Discover a heart-touching story of a poor woman who, driven by poverty, sought help from a wealthy man. Learn how compassion, dignity, and charity can change lives and leave a lasting reward in the Hereafter.
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The Inspiring Story of a Poor Woman & a Kind Rich Man |
A poor woman, burdened by poverty, went to the house of a wealthy man and knocked on his door.
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A servant came out and asked, “What do you want?”
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The woman said, “I want to meet your master.”
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The servant asked, “Who are you?”
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She replied, “Tell him I am his sister.”
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The servant, knowing his master had no sister, went inside to inform him.
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The master said, “Bring her in.”
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The woman entered, and the rich man warmly welcomed her.
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He asked, “Which of my brothers’ sister are you? May Allah have mercy on you.”
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She said, “I am the daughter of Adam.”
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The rich man thought, “This woman is truly destitute; I should be the first to help her.”
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The woman said, “O my brother, perhaps people like you do not know how bitter poverty tastes.”
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“Because of this poverty, I stand on the verge of divorce from my husband.”
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“Do you have something you can give for the Day of Judgment? What you possess will perish, but what is with Allah will remain.”
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The rich man asked her to repeat it again and again, finding beauty in her words.
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After several repetitions, she said, “I don’t think you understand me, and repeating this is humiliation for me.”
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“I have never lowered myself before anyone except Allah.”
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The rich man said, “By Allah, your words are so beautiful that if you repeated them a thousand times, I would give you a thousand dirhams each time.”
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Then he commanded his servants to give her ten camels, ten she-camels, as many sheep as she wanted, and wealth and provisions.
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He added, “So we may have something prepared for the Day of Judgment.”
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Indeed, what we have will perish, but what is with Allah remains forever.
FAQs
Q: What is the moral of this story?
A: The story teaches us the value of generosity, preserving dignity in hardship, and investing in the Hereafter through charity.
Q: Why did the woman call herself the rich man’s sister?
A: To appeal to their shared humanity as children of Adam, highlighting universal brotherhood in Islam.
Q: What lesson does this story offer about wealth?
A: It reminds us that worldly wealth is temporary, but whatever is spent in Allah’s way is eternal.
Q: Is it permissible in Islam to seek help in difficult times?
A: Yes, Islam encourages helping the needy and allows those in distress to seek lawful assistance while preserving dignity.