An Old Story

In a small village, there lived a man named Anu. He was hardworking and diligent, but unfortunately, luck never seemed to favor him. His family often struggled with extreme poverty. One day, feeling the burden of their circumstances, Anu said to his wife, “If we continue working here and wait for our fortunes to change, that day may never come. Why don’t we go somewhere else and try our luck?”

His wife, equally wise, agreed that staying in the village would only prolong their hardship, but she suggested, “Perhaps it is better if you go alone first to seek opportunities. Meanwhile, I will try to earn something here through labor.” Anu tried to convince her to go with him, but she refused. Understanding her resolve, he accepted her decision and prepared to leave alone. He promised her that he would leave early the next morning in search of work.

The next day, when Anu’s wife woke up, she realized he was not in bed. She became anxious, for he had never left before her without notice. She searched their small house but could not find him, and her worry only grew. Exhausted, she sat at the doorstep, silently praying that she would soon hear good news of her husband’s whereabouts.

Soon, she thought she saw Anu approaching from the street. At first, she doubted her eyes, but as he came closer, she ran toward him. Seeing her distress, Anu asked, “Why are you so restless and worried?”

She replied breathlessly, “Tell me, where are you coming from? I was very worried to find you missing from home. You have never gone like this before!”

Anu laughed softly and said, “Oh, my dear! You sent me away yesterday to find work, and yet you are anxious without me today? Let’s not make too much fuss. I was just going to the mosque for the morning prayer. Sunto, my teacher, told me to pray and ask Allah sincerely, and He will surely help. I followed that advice.”

“You went without telling me?” she asked, doubtful. Anu explained patiently, “Sunto also taught me that lying for any gain is forbidden by Allah, and even if no one finds out, the one who lies is punished by Allah. The same applies to all sinful acts. If we live honestly and avoid wrongdoing, Allah rewards us, sometimes beyond what we can imagine.”

Curious, Anu’s wife asked him to explain more. He smiled and said, “Let’s go home first. I will show you, step by step, how to pray and live righteously. If we truly follow this path, we can avoid punishment and receive abundant blessings in our lives, more than we can ever imagine.”

As they walked home, they noticed a small bird sitting on their rooftop. Anu playfully frightened it away, and in its place, a small but genuine necklace of diamonds appeared on the roof. Anu exclaimed, “Look! When we decide to live honestly, Allah Himself helps us. Once we truly commit to goodness, everything around us will turn in our favor. We can use these blessings to buy what we need and live happily.”

That day marked the beginning of a turning point in their lives. With renewed faith and determination, Anu and his wife decided to work honestly and trust in Allah’s guidance. Their perseverance and commitment to righteousness promised them not just material rewards but the peace and contentment of a life well-lived.

Anu and his wife decided to work honestly and trust in Allah’s guidance. Their perseverance and commitment to righteousness promised them not just material rewards but the peace and contentment of a life well-lived.