Betrayal is an extremely bad trait, a Muslim should not possess it, for our merciful religion has encouraged us to trustworthiness, and both God and His Messenger have commanded us with it, because it is one of the foundations upon which the nation is built. If you see a people lacking trustworthiness among themselves, know that they do not apply the teachings of Islam, and they will suffer their punishment for betrayal and treachery, for treachery destroys its owner.
One sunny day, the woodcutter came out of his small hut, taking his son Omar with him, and they went together towards the forest near them, until the man gathered what he could of firewood, then went down to the market to sell it to merchants, and obtain the money that enables him to spend on his house and his small family. The forest was extremely beautiful, rich with tall high trees, and delicate colorful flowers, which made it a cheerful painting in itself.
The woodcutter began to gather what he could of dry firewood, while Omar set off playing with butterflies and watching the singing birds. Amidst all those extremely beautiful scenes, Omar set off running and playing among the green branches, fragrant in scent and soft in touch, but is everything that is soft in touch safe?
The good woodcutter began breaking branches and looking for what was very dry among them, while Omar noticed during his running a colored rope that seemed soft in touch, so he looked at it for a long time not knowing that it was a snake. He began watching it closely, impressed by its shape and its beautiful colored appearance from the outside, without knowing the size of its treacherous venom, which could cost him his life if the snake released it into his blood. The poor child began walking behind the snake whenever it moved, thinking it was a domestic animal that God created from pearls and precious jewels.
He decided to play with it, without knowing that it was a hostile enemy and could never become his friend one day. As soon as the child Omar’s hand extended to hold the snake, the snake turned to him with obvious anger, then bit him strongly and released its venom into Omar’s small body, who screamed loudly then fell to the ground unconscious.
The woodcutter heard Omar’s scream, so he left what was in his hand and set off searching for him until he found him lying on the ground and not moving, remaining only as a lifeless corpse. Here the poor woodcutter’s anger was provoked, and he raised his axe to eliminate this snake, then brought down the axe to cut the snake’s tail and leave it bleeding heavily without killing it. Here the snake crawled while bleeding to its burrow, while the woodcutter carried his child and set off with him towards his hut, hoping to heal him.
A few days passed, during which the woodcutter could not go out to gather what he could of firewood, grieving for his child lying in a coma since the accident occurred, until hunger began to kill him and his children. Meanwhile the snake hid inside its burrow, unable to go out to search for food, until hunger was about to destroy it, so the snake came out of its burrow encouraged.
It went to the woodcutter trying to convince him to leave it, and to ignore what happened between them, so that they would not both die of hunger and sadness. The farmer shouted at him angrily, oh treacherous snake, if you can forget your cut tail, then I will not forget my small child whom you harmed without clear reason, for you are a treacherous snake, not trustworthy, and I will not forget your offense to a small one who did nothing to you, and I will eliminate you with the help of God, then he raised his axe and killed the snake, as punishment for its betrayal and treachery.