It is told that in the small village, three days passed during which the children did not see their friend the donkey Zurayf! They told the village crier. The crier went around the village and announced, “O people of the village, O people of the village, gather, gather! Who among you has seen Zurayf or heard anything about him, tell the children, and whoever does that has a great reward with the Creator, the Exalted!”
After Two Days: Two other days passed, and no one knew anything about Zurayf. No one had heard about him or reported seeing him! At that point, the children became certain that the donkey Zurayf was lost.
The Journey to Search for Zurayf: The children gathered together and headed toward the forest to search for Zurayf, for they knew how much Zurayf loved forests. In the forest, Samer found him standing under a tree, motionless and still. He ran quickly to him, wrapped his arms around his neck, and said with great joy, “You have hidden from us, my friend. Why did you leave the village? Come back with us.”
Zurayf’s Anger and the Reason, the Spring: Zurayf murmured, struck the ground with his foot in anger, drooped his ears and closed them, then walked with the children following him silently. When he reached the spring, he stopped! At that moment, the children saw large quantities of dirt covering the water and the banks.
The Children’s Promise to Zurayf: The children asked angrily, “Who threw the dirt here in the spring and made its water murky and polluted like this?” Samer patted Zurayf’s back and said to him, “You are right, my friend. Don’t be sad. We will clean this spring.”
The Children and Guarding the Spring: Samer brought from the village a net tied to a stick and began extending it and gathering the floating dirt from the surface of the water. Samer turned to Zurayf and said to him, “Rest assured… from now on, dirt will never be thrown in the spring again, because we, the children, will guard it.”
Zurayf’s Return with the Children to the Village: Samer pointed Zurayf to the water and said to him, “Come close and drink… the spring has become clean.” Zurayf approached the bank, saw his reflection on the water’s surface, extended his head and drank, felt satisfaction, and brayed with joy. He returned with the children to the village again.
A Clean and Beautiful Environment: In the village, the crier announced, “O people of the village, let no one throw dirt again in the spring and pollute it.” Zurayf looked at the grass and flowers, and saw the children lining up to play the racing game. Samer called to him, he jumped with joy and stood among them. Samer clapped, and the race began.