Written by Anonymous
Tired and exhausted with the water-skin on her back, she was gasping and
going towards her house where innocent children, their eyes fixed at the door,
were eagerly waiting for the arrival of their mother. On her way, an unknown man
approached her. He took the water-skin from her and placed it on his back. The
door opened and the children saw their mother entering the house with a
stranger. He placed the water-skin on the ground and said:
"Well, it seems you don't have anyone to fetch water for you; how come you
are so forlorn?"
"My husband was a soldier; Ali sent him to the frontier where he was killed.
Now I am alone with these small children."
The stranger said no more. Bowing down his head he went away. But the thought
of the helpless window and orphans remained in his mind. He could hardly sleep
in the night. Early in the morning he picked up a basket; put some meat, flour
and dates in it; went straight to her house and knocked at the door.
"Who are you?"
"I am the man who brought your water yesterday. Now I have brought some food
for the children."
"May God bless you and judge between us and Ali"
She opened the door. Entering the house he said:
"I wish to do some good acts. Either let me knead the flour and bake the
bread or allow me to look after the children."
"Very well, but I can do the job of kneading and cooking better than you. You
take care of the children till I finish cooking".
She went to knead the flour. Immediately he grilled some meat, which he had
brought and fed the children saying to each child while putting morsel in his
mouth:
"My son, forgive Ali if he has failed in his duty towards you"
The flour got ready; she called: "Gentlemen! put fire in the oven". He went
and put fire in the oven. When flames rose up, he brought his face near the fire
and said, "Taste the heat of fire. It is the punishment for those who fail in
their duty towards orphans and widows."
By chance, a woman from the neighboring house came in. Recognizing the
stranger, she cried: "Woe, don't you recognize the man who is helping you? He is
Ameer-ul-Momineen (commander of the faithful) Ali Ibn Abi-Talib."
The widow came forward and shamefacedly cried: "Curse and shame to me. I beg
your pardon."
"No, I beg your pardon for I failed in my duty towards you."
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