The Mischievous Lesson of Mahnoor

The Mischievous Lesson of Mahnoor

BY: Ubaid

Rubina Naz’s daughter, Mahnoor, was a bright, hardworking, and much-loved little girl. She was in the fourth grade and the apple of her parents’ eyes. Her teachers admired her intelligence, and her parents always praised her for being sharp and active. But along with her intelligence, Mahnoor also had another trait: she was extremely mischievous. Playing tricks on her classmates and teasing her friends seemed to be her favorite pastime.

One ordinary day at school, during the lunch break, Mahnoor thought of a new prank. Her classmate Sania had just placed her lunchbox on the desk and gone outside to wash her hands. Quickly, Mahnoor snatched the lunchbox and hid it behind a pile of books. When Sania returned, she looked around in confusion. She opened her bag, checked under the desk, and even asked her friends if they had seen her lunchbox. No one had any idea, and poor Sania grew restless.

After several minutes of searching, Sania finally gave up and sat sadly on her chair. Meanwhile, Mahnoor sat in a corner giggling, enjoying Sania’s helplessness. For her, it was only harmless fun. Near the end of the school day, when Sania stepped out for a moment, Mahnoor quietly slipped the lunchbox back into her bag. Sania never knew what had actually happened, but Mahnoor had thoroughly enjoyed her little mischief.

The next day was Sunday, a day children always look forward to. Like other kids in the neighborhood, Mahnoor spent the whole day playing outdoor games with her friends. She laughed, she joked, and yes—she continued her playful pranks. By evening, it was time for a different routine. Every evening, a group of girls from the neighborhood came to Mahnoor’s house for tuition. Her mother, a gentle and kind woman, helped them with their studies.

Normally, the girls had a holiday on Sundays, but this particular week was different. Their class teacher, Miss Sadaf, had announced a calligraphy competition on Monday. The girls wanted to prepare well, so they gathered at Mahnoor’s home. Under her mother’s supervision, they practiced writing neatly in their notebooks.

One by one, they completed their assignments. At the end, on Mahnoor’s mother’s request, one girl collected all the notebooks and placed them in front of her. She carefully checked the handwriting of each girl, praising their efforts. Soon after, she went into the kitchen for some work, leaving the pile of notebooks on the table.

This was when Mahnoor’s mischief got the better of her. With everyone engaged in chatter, she quietly picked up one red-covered notebook and slipped it into the cupboard. She thought it belonged to her classmate Ghazala, and in her playful spirit, she wanted to tease her a little. Satisfied with her trick, she rejoined the others, laughing and playing as if nothing had happened.

The next morning, Mahnoor hurried to school but didn’t bother to check her schoolbag properly. She assumed everything was in place. During the first period, Miss Sadaf asked all the students to present their notebooks for the calligraphy competition. Excited whispers filled the classroom as one by one the girls stepped forward.

When Mahnoor’s turn came, she confidently opened her bag and began searching. To her horror, her notebook was missing. She searched frantically, turning her bag upside down, checking every pocket, but it was nowhere to be found. Miss Sadaf frowned.

“Mahnoor, where is your work?” she asked sternly.

Mahnoor stammered, unable to explain. The teacher scolded her in front of the class, reminding her that she had expected better from such a bright student. Embarrassed and ashamed, Mahnoor sat quietly in her seat.

Then came Ghazala’s turn. She opened her bag and produced her notebook. Miss Sadaf’s eyes lit up as she examined the handwriting. “Excellent work, Ghazala!” she declared. “Your writing is neat, clear, and beautiful. You deserve the prize.”

The class clapped for Ghazala, while Mahnoor sat in silence. Only then did she realize the terrible mistake she had made. The notebook she had hidden in the cupboard at home was not Ghazala’s at all—it was her own. Both she and Ghazala had red covers on their notebooks, and she had confused them. By trying to trick her friend, she had only harmed herself.

For the first time, Mahnoor was left behind, missing out on recognition she could have easily earned. The weight of disappointment sat heavily on her heart.

That afternoon, Mahnoor returned home feeling miserable. She refused to eat lunch, pushing her plate away. Concerned, her mother asked, “What is the matter, my dear? Why do you look so upset?”

Tears welled up in Mahnoor’s eyes as she told her mother the entire story—how she had hidden what she thought was Ghazala’s notebook, how it turned out to be her own, and how she had lost the chance to win.

Her mother listened patiently. Then she placed a gentle hand on Mahnoor’s head and said softly:

“My child, do you see now why I always tell you not to play such tricks? Making others suffer may seem fun for a moment, but in the end, it only brings harm. Every mistake has its consequence. Allah does not like those who hurt others. We should never cause anyone pain, not even as a joke.”

Hearing these words, Mahnoor broke into sobs. She felt ashamed of her actions. For the first time, she realized how her mischief could hurt not only her friends but also herself. With sincerity, she promised her mother that she would never again play tricks that caused anyone distress.

From that day onward, Mahnoor changed. She still laughed, played, and enjoyed life, but she no longer tried to hurt others for fun. She had learned her lesson—the lesson that true joy comes not from troubling others, but from kindness, honesty, and compassion.

And dear friends, let us also remember this: a joke that causes pain is never worth it. We must avoid any action that hurts others, for Allah loves those who spread happiness, not sorrow.