Islamic Exemplary Stories
The story of the lumberjack & the misaddressed Alms.
THE STORY OF THE TREE CUTTER
Once upon a time, a wood merchant received a worker's proposal to cut down a tree in his forest. Because the promised salary and working conditions that will be received are very good, so that the prospective woodcutter was determined to work as well as possible.
When starting work, the employer gives an axe and shows the work area to be completed with a predetermined target time to the lumberjack.
The first day of work, he managed to knock down 8 tree trunks. In the afternoon, hearing the work of the logger, the employer was impressed and gave a sincere compliment, “Your work is amazing! I'm very impressed with your ability to cut down those trees. There's never been anyone like you before. Continue to work like that”.
Highly motivated by the praise of his employer, the next day the logger worked even harder, but he only managed to knock down 7 tree trunks. The third day, he worked even harder, but the results remained unsatisfactory and even disappointing. The more the day, the fewer trees were knocked down. “It seems I have lost my ability and strength, how can I account for my work to the employer?” thought the lumberjack was embarrassed and desperate. With his head bowed he faced the employer, apologized for inadequate work and complained of not understanding what had happened.
The master listened and asked him, “When did you last sharpen the axe?”
“Wetting axe? I don't have time for that, I'm very busy every day cutting down trees from morning to afternoon with all my might”. Said the lumberjack.
“Well, here's the problem. Remember, your first day at work? With a new axe and honed, then you can story-cutting trees with extraordinary results. The following days, with the same energy, using the same ax but not sharpened, you know for yourself, the results are decreasing. So, as busy as it is, you must take the time to sharpen your axe, so that every day work with the same energy and maximum results.
Now start honing your axe and get back to work!” the master's orders. Nodding his head and saying thank you, the woodcutter passed from before his master to begin sharpening the axe.
Rest does not mean stop ,
But to travel even further
THE WRONG ADDRESS
Once, the Prophet, as he often did, had a conversation with friends at the portico of the Prophet's Mosque, Medina. After sharing his greetings with them, he said to them,
“One time a man said to himself, ‘Tonight I will give thanks!’ And true, that same night he gave alms to a woman he did not know. Apparently, the woman was an adulterer. So, the incident became a public discussion.
“Finally, the news reached the man. Hearing such news, the man muttered, ‘Yes Allah! Praise be to You.It turns out, my alms fell into the hands of an adulterer. Therefore, I will give thanks again!’
“Then, the man then looked for someone he thought deserved alms. It turned out that the beneficiary, unbeknownst to him, was a rich man. So, the incident again became a public conversation, then to the man who gave alms.
“Heard such news, the man muttered,’Yes Allah! Praise be to you only. It turned out that my alms had fallen into the hands of the rich. Therefore, I will give thanks again!’
And so, he then, carefully, sought out someone whom he thought was worthy of almsgiving. Apparently, the third alms recipient, unbeknownst to him, was a thief. Shortly after, the incident became a public conversation, and the news reached the man who gave alms.
Hearing this, the man complained, ‘Yes Allah! Praise be to You! O Allah, my alms have fallen into the hands of the unexpected: adulterers, the rich, and thieves!’
The man was then approached (angel messenger of God) who said, “Your alms have been received by God. It could be that the adulterer will stop committing adultery for receiving that alms. It may be that the rich man learned a lesson because of alms, and then he gave some of the sustenance that God gave him. And, it could be that the thief stopped stealing after receiving the alms.”
