لطفا منتظر باشید ...
The Race
That afternoon, it was agreed that
we would all walk
from our school to a nearby village
famous for its flowers.
The plan was that we would race
each other.
The whole class
was ready.
We were supposed to
reach the mosque of the
village before sunset.
The mosque
of that village was built
near a tall tree and the mosque's
minaret was also very tall; we
could see it from our own village.
We were all waiting for our sports
teacher to announce
the start of the race.
When he
did so, we quickly set off.
Some
of the boys ran, others said that
at the beginning it was better
to walk.
We were happy and merrily
we chatted amongst
ourselves.
On the way, we came
to a stream that flowed from
the same village we were going
to.
We became very happy and
sat down at the side of the stream
to wash ourselves and drink
some of its fresh, cool water.
"Children", our teacher called
out loudly, "if you are
thirsty and want to drink, don't
drink too much.
Otherwise you might get a stomach-ache
and lag
behind."
Upon hearing this, those of us
who are bright and alert
left the side of the stream and
continued our walk.
But some
of us said that they were very
thirsty, and that if they didn't
quench their thirsts they wouldn't
be able to go on.
So they
decided to drink a few handfuls
more.
Our teacher was running harder
than all of us.
Slowly,
slowly the sun began to set.
Our
teacher was the first to reach
the mosque of that village.
I and
some of my friends also
reached the mosque before the sun
had completely set.
The following morning the teacher
announced the
winners.
"Dear children", he said, "yesterday
these pupils tried
very hard and are the winners of
the race.
Today I am going to
give them their prizes and you
should congratulate them.
"This world is also a competition
ground.
We all
struggle and race each other.
Our
race is in good deeds and in
helping and working for others.
"Those who succeed in this race
are those who give more
benefit to God's servants and worship
God the best.
God
gives these people a prize and
reward in the Hereafter, and
puts them in Heaven.
"However, those who do not strive
in doing good deeds
and turn to ugly, unworthy deeds
will be ashamed of their
ugly deeds in the Hereafter and
will regret them bitterly.
They
will not go to Heaven but will
go to Hell and receive the
recompense of their ugly deeds.
"Those who do good and those who
do bad are not the
same before God.
God recompenses
each person according
to the goodness or badness of that
person's deeds.
"If God didn't give to those who
do good a beautiful,
eternal reward, what would induce
us to do good deeds9
"And if God didn't punish those
who do bad deeds,
what would be the difference between
them and those
who do good?"
Life Eternal
The light of Spring falls on the
park,
With the passing of winter-the
season of dark.
Branches in bud, once more glowing,
Violets by the stream, once more
growing.
Sitting there, so beautifully arrayed,
Under the willow tree, in its shade.
God, the Creator, with his power,
gives existence, once again, to
the flower.
To the dead earth, where nothing
grows,
a fresh, new life, He bestows.
Our death is for our bodies but
autumnal,
The Resurrection is our spring
and life eternal.
The just reward of each sinner
and liar,
Is the darkness of Hell, the pain
of its fire.
While the rewards of those who
do good and right,
are the joys of Heaven, and Celestial
Light.
