A Handsome Reward for a Kind Gesture

Abu Umar Damishqi Rahmatullah alayh relates: “We were a party of traveler’s going on a journey to Makkah Mukarramah in company with Sheikh Abu Abdullah bin Jalaa Rahmatullah alayh. We had been travelling for many days, without having any food, when we came upon a nomadic (a person who moves from place to place aimlessly) woman living in the desert. She was tending a she-goat. We asked her what her goat was worth, intending to buy it of her and cook it; she said that it’s price was 50 Dirhams.

We asked her to do us a favour (in the form of concession) and she said, “You can have it for 5 Dirhams“, we said, “Are you mocking us? Tell us exactly what you are willing to accept for your she goat. You have just said that your price is 50 Dirhams.” She said, “By Allah, I am not mocking. You have asked just asked favour of me and I wish I could give it to you as a gift; I am demanding 5 Dirhams because I need money badly.” At this, Sheikh ibne Jalaa Rahmatullah alayh said to us,“How many Dirhams have you got in your possession, in total?” A count was made and the whole party was found to possess 600 Dirhams in all. The Sheikh said, “Give all this money to the woman and let her keep her she-goat as well.” We did as the Sheikh advised us to do and gave her all the money in our possession. After this incident we had a very pleasant journey, far beyond our expectations, through Allah Ta’ala’s special favour.

(Musaamiraat) Adapted from Fadhaail-e-Sadaqaat, Anecdotes of the Ascetics, pg 665