Learning Endurance from a Bird



“Every hardship, pain, worry, sorrow, mischief, oppression, and even every sting of a thorn that happens to a Muslim atones for his sins.”—Al-Bukhari


During the time of one of the prophets {AS}, there lived a lady who had a son who was in his youth and whom she loved dearly. 

As divine decree would have it, the son died leaving the mother greatly aggrieved and immensely disturbed. She was in such a state that her relatives approached the prophet of the time and sought his help.

When he came to the mother, the prophet found her in a state of sorrow and agitation and was weeping. His eyes then fell upon a pigeon-nest nearby. He turned to the Lady and asked: 

“O lady! Is this a pigeon-nest?”

The lady replied that it was.

“Do the pigeons give birth to their young ones?” asked the prophet. 

“Yes.” The lady replied.

“Do all the young ones grow up to be able to fly?”

“No, we kill some of them for their flesh,” said the lady.

The prophet continued, “And despite this, do these pigeons abandon their nests?”

“No, they do not move away to another place,” replied the lady.

The prophet then advised:

 “O’ lady! Be apprehensive lest you be worse off than these pigeons in the eyes of your Lord.

The pigeons, despite the fact that you kill and eat their young ones in front of their eyes, do not turn away from you. 

Whereas you, as a result of losing just a son, have directed your anger towards Allah {SWT}, turned away from Him, exhibited all this agitation, and uttered things that are inappropriate.”

Hearing these words, her tears ceased and she never displayed impatience and discontent thenceforth.

The obvious lesson here is that we should adopt patience in the face of any and all calamities of life because Allah {SWT} knows what we don’t know. And in His Infinite Mercy, Allah {SWT} Has already promised to reward our endurance with forgiveness and mercy: even for the sting of a thorn. Allahu Akbar! 

The Prophet {SAW} said:

“Every hardship, pain, worry, sorrow, mischief, oppression, and even every sting of a thorn that happens to a Muslim atones for his sins.”—Al-Bukhari

May Allah {SWT} grant us endurance and patience. Aameen


Reference: Namunah-e-Ma’arif

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