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A Butcher's Path to Paradise
Hidden Virtues, Heavenly Rewards
Reading time: 2 minutes
A person came to Messenger of Allah (ﷺ) and asked,
"Who among people is most deserving of my fine treatment?" The Prophet (ﷺ), "Your mother".
He again asked, ''Who next?""Your mother", The Prophet (ﷺ) replied again.
He asked, "Who next?" The Prophet (ﷺ) said again, "Your mother."
He again asked, "Then who?" Thereupon he (ﷺ) said," Then your father."
Musa (AS) once asked Allah who would be his neighbor in paradise.
Allah informed him it would be a butcher from a far land.
Confused and wanting to understand this man's virtues, Musa (AS) asked Allah to meet him.
Allah guided him to the distant land where he found the butcher at work.
Musa (AS) observed the butcher discreetly, curious about what unique deeds elevated this seemingly ordinary man to such a high spiritual state.
However, after hours of observation, Musa (AS) saw nothing noteworthy.
Being a traveler, he asked the butcher if he could host him for the night.
The butcher gladly agreed to welcome him, and they went to his modest house near the river.
Musa (AS) was welcomed but asked to wait as the butcher attended a private matter.
He watched as the butcher brought a large basket from inside his home
Inside was an old, frail woman well-wrapped in sheets and fur.
The butcher lifted her out and tenderly bathed her in the river, washed and changed her clothes, combed her hair, and started a fire to keep her warm while preparing a meal from the meat he had brought back.
The entire time, the butcher was attentively listening, sharing stories, and laughing with the woman.
Musa (AS) was deeply moved by such compassionate care.
When the man finished cooking, he sat close to her, eating from a single plate.
He would chew the food and then feed her the morsel.
The woman murmured something with each bite of the meal, though Musa (AS) was too far away to hear.
After the meal, the butcher prayed with her and gently settled the woman back into her basket for the night.
Only then did he join Musa for dinner. revealing that the woman was his mother, who had fallen ill.
He explained how he alone takes care of her, managing her every need to the extent of even chewing food for her since she had lost her teeth.
He then told Musa (AS) that he had devoted himself to this daily and nightly routine for the past ten years.
He even refused marriage to ensure he had no distractions from his commitment to her.
Musa, curious, asked about the prayers his mother whispered.
The butcher explained that with each mouthful, she repeated the same prayer.
"Allahumma ja'alnuhu ma'an nabiyyin"
("Oh Allah, put him in the rank and in the height of the prophets of God." )
Every moment of hers would be spent repeating this prayer to Allah.
Overwhelmed by the man's selfless service and their connection, Musa (AS) continuously wept.
The power of a mother's dua elevated a simple butcher to prophetic status in the eyes of Allah.
Sincerity and service hold a profound place, especially when directed towards one’s mother or any maternal figure.
Such acts are not merely duties but deep spiritual practices that cleanse the heart and draw us closer to Allah.
By serving our mothers with genuine love and respect, we engage in a sacred dialogue with our Creator, fostering a spiritual wellness that echoes through our lives and beyond.
Reflection:
How does the butcher’s dedication to his mother challenge our current priorities and commitments?
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Du’a of the Day
In this section, we will share one du’a that can be used in your daily devotions and share its meaning.
رَّبِّ ارْحَمْهُمَا كَمَا رَبَّيَانِي صَغِيرًا
Transliteration:
Rabbi irhamhuma kama rabbayanee sagheera
English Translation
This is a Dua for our parents
My Lord! Be merciful to them as they raised me when I was young.
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Day 210
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