Allah’s Guest

In a quiet little town surrounded by fields and dusty roads, lived a boy named Saleh. He was no different from other boys in age, but life had given him experiences far beyond his years. His father had passed away when he was only five, and since then, his mother had raised him alone. They lived in a small clay house with a tin roof that rattled whenever the wind blew too hard.

Despite their poverty, Saleh and his mother were content. They had little to eat, yet their hearts were full of gratitude. His mother, Amina, was a deeply pious woman. She never missed a prayer and taught Saleh that the most important wealth was faith in Allah.

Ramadan had arrived. The whole town buzzed with preparation. Colorful lights hung from rooftops, and the air was filled with the aroma of samosas, pakoras, and sweet dates. But in Saleh’s house, iftar was simple — a few dates, some water, and occasionally a bowl of lentil soup, if Amina had earned a little extra from sewing clothes.

One evening after Asr prayer, Saleh sat in the mosque, quietly reading Qur’an. Outside, a wealthy man from the town was distributing food packets. Children ran to him, eager to get their share. Saleh watched silently from a corner.

The man noticed him. “Come, young man,” he said warmly. “Take some food.”

Saleh shook his head with a gentle smile. “Thank you, uncle. But my mother says that if we trust Allah and are patient, He will always provide in His own way.”

The man was moved. “SubhanAllah,” he whispered. “Your mother has raised you well.” He handed him a packet anyway. “Please accept this. It’s a gift, not charity.”

Saleh took the food home, and his mother smiled when she saw it. “Do you see, my son?” she said, placing her hand on his head. “Allah always sends His help, often from where we least expect it.”

The next day, as the sun began to set, Saleh noticed an old man sitting under a tree outside the mosque. He looked weak and tired, and had no food with him. Saleh walked over and offered him half of his iftar. The man accepted it with a trembling smile. “May Allah reward you, child,” he said. “Whatever you give for His sake, He returns it in ways you cannot imagine.”

That night, as they were finishing Isha prayer at home, a knock came at the door. A stranger stood there. He was dressed plainly, but his eyes were kind.

“Are you Saleh’s mother?” he asked.

Amina nodded cautiously.

“I live in the nearby village,” he said. “Today, I heard from someone about your son’s generosity and his manners. I felt moved to help, for the sake of Allah.”

He handed her an envelope and left before she could even thank him. Inside was enough money to feed them for a whole month.

Amina sat on the prayer mat, her eyes filled with tears. “Ya Allah,” she whispered. “You never forget us.”

Days passed. The same man returned, this time with a new proposal.

“I run a madrasa for gifted children. If you allow, I’d like to admit Saleh. He will receive education, food, clothing — and more importantly, knowledge of deen.”

Amina looked at her son. Saleh's eyes sparkled with hope. She agreed.

Years went by. Saleh grew to be a scholar of the Qur’an and Hadith. People traveled from distant towns just to hear his speeches. He reminded them of the importance of sabr (patience), shukr (gratitude), and tawakkul (trust in Allah).

One day, while addressing a large crowd, Saleh said,

“I once shared a meal with a stranger and trusted Allah with my empty hands. Today, I have everything I need — not because I sought it, but because I gave in His name.”

Moral of the Story:

• True wealth lies not in gold or silver, but in faith and contentment.
• Giving in the way of Allah — even when you have little — multiplies your blessings.
• Allah sees every sincere act, and He never forgets His guests.