The Double Reward
In a certain prosperous village lived a rich man named Rahim. His only child was Razia, a beautiful girl. Razia was a very sweet-natured girl. She was deeply devoted to her parents. She was also well-versed in literature and domestic arts. Everybody knew that Razia was the sole heir to her father's estates. No wonder that many youths belonging to affluent families of the area coveted Razia's hand in marriage. Relatives of Rahim began meeting him with proposals for Razia's marriage. Relatives of his wife too did the same. But Rahim was a man of uncommon disposition. He looked for a young man who would be a devotee of God. He knew that the sons of the rich had no time to meditate upon the god. He did not wish one of them to marry his only child. One night his wife asked him, "So many eligible youths are proposing marriage with Razia. Why don't you choose one of them for your son-in-law? Some of them are very wealthy!" "How do I care for their wealth? Am I not rich enough myself? What I want is, Razia's husband should be a man of good nature, absolutely devoted to Allah. I believe that God would be merciful to me and I shall get the right sort of young man," explained Rahim.
Rahim's wife kept quiet. She had great faith in her husband's wisdom. The next day, upon reaching the prayer hall, Rahim saw a handsome young man kneeling down in prayer. Rahim saw him doing the same for several days. Curious about the young man, he asked him, "What is your name? What do you do?" "I am Nasir, an orphan. I do hardly anything except praying," replied the young man. "But how do you maintain yourself?" asked Rahim. "I seldom remember hunger or thirst. I forget all about my needs once I am in communication with God," answered Nasir. Then he added, "Of course, there are kind people around who bring me food from time to time." Rahim was deeply impressed by the young man's words. "This boy seems to be exactly the kind of boy I wised to find. Great is the mercy of God," Rahim told himself. Back at home, Rahim told his wife all about this pleasant discovery, Bothe were happy. They decided to wait for some days to observe the youth more keenly. From that day onward Rahim's servants brought food and drink for Nasir, all three times of the day. Rahim's clerk brought him several sets of new clothes. He was given a room adjacent to the prayer hall. It was observed that Nasir often wept. Those who saw it reported it to Rahim. One afternoon Rahim called Nasir to a lonely nook of the prayer hall and asked him why he wept. "Time has come when I must tell you the truth and depart. I was a burglar. One night I entered your house to steal. Just then you happened to tell your wife that you desired to have for your son-in-law a young man who would be a devotee of God," said the young man, wiping his tears.
"Indeed, I remember having told my wife so," said the surprised Rahim. "When I heard that, I sneaked out of your house without stealing. The next day I entered the prayer hall and sat down in a conspicuous place, just to attract your attention. I pretended to pray. But, as days passed, I grew a devotee of God. I weep whenever I think of my past misdeeds and hypocrisy" confessed Nasir. Rahim stood amazed. "You are a noble soul. I tried to cheat you. Punish me in whatever way you like. Thereafter I shall go away," said Nasir again, as he fell at Rahim's feet. Rahim lifted the young man up by the hands and embraced him."I don't care what you were. I believe that you are a true devotee now. I choose you for my son-in-law. God has not only granted my prayer but also has changed your nature in the process. It is a double reward. Great is the merch of God!" said Rahim. Nasir and Razia were married soon. There were only a few people who knew who Nasir really was. But, by his conduct, Nasir proved himself worthy of Rahim's trust. Rahim, his wife, and Razia were very happy.
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