An Orphan's Eid



It was the day of celebration and a day of rejoicing. There was an air of festivity in the streets of Madinah. All the people, both young and old were dressed in their best clothes, especially for this special day of Eid.


As it was time for early morning Eid prayers everyone made their way to an open piece of land on the outskirts of the city. The Prophet Muhammad (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) arrived and led the prayers. After they had finished they all greeted each other and everyone was walking back home. The children running and playing in excitement, smiling and laughing, without a care in the world.


As the Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) walked back home, he suddenly became aware of a little boy (Zuhair Bin Saghir) sitting by himself on the side of the path. The little boy was crying and looked very sad. The Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) bent down and patted him on the shoulders and asked 'why are you crying?' 'Please leave me alone' sobbed the little boy. The boy didn't even see who was talking to him. The Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) ran his fingers through the boy's hair and very gently and kindly asked him again why he was crying.


This time the boy said, 'My father was martyred fighting, and now my mother has married again and my stepfather does not want me to live at home any more. Today is Eid and everyone is happy. All the children have new clothes and nice things to eat, but I don't have any clothes except what I am wearing. I have no food and I don't even have a place to live.'


The Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said to him, 'I know how you feel, I lost both my mother and father when I was a little boy.'

The boy was surprised to hear that it was an orphan who was comforting him, and when he looked up to his great surprise it was the Prophet Muhammad (salAllahu alayhi wasalam), and he immediately jumped up to his feet out of love and respect.



The Prophet (salAllahu alayhi wasalam) said to him 'If I were to become your new father and A'isha you new mother, and Fatimah your new sister, would that make you feel better?'
'Oh yes, that would be the best thing in the world!' The boy started smiling.
The Prophet took him home and gave him new clothes and good food on this beautiful day of Eid. The boy indeed had a wonderful Eid that day.



We should think of others that are less fortunate than ourselves on this beautiful day of Eid. Not everyone has such a wonderful day. It is a day of celebration, but take a moment to stop and think of those who are less fortunate than ourselves.