The Magnanimity of Sultan Salahuddin

Saladin was born in a Kurdish family in Tikrit in Iraq. He was a great Muslim sultan known as "Saladin" in the Western World.  Though he was fierce in battle but he was generous to his enemies.

Saladin used to perform the five obligatory prayers on time. And he never delayed a prayer. He would spend most of his money on Sadqah. Being a Sultan he did not have enough money to perform Hajj, and he died without performing it.

Sultan Salahuddin never spoke badly about anyone and never allowed anyone to do so in his presence. He never uttered a rude word in his entire life. He was a loyal and kind-hearted man. Any person, friend or enemy, were helped by him.

One day the Sultan was walking near the tents of his soldiers. A Muslim soldier brought a woman Crusader who was weeping and beating her chest. When Saladin asked about her problem, he learned that she had lost her young daughter. Upon that, he showed compassion and shed tears. He ordered the soldiers to search for the girl and bring her back. In less than an hour, the soldiers brought the young girl, and her mother ran to her. She looked at the sky but she did not know what to say.

Once, English King Richard the Lionheart, Saladin’s enemy, fell ill. Saladin used to ask about his health regularly by messengers. And he used to send fruits and ice to him. The Crusaders were astonished at that noble chivalry and mercy from their enemy.

Saladin died at the age of 57. His estate was only 47 Dirham and only one Dinar. He left no real estate or any other properties. May Allah honor him in the hereafter, and raise his rank in Paradise.

A Famous Magician and His Student

Once upon a time there lived a famous magician called Frankel. He lived in a small town in Germany and worked their in a laboratory in his house. He was a good magician as he used the spells to make bad people good.

Frankel did everything - washing, cleaning etc. by magic. He took a boy named Hans of eighteen as an apprentice so that his power of magic would not be wasted. Hans was a good student and very curious to learn. Frankel advises to Hans, “Never be impatient. My magic is very powerful. So, be careful.” But Hans was very excited. He wanted to be a powerful magician over night.

One day the magician taught Hans how to make the brush carry water to clean the floor. The next day, after breakfast, Frankel went to see his friend. Hans got a chance to test his magical power. He went to clean the Frenkel’s laboratory. Hans took a metal object and followed the spell he learnt. The door of the laboratory opened and a brash walked in. It grew armed and legged just like a man.

The brush carried a bucket of water. The brush emptied bucket water on to the floor and then went out for more water. It again emptied another bucket of water. “That’s enough, Brush,” said Hans. “You can start cleaning the floor now.” But the brush didn’t take it to ear. It fetched more and more water.

The laboratory began to flood quickly. Hans took an axe and cut the brush into two pieces. But both pieces grew their own legs and arms. Now they carried two buckets and fetched more water. He grew frightened and again cut each into two. The four pieces similarly grew legs and hands and fetched more and more water. When panic seized him and he was in a fix, Frankel arrived there.

Then he cried, “Please don’t punish me.” “Did I not tell you to be careful? Frankel asked Hans. “I’ll never be impatient again, sir. I promise. I’ve really learned my lesson," said Hans.

Moral: A little learning is a dangerous thing.

Story of the Camel and Jackal

A camel and jackal were neighbours. The camel was simple while the jackal was very cunning. Whenever his belly was filled with food, he used to think evil. One day the jackal came to the camel with good news. He was very much excited about a field of sugarcane.

But the sugarcane was across a river. So it was essential to him to get help from the camel. The camel too was fond of sugarcane. He readily agreed. He carried the jackal on his back and crossed the river. It was really a vast field of sugarcane. And there were nobody to guard that field.

They had a grand feast. The jackal, due to overfeeding, started rolling on the ground. He also began to howl very loudly. The camel asked him not to howl because his howling would bring the farmer there. “It is my habit. I howl after I have had my meal.” said the jackal. In fact his intention was evil.

The farmer, the owner of the field heard the howling of the jackal. “Some animals are spoiling my field”, He said to himself. He took a big stick and came there. The jackal was small nowhere to be seen. The owner saw the camel and beat him hard. The camel rushed out. He was very angry with the jackal. He came to the bank. His whole body was aching because of the beating.

The jackal soon came to camel to cross the river. The camel took him on his back. When he was in the middle of the stream, the camel began to roll in water. “What are you doing my friend?” “Don’t you see the water is too deep for me “, said the jackal.

"It is my nature", said the camel. The jackal was soon dropped from the camels back and drowned. The camel had his revenge.

Moral: Tit for Tat.