A student passed by one of the ladies, while she was crying. So he asked her about the reason for her crying. She said: The teacher ordered us to memorize a great speech, and whoever memorizes it and brings it to me by a great sign will obtain a great reward. But I am weak in memorizing, and I fear that the sign will go to others, with my strong desire to obtain it.
The Lady’s Advice to the Crying Child: So the lady said to him: Do you see this ant, how it tries to climb up the tree, with its slow walking, and the distance on it? But the boy’s persistence was continuous. He left it all that it ate, until he reached his summit. So if he memorizes a part of the speech every day, he will gradually eat all that you eat, no more than your capacity, for from your weakness in memorizing, you will not obtain the sign.
The Hardworking Student: So the student did by this strong advice, and continued memorizing anew, until he memorized the entire speech well. When the time of the examination came, the hardworking student came, the teacher was surprised and pleased, so he obtained the reward and the beautiful gift.
The Judgment in the Arab Tradition about Striving: And there came in the judgment: For every hardworking there is a reward, and it came also: And from where, and the wise saying is also: And who walks on the path arrives.
The Difference between the Hardworking Student and the Lazy Student: It is narrated also that he taught a student with him a little less in age, advancing in age. So he said to him: Who created you! The lazy student went in his order, and took his right and left without knocking! The teacher thought about the question and sought the answer. So the student answered him: God created me and my parents.
God Created Me: The teacher wondered from this answer and admired the greatness of this student! Then he asked another small student the same question himself. So he answered him: God created me, formed me, and improved my image, as He says the Exalted in the verse (Indeed, We created man from an extract of clay) True is the Almighty God. Verse 4 from Surah Al-Mu’minun.
The Answers Were Correct: So the teacher said to him: You have given correct answers, oh student Prophet. Then he said to the older student: This is younger than you by years, and has given correct answers, so why did you not accept before him? He said: Because I was born from a long time, and therefore I forgot who created me. But this small one was born in a near time, and therefore he did not forget his creation.
Mentioning the Narrator’s Saying: So the teacher and the two students judged by his matter, and the weight of his matter, and mentioned the narrator’s saying:
The knowledge is eternal after his death… and his recommendation is under the earth… … And the ignorance is dead while walking on the path… He leaves the living while he is great…