The Curse of the Cat

Tinku was a very mischievous child. Everyone in the school and the neighborhood—young and old alike—was tired of his constant pranks. His mischief knew no limits; he would even tease and hurt helpless animals. His parents often tried to explain to him that such behavior was wrong, but Tinku never paid attention and continued doing whatever he pleased.

One day, while playing at home, Tinku began bothering his younger sister, Nazia. She was gentle and well-mannered, but after tolerating his teasing for a long time, she finally lost her patience. In anger, she pushed Tinku away. He fell onto the floor and immediately began crying loudly, pretending to be innocent and wronged, as he often did.

Hearing his cries, their grandmother came out of her room and asked what had happened. Tinku lied skillfully and presented himself as the victim. Grandmother believed his words and scolded Nazia before returning to her room. Nazia, being sensible and respectful, did not argue. Instead, she quietly told their mother the truth.

That evening, Tinku went outside to play in the street. Suddenly, he noticed a cat passing by with her two small kittens. As soon as he saw them, his eyes sparkled with mischief. Without thinking, he quickly picked up stones from the ground and began throwing them at the cat. A few stones hit the cat, and one struck one of the kittens. Frightened and hurt, the cat and her babies ran away in fear.

Tinku’s mother had repeatedly warned him not to trouble helpless animals, explaining that such cruelty displeases Allah Almighty. But Tinku never took her advice seriously. Instead, he felt proud of what he had done that day and returned home happily. After having tea, he went out again to play.

However, as soon as he stepped into the street, a fast-moving bicycle collided with him. Tinku fell hard onto the ground. His hands and legs were injured, and blood began to flow from his wounds. He cried loudly in pain. The cyclist was not at fault; the accident happened due to Tinku’s own carelessness.

The boys nearby rushed to help him and carried him home. As he lay in pain, Tinku suddenly remembered his mother’s words about not hurting innocent animals. Fear and regret filled his heart. His father immediately took him to the hospital, where his wounds were cleaned and bandaged.

After returning home, Tinku felt deeply ashamed of his actions. With tears in his eyes, he said to his mother, “You were right. Today I threw stones at a helpless cat and her kittens. She must have cursed me, and this is my punishment.”

His mother gently placed her hand on Tinku’s head and said softly, “My child, if you have realized your mistake, then sincerely repent and promise never to repeat such actions. Allah is Most Merciful. He forgives those who truly repent.”

Her words touched Tinku’s heart. He understood that cruelty brings consequences, and kindness brings peace. With sincere regret, he repented from his heart and promised his mother that he would never harm anyone again—whether human or animal.

From that day onward, Tinku changed. He learned that the prayers and curses of the helpless hold great weight, and that compassion is the true measure of humanity.

This story reminds us that cruelty toward the weak never goes unnoticed and that kindness is a responsibility, not a choice. Hurting helpless beings reflects a hardened heart, while repentance and compassion bring true change. When we learn to control our actions, respect all of Allah’s creations, and accept our mistakes, we grow into better human beings and earn peace in both this world and the next.