40 Hadīths For Children With Stories Episode 37: The Woodsman

 ﷽

*40 Hadīths For Children With Stories*

*Episode 37: The Woodsman*

There once was a poor woodsman during the time of Prophet Mūsa (Peace be upon him). He collected woods from the mountain, carried them on his back, and sold them at the market. He lived on the little income he earned from this work. The work was hard, but the woodsman never tired of it.

One of his neighbours was also doing the same work but he had a donkey to take the wood to the market. This made the woodsman very jealous.

One day the poor woodsman went to Prophet Mūsa (Peace be upon him) to explain his problem.

"I always have many sores on my back from carrying the wood. I have yet to live a peaceful day. Please, when you go before the Lord, explain my situation to Him and ask Him to grant me a donkey to take my wood to the market."

When Prophet Mūsa (Peace be upon him) talked to Allāh (Sub-haanahu wata'aala), he repeated what the woodsman had said.

Almighty Allāh (Sub-haanahu wata'aala) replied:

"This servant of mine is sufficient from jealousy. Until he rids himself of this illness he won't feel comfortable. He must give it up. Nowadays, the other woodsman's donkey is sick. Tell him to pray for his neighbour's donkey. If he does so and the donkey gets well then I will give him a donkey too."

When Prophet Mūsa (Peace be upon him) reported this to the poor woodsman, he became even more jealous and said:

"No, I can't pray to Almighty Allāh (Sub-haanahu wata'aala) for the recovery of my neighbour's donkey. I am happy with what I have and I don't need a donkey from Almighty Allāh (Sub-haanahu wata'aala). I hope He doesn't cure the donkey - that will be enough for me."

Jealousy is nothing but an illness. If someone is suffering from this disease, he or she will never be happy. The reason why the woodsman was tired and was never at ease was because of his jealousy, not the wood he was carrying.

How wonderfully our beloved Prophet Muhammad (Blessings and Peace of Allāh be upon him) explains this situation in the following Hadīth!

اياكم والحسدفإن الحسد يأكل الحسنات كما تأكل النار الحطب

رواه أبوداود

*"Don't be jealous. It destroys good deeds just as fire destroys wood."*

*[Abū Dāwud]*

Source of the Hadīth: Abū Dāwud, Kitāb al-Adab, Hadīth Number 44.

*Habits Of Prophet Muhammad ﷺ*

Whenever Prophet Muhammad (صلى الله عليه وسلم) became sick, he used to pray in sitting position.

*Pearls Of Motivation*

Never give up on hope. One day it will all come together. You’ll look back on all that you’ve been through and thank Almighty ALLĀH for it.