Nabil's White Shoes

 

Nabil looks into the padi
field and watches the tadpoles swimming. It is the planting season
and the padi field is flooded. Farmers are going to remove the
seedlings from the seed beds and transplant them into the flooded
fields. The warm, wet climate in the tropics is ideal for growing
padi. Meantime the tadpoles are having fun swimming in the empty
field.

Nabil is waiting for his father
to take him to the masjid. He can hear his father calling him,
"Nabil, where are you?" (Aina anta, ya Nabil?) Nabil
replies, "I am coming, Ayah." He rushes to the road
to meet his father.

As they start walking they
hear a sound, squiissh, squiissh, squiissh, squiissh. "What
is that noise?" asks Nabil. They stop to listen, but the
noise stops as well. As they start walking again, they hear the
noise again, squiissh, squiissh, squiissh, squiissh. Again they
stop to listen. Again the noise stops. They are very puzzled.
" Is someone following us?" asks Nabil, as he looks
back. But there is no one there. What could the noise be? Is it
a bird in the sky or an insect in the padi field? Again as they
start walking they hear the noise.

Nabil looks down at his shoes
and squeals in delight. "Its my shoes, they are wet and are
making this squiisshing sound." They both laugh gleefully.
His father looks at Nabil's shoes and exclaims, "Nabil, there
is a hole in your shoe. We need to buy you a new pair of shoes.
Next week when I get some money, insha Allah, I will put aside
some money for your shoes first."

Nabil is very excited. Shopping
for new shoes will be fun.

On Monday after school, Nabil
asks his father, "Ayah, can we go shopping for my shoes?"
His father says, "Sabar (be patient), Nabil." Then Nabil
says to his father, "Ayah, today I saw my friend Azman wearing
a nice pair of black shoes." His father says, "Alhamdulillah,
that is what Allah s.w.t has given to him."

On Tuesday after school, Nabil
asks his father again, "Ayah, can we go shopping for my shoes?"
His father says the same thing, " Sabar, Nabil." Then
Nabil says to his father, "Ayah, today I saw Ustaz Marwan
wearing a new pair of white shoes." His father says, "Alhamdulillah,
that is what Allah s.w.t has given to him."

On Wednesday after school,
Nabil asks his father again, "Ayah, can we go shopping for
my shoes?" His father says, "Sabar, Nabil." "Nabil,
today I saw the postman wearing smart blue shoes." This time
Nabil says, "Alhamdulillah, that is what Allah s.w.t has
given to him."

On Sunday again Nabil says,
"Ayah, can we go shopping for my shoes?" His father
says, "Yes, today after salatul Zohor, insha Allah, we will
go and buy your shoes." Nabil performs his salatul Zohor
and quickly gets ready to go out shopping.

At the shoe shop, Nabil sees
a nice pair of black shoes. "Ayah, these shoes look very
smart," says Nabil. His father says, "Yes, they look
great, Nabil." His father looks at the price. "Nabil,
we can only spend $25 for your shoes. These shoes cost $55. It
would be a waste to buy these expensive shoes. This is an extravagance.
We would be spending an extra $30. Allah (swt) does not want us
to be extravagant, Nabil. What do you think we can use the $30
for?"

Nabil's father then reads
a verse of the Qur'an.

Bismillahir
Rahmanir Rahim




Walaa Tusri fuu

Innahu La yuhibbul Musrifeen

And
waste not [laa Tusri fuu] by extravagance (excess).

Verily,
He (Allah) loves not those who waste by extravagance (excess).

Surah
6 Verse 141

"Okay, Ayah," Nabil
says. We will not be extravagant." Nabil always obeys his
father, he is a soleh child.

Then Nabil sees a pair of
brown shoes that look very nice. "Ayah, these shoes are $27
only, can I buy them," asks Nabil. His father looks at the
shoes and says, "Yes, Nabil, these shoes are just right for
you."

As the salesman looks for
the right size of shoes, Nabil wanders around the shop and soon
sees a pair of white shoes that cost $17 only. He likes the shoelaces
on them. There are little bells dangling at the end of the shoelaces.

