The Woodman

In the time of Musa, peace be upon him, was a poor woodman. He used to gather woods in a mountain, load them on his back and bring them to the city, where he sold them. With the money he gained, he bought food.

The woodman wasn’t as much worried with his difficult job, as with his neighbor who had a donkey and loaded his woods on the donkey. This one he could not bear.

One day, he went to Musa, peace be upon him, and started to tell him about his bad conditions, saying:

- The woods I load on my back have wounded me. Never in my life, I have tested quietness and commodity. Please, when you will meet Allah, don’t forget to tell Him about my condition. Ask Him to give me a donkey to carry woods.

When Musa, peace be upon him, went to and met with Almighty Allah, he presented the wish of the woodman.

Almighty Allah said to him:

- This man of mine suffers from the illness of jalousie. He cannot find commodity until he is cured from the sickness he has. First of all, he must be free from that and then ask for commodity. You say to him that his neighbor donkey is sick and let him pray its recovery, and then I will give him a donkey.

When Musa, peace be upon him, conveyed the message of Allah, the woodman because of his jalousie said: - I cannot pray to Allah for the recovery of my neighbor’s donkey. I will be content with this situation of mine. I don’t, even, want a donkey if Allah recovers the donkey mo my neighbor.

Without any doubt, jalousie is a very bad illness. He who suffers from it, will never be pleased. How shameful is a situation, when the poor is tired more from the jalousie than the woods he carries on his back.

How beautifully clarified this truth Muhammad, peace be upon him, when saying:

“Don’t be jealous, because eats the good deeds in the same way the fire eats woods.

                         Home