August 7, 2004

It was almost midnight. The cold was at its peak. Everyone was asleep except a little child who was washing dishes in the kitchen. His name was Salman. He was made to wash dishes as a punishment by his cruel aunt, because he had broken a glass. Salman wept as he remembered the past golden days — the days when he lived with his parents. He was the beloved only son of his parents. Everyone loved him very much and all his desires were fulfilled. His father was a rich businessman and every luxury of life was at his hands.

But time does not always remain the same. One day, his parents had a dreadful road accident. Their car collided with a speedy truck. They both died, leaving Salman at the mercy of his uncle and aunt. Salman’s aunt was a cruel woman.

Initially, they were good to Salman, but after a few days, their attitude turned callous towards him. His uncle took over all his father’s property, not leaving a single penny for him. Now Salman was living like a servant at his uncle’s house. He washed clothes and dishes, swept floors and also bore the agony inflicted upon him by his aunt. He was anguished. Every night, he wept and prayed to God, raising his small hands for help.

One day, when he was washing dishes, an expensive dish slipped from his hands and broke. When his aunt saw this, she got infuriated and slapped him continuously. Then she took a hot iron and burned his arm. He screamed in pain but nobody heard him. He fell unconscious and yet, he was kept hungry throughout the day. He finally decided to leave that house.

That night, he quietly stepped out of the gate. It was chilly outside. He started walking along the road with a mixed feeling of pain, sadness and perplexity. The only question in his mind was ‘Where to go?’ Deep in his thoughts, he didn’t see the car coming down the street. The driver hit the breaks, but still the car hit him and he fell down. The driver quickly took him to the hospital. God saved his life, and after a few days’ treatment, he was discharged from the hospital.

That man (the driver of the car) took Salman to his house. His name was Haneef and he was a very nice man. He lived with his wife but had no child of his own. He kept Salman with him. Both, Haneef and his wife loved Salman. Haneef admitted him in a school. Salman started working hard at his studies and developed a desire to be a doctor. This desire had arisen first when he had been in the hospital and had seen the doctors serving him and other patients with dedication.

Time went on and at last, the day came when he became a doctor. He was kind hearted and sincere to his occupation. He loved the poor and the needy and gave special attention to his patients.

One day, when he was on duty in the hospital, the ambulance arrived with victims of a severe accident, a man and a woman. There was no other doctor available at that time so Salman was called to check in on them. When he saw the faces of the victims, he was astounded. They were none other than his cruel uncle and aunt! The agonizing memories of his past returned to him. It was a good time for him to take revenge. But despite this, he treated them and did all he could to save their lives.

When they came to know that doctor Salman is their nephew whom they had tortured so much, they felt mortified. They wept and begged forgiveness for their cruel behaviour. Salman open-heartedly forgave them, as he knew the teachings of Allah and the Holy Prophet (Peace be upon him) that forgiveness is far better than vengeance.

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