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 alone?”
“My husband was a soldier; Ali sent him to the frontier where
he was killed. Now I am alone with these small children,” she
replied.
The stranger said no more. Bowing down his head he went
away. But the thought of the helpless widow 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, and went straight to her house and knocked at
the door.
“Who is it?”
“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. He grilled some meat, which he
had brought and fed the children saying to each child while
putting morsels in their mouths,
“My son, forgive Ali if he has failed in his duty towards you”
The flour was ready; she called, “Please help me light the
oven”
He went to light 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 neighbouring house came in.
Recognising the stranger, she cried out,
“Don’t you recognize the man who is helping you? He is
Amirul-Mu’mineen (commander of the faithful) Ali bin Abi-
Talib”
The widow came forward and said,
“Forgive me”
Excellent Stories Vol 1