"Ayah, Ayah," Nabil
calls as he runs to the other side of the shop in excitement.
"Can I buy these pair of white shoes with the little bells
on them. They are cheaper than the brown shoes; we will save money
too. Do you know how much money we will save Ayah?"

"Are you sure you want
these shoes Nabil. I don't mind paying $27 for the brown shoes,
if you want them," his father says. "No, I don't want
the expensive brown shoes. I want these white shoes which are
cheaper. Ayah, we must not waste money. Remember what Allah (swt)
says," Nabil reminds his father by reading the verse from
the Qur'an.

Bismillahir
Rahmanir Rahim

Wa
laa Tusri fuu

Innahu La yuhibbul Musrifeen

And
waste not [laa Tusri] by extravagance (excess).

Verily,
He (Allah) loves not [ La yuhibbu] those who waste by extravagance
(excess).

Surah
6 Verse 141

His father smiles when Nabil
finishes reading the verse. He says, "Well, Nabil, now you
have a new pair of white shoes." Nabil replies, "Alhamdulillah,
this is what Allah (swt) has given to me."

Nabil is very happy. He keeps
looking at his new white shoes, smiles and keeps saying, "Alhamdulillah,
Alhamdulillah."

On the way back, Nabil's father
says, "Nabil you can have the $10 we saved by buying these
white shoes. You can do what you want with it, but remember to
do only those things that will earn you the pleasure of Allah
(swt) When Allah (swt) brings rezeki to us He also waits to see
what we do with it. This $10 comes to you from Allah (swt)"

Nabil's father reads a verse
of the Qur'an.

Bismillahir
Rahmanir Rahim

Wama
bikum min ni'matin faminallah

And
whatever of blessings [ ni'matin] and good things you have, it
is from Allah.

Surah
An-Nahl 16:53

The next day Nabil is thinking
of what he would like to do with all that money. It is a lot of
money and he has never had so much before. At first he thinks
he would like to spend all the money on ice cream or chocolates
or even buy that toy car he has seen at the supermarket. Just
the thought of it makes him very excited. But then he asks himself,
"Will Allah (swt) be pleased with me if I spend all the money
on myself?"

Next day after school he sits
down with his father and starts writing down his ideas. Nabil
decides to use the money in five different ways. Nabil starts
think, "How much money is there for me to use for each way
if I divide $10 into five ways?" Nabil sees that he has $2
to give his mother, whom he loves very much. He can spend $2 for
himself, he can use $2 to buy treats for his brothers and sisters,
he can save $2 and the last $2 he can give to the poor family
who lives near the masjid. He says to himself, " Allah (swt)
will be pleased with me if I use the money in this way rather
than if I spend it all on myself."

Next day he goes with his
mum to visit the poor family. When they reach the house they hear
some children crying. Nabil and his mum say, "Assalamu Alaikum,
Makcik Meriam." Makcik comes out and replies, "Wa alaikumus
Salam." One little girl follows makcik and keeps saying,
"I am hungry, mak. I am hungry, mak. Give me some food?"
(Ana jaw'an. Ana jaw'an. A'tinee ba'dha toa'am.)

Nabil's mother gives some
old clothes to makcik. Nabil gives his $2. Makcik is very happy
and says, "Alhamdulillah." She immediately wispers to
her son to go and buy a packet of rice so that she can cook it
for his little sister. There is nothing in the house to eat. Even
though she speaks very softly Nabil and his mother can hear.

Nabil is very upset and shocked
that there is nothing to eat in Makcik Meriams house. At his house
there is always something to eat. He puts his hand in his pocket
and feels the balance of the money. He realizes that makcik needs
the money to feed the family but he does not need the extra money.
He decides to give all the balance of $8 to Makcik. He immediately
sees her face light up even more as she keeps repeating, "Alhamdulillah,
Masha Allah." She tells her son to buy some more rice and
dried fish.

 

When they reach home, Nabil
starts crying as he remembers makcik's family who has no food
in their house. His mother consoles him and says, " Allah
(swt) sends rezeki to whomever he chooses. Allah (swt) gives more
to some and waits to see whether they will spend it all for themselves
or they will share with those who are in need."

Nabil looks at his new shoes and says, "Alhamdulillah, I
am glad I bought this pair of white shoes and saved $10 and therefore
could give it to makcik's family."