Zohra Sarwari – The Farmer’s Daughter

			Bismillah Alhamdulillah wa salatu salam ala rasulillah My name is Doris Ward and I want to share a
story with you guys that I found quite amazing and one for all of us to be able to reflect on. And
just to think about and also for us to slow down sometimes and think before we act. It's called the
farmer's daughter. Many years ago, in a small Indian village, a farmer Abraham had the misfortune of
owning a large sum of money to a village moneylender. The moneylender, who was also old and ugly,
fancied the farmer his beautiful daughter Fatima, so he proposed a bargain. He said he would forego
the farmer Abraham's debt if he could marry his daughter fat tonight. Both the farmer and his
		

			daughter were horrified by the proposal. So the cutting moneylender suggested that they let destiny
fate decide the matter. He told them that he would pick he would put a black pebble and a white
pebble into an empty bag.
		

			The girls then would have to pick one pebble from the bag. And if she picked the black pebble, she
would become his wife and her father's debt would be forgiven. And if she picked the white pebble,
she did not marry him and her father's debt would still be forgiven. But if she refused to pick up a
pebble, her father would be thrown into jail. They were standing on a pebble strewn path in the
farmer's field. As they talk the moneylender bent over to pick up two pebbles. As he picked them up.
The sharp eyed pious young girl Fatima noticed that he had picked up two black pebbles and put them
into the bag. He then I spotted the girl to pick a pebble from the bag. Now imagine that you were
		

			standing in the field, what would you have done if you have thoughts? If you had to advise her? What
would you have told her? carefully carefully analyze. And I want you to think about these three
possibilities. Number one, Fatima should refuse to take a pebble. Number two, far too much. It
showed that there were two black pebbles in the bag and expose the moneylender as a cheat. Or number
three, Fatima should pick a black pebble and sacrifice herself in order to save her father Ibrahim
from his debt and imprisonment. Now take a moment to ponder over the story. The above story is used
with a hope that will make us appreciate the difference between lateral and logical thinking, a way
		

			of solving problems by unconventional or apparently illogical means rather than by traditional
logical approach. The girls dilemma cannot be solved with traditional logical thinking. Think of the
consequences of she chooses the above logical answers. What would you recommend for Fatima to do?
		

			Well, here is what she did. Being a pious person. She put her trust in Allah azza wa jal and she
said Bismillah I begin In the name of Allah. She then put her hand into the money bag and drew out a
pebble. Without looking at it. She fumbled and let it fall into the pebble strewn path, where it
immediately became lost among all the other pebbles. Oh, how clumsy of me, Fatima said. But
nevermind. If you look into the bag, for the one that is left, you'll be able to tell which pebble I
picked. Since the remaining pebble is black, it must be assumed that she had picked the white one.
And since the moneylender dare not to admit his dishonesty, the girl changed with a loss help what
		

			seemed to be an impossible situation into an extremely advantage advantage this one, what is the
moral of the story here? most complex problems do have a solution Mashallah. Tabata kala, it is only
that we don't attempt to think and trust in Allah. And Allah azza wa jal says in the lock, I am
number three. And when someone puts his trust in Allah, He will be enough for him. The Prophet
salallahu alayhi salam said, if you put your trust completely in a lot, he'll arrange for your
sustenance in the same way as he provides for the birds. They go out in the morning with their
stomachs empty and return, build in the evening. So trust in Allah alone. calamities and disasters
		

			are test, and they're a sign of a lost love for a person. They're like a medicine, even though it is
bitter. Yet in spite of its bitterness, you still give it to the one whom you love.
		

			The greater reward comes with the greatest trials. When Allah loves the person, He'll test them.
Whoever accepts that wins is pleasure. But whoever is discontent with that earns his wrath. And this
is a hadith in Sahih. In the book of Deuteronomy, the law also says a suitable backer is number 216.
He says and it may be that you dislike a thing which is good for you, and that you like a thing
which is bad for you. Allah knows but you do not know. Even the mere Mullah said, a calamity that
makes you turn to Allah is better for you than a blessing which makes you forget the remembrance of
Allah Subhan Allah This is such a big
		

			Beautiful advice My dear sisters and brothers, we all face trials and tribulations. But the next
time we're going through something which we can't get our head around, we need to remember for Allah
It's nothing. And all we have to do all he has to Allah has to say is me and that is Allahu Akbar.
Which means let's put our trust in Allah and move forward having hope and faith and knowing that
inshallah he'll get us through it. does Allah heijden salaam alaikum warahmatullahi wabarakatuh