

“There is one coin missing,” he said.

Amir’s stomach dropped. “That’s impossible! I did not take anything!”

The man sent a servant to call Abu Khalid. Within minutes, the angry merchant stormed in.

"You little thief!" Abu Khalid shouted. "I knew I couldn’t trust a beggar orphan!"

People gathered around as Amir tried to explain.

“I swear by Allah, I did not steal your money,” he said firmly.

But Abu Khalid refused to believe him. He dragged Amir through the streets to the house of the city’s most respected judge, Sheikh Umar, demanding justice.

The Wise Judge

Sheikh Umar listened carefully to both sides. He was known for his wisdom and fairness.

“Amir,” he said, “if you did not steal the coin, where is it?”

Amir hesitated, then spoke the truth.

“I gave my own coin to a starving child,” he admitted. “But as for your missing gold, I do not know what happened.”

The judge studied Amir’s face and saw no deceit. He turned to Abu Khalid.

“Tell me, are you absolutely sure you counted correctly before giving Amir the bag?”

Abu Khalid hesitated. He had counted in a hurry that morning, but he did not want to admit he might have made a mistake.

The judge sighed. “Do you have any proof that Amir stole the coin?”

The merchant fumed but had no answer.

“Then,” the judge continued, “we must let Allah judge. If Amir is innocent, Allah will clear his name.”

He turned to Amir. “Go home, my child. Patience and truth always shine in the end.”

The Unexpected Reward

As Amir walked home, he felt humiliated but clung to his grandmother’s words. Patience is like a candle—it will light the darkness.

That night, he prayed for justice.

The next morning, just as he was about to leave for the market, there was a knock on the door.

It was the merchant’s partner, the one who had counted the coins.

“In the name of Allah, forgive me!” the man said. “I found the missing coin—it had fallen into a crack in the floor.”

Tears filled Amir’s eyes.

At that moment, Abu Khalid arrived. His face was red with shame.

“I accused you unfairly,” he admitted. “Yet you remained patient. You are more honorable than I am.”

The merchant then did something unexpected—he handed Amir a bag of silver coins.

“This is for your honesty,” he said. “And if you accept, I will hire you as my apprentice.”

Amir was shocked. The man who once insulted him was now offering him a future.

He thought of his grandmother’s words—patience is like a candle. It had guided him through darkness, and now the light had come.

A Life Changed Forever

Amir accepted the offer—not out of greed, but because he saw an opportunity to learn and grow.

Over time, he became one of the most respected young traders in Medina, known not for wealth, but for honesty and kindness.

Years later, when Abu Khalid passed away, Amir took over his business—but he ran it differently. He treated his workers with respect, helped the poor, and never let greed rule his heart.

And whenever he faced a challenge, he remembered his grandmother’s words:

"Patience is like a candle—it will always light the way."

Moral of the Story:

🔹 Patience and honesty always lead to victory. Even when the world doubts you, Allah knows the truth, and He rewards those who trust in Him.

🔹 Wealth is temporary, but character lasts forever. Amir lost everything but gained far more through his patience.

🔹 Giving to others never decreases what you have. Amir gave one coin in charity, and in return, Allah opened doors he never imagined.