Once upon a time, there was one of the beautiful valleys full of flowers and large trees with long branches and green leaves, where a small bird was born in a nest at the top of one of the tree branches. That nest was full of eggs. On a bright spring morning, the small birds that emerged from the eggs were born, except only one that was delayed in coming out, as it took a little longer to break the egg and see the light of morning. ...
Parents and those older than us who care about us often advise us not to stand and talk to strangers, or give them great safety and trust when we know nothing about them. The world is full of evildoers who can harm us. In addition to that, listening to parents’ advice makes us dutiful to them, for they know best that in life there are evil people who may attract us with sweet talk and excessive praise until we fall into their traps, and they can attack us later. This is likely what happened to the poor crow. ...
Peace, love, and goodness—all values and dealings advocated by our noble Messenger, who instructed us to practice them with everyone around us. Our friend Amar understood this matter, and this was his way of implementing it. Amar returned from school one day and sat talking to his father about what he had learned from his workshop. He said to his father: Do you know, father, that the Companions of the Messenger of Allah, peace be upon him, used to go to the market without having any need in it? His father replied: And how is that, Amar? ...
In ancient times, there was an evil princess, ugly in appearance, wicked in character. She would hate people, rebuke them, mock them, and belittle them. Everyone who knew her and feared her served her because of the evilness of her nature. She had servants and maidens who would cheat people repeatedly, then return to her with their news and secrets. Whenever she heard what was discussed about her, her heart would burn with malice and she would rage terribly, so that no one would dare approach her or look at her face. ...
Frequently, we fight over small matters that do not deserve the struggle. With the passage of time, they grow and take a larger space than they deserve. The matter that makes its resolution an affair not easy, and thus we must try to find solutions before the problem intensifies and worsens. Perhaps the best solution can be in changing that perspective with which we look at the problem. Once there lived in one of the distant villages two neighboring brothers. The older was named Jamīl and the younger was named Jāksūn. The two were accustomed to living in love and happiness with each other’s company. Each of them possessed a farm with the other’s help. For forty years, the brothers lived in happiness and peace, exchanging agricultural labor and tasks and trade. ...
The little river was flowing laughing happily, planting fertility in its steps and carrying in its palms generosity. It ran between the grasses, singing its songs, scattering sweetness, green joy. It watered the withering flowers so their smiling lips brightened, watered the thirsty trees so their branches danced, and embraced the dead earth so life returned to it. The generous river continued the journey of joy and giving, not favoring anyone or expecting reward. On its side was a small, hard-hearted rock that was annoyed by his much work and addressed him: Why do you waste your water in vain? ...
In one of the distant villages in India, there lived a small boy named Chandrā with his small family. His father had married another woman after his mother’s death, and the village at that time was suffering from the scarcity of waters, to the extent that all people in the village were going to a distant water well to bring water from there. The small boy would wake every morning to obtain water from that distant place for himself and for his family. The task of bringing water was heavy upon him because of the length of the road and its difficulty, where he would go alone every morning and return. ...
Contentment is one of the most important blessings God has granted us. It makes you feel that you are always in God’s care, and you covet what you do not possess. This, in turn, makes a person good-natured, generous with affection and friendship. The person who is content with God’s blessings upon him and looks at them with a look of contentment and satisfaction cannot ever envy anyone, or harbor malice toward those around him in anything. Consequently, God protects him from the malice of the envious and the spiteful. In addition, it is worship and drawing near to God. ...
In one of the small cities spread throughout India, there lived a goldsmith named Jifar with his family, living a simple, tranquil life. This goldsmith was very skilled in making antique necklaces and confirming their authenticity. He had been working since his childhood in a large shop for the making of precious necklaces. But his circumstances changed with his family after he died in a severe accident while returning from his work. The family found itself in a great financial predicament due to his absence. He died at a young age without being able to gather the wealth that guaranteed them a dignified life. ...
A rich man kept a treasure, a dog, and a fox, in addition to a silver ship model. This was a magic amulet that one of the angels had given him—I do not know who. One day, this amulet was stolen! The Amulet and Ruin: No one found the amulet in any place. He grieved greatly, to the extent that he lay in bed fasting, even from eating food, and approached death. During that time, the dog and the fox were playing in his room, but after some time, when they saw that the man was about to die of hunger, they actually died of hunger. ...