Just as the Prophet (S.A.W.), and his companions landed from their rides, and laid the loads down, it was decided that they would sacrifice a lamb for dinner. One of the companions volunteered: "I will sacrifice the lamb." Another: "I will skin it." Third: "I will cook it." Fourth: " I will...." The Prophet (S.A.W.): "I will gather the wood from the desert." The group: "O Messenger of Allah, it is not becoming of you to discomfort yourself as such. You rest. We will be honored to do all this on our own." The Prophet (S.A.W.): "I know that you are eager to do it all, but Allah isn't pleased with the slave who distinguishes between himself and his companions, and considers himself better than others." Then he went to the desert, and gathered some wood, and brought it to the group. Tying the Camel The caravan had been traveling for few hours now. Signs of fatigue were obvious on their faces. They arrived at a point and stopped. The Prophet (S.A.W.) who was also in the caravan, stopped the camel, and landed. Prior to anything, they were in search of water to prepare for prayer. The Prophet (S.A.W.) also started searching for water. But soon, returned to his camel, without saying anything to anyone. The companions were surprised that the Prophet (S.A.W.) had ordered stopping here, and now perhaps he would like to move again? Eyes and ears were awaiting his order. But the surprise of the group increased as they saw him approach his camel, and tied its knees, and returned back in search of water. Noises were raised from every corner: " O Prophet of Allah! Why didn't you order us to do this for you, and instead you put yourself in discomfort? We would have proudly done that service for you." The Prophet (S.A.W.) responded: "Never seek others' help in your affairs, don't lean on others, even if it is a small piece of Miswak (the wood used for brushing teeth)." Telling the Truth Telling the truth is a very good habit. If you always speak the truth, you can save yourself from a lot of trouble! Here is a story of a man who did a lot of bad things, but his promise to tell the truth saved him. Once a man came to the prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.) and said, "Oh prophet of Allah, I have many bad habits. Which one of them should I give up first?" The prophet said, "Give up telling lies first and always speak the truth." The man promised to do so and went home. At night the man was about to go out to steal. Before setting out, he thought for a moment about the promise he made with the prophet. "If tomorrow the prophet asks me where have I been, what shall I say? Shall I say that I went out stealing? No, I cannot say that. But nor can I lie. If I tell the truth, everyone will start hating me and call me a thief. I would be punished for stealing." So the man decided not to steal that night, and gave up this bad habit. Next day, he felt like drinking wine, when he was about to do so, he said to himself, "What shall I say to the prophet if he asks me what did I do during the day? I cannot tell a lie, and if I speak the truth people will hate me, because a Muslim is not allowed to drink wine." And so he gave up the idea of drinking wine. In this way, whenever the man thought of doing something bad, he remembered his promise to tell the truth at all times. One by one, he gave up all his bad habits and became a good Muslim and a very good person. If you always speak the truth, you can be a good person, a good Muslim whom Allah likes and favors. If Allah - our Creator - is pleased with us, He will reward us with HEAVEN, which is a place of happiness and joy. Make a promise: I shall always speak the truth. The Distressed Young Man Holy Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.) recited his morning Salat (Prayer) in the mosque along with other people. By this time, it was becoming bright and the people could be clearly seen. At this moment, the Prophet (S.A.W.) saw a young man whose condition seemed to be not normal. His head could not rest properly on his body and was continuously moving this way and that way. The Prophet (S.A.W.) looked at his face that had become pale; his eyes had gone deep into his face. His body had become thin and lean. He asked him: "In what condition are you?" "I am in the condition of certainty, O Messenger of Allah (S.A.W.)". Replied the young man. "Every certainty has got some symptoms which indicate its truth; what is the symptom of your certainty?" My certainty is the one, which is associated with my misery. In the nights, it has taken away my sleep; and I pass the days with thirst. I have turned my back from the comforts of this world and have turned my face towards the other side. It is like this that I am seeing the Empyrean of Allah on the Day of Judgment and similarly I also see the resurrection of the whole of the creation of Allah. It is as if I am seeing the people in Heaven in pleasure and the people in Hell in severe torment. It is as if the deadly noise of the flames of the Hell-fire is just now ringing in my ears." Prophet (S.A.W.) turned his face towards the people and said: "He is a worshipper of Allah whose heart has been illuminated by the light of faith." Then he (S.A.W.) turned towards the young man and said: "keep up this good state of yours for yourself." The young man said: "O Messenger of Allah (S.A.W.)! Pray that Allah gives me an opportunity for Jihad (holy war) and bless me with SHAHADAH (martyrdom) in the right path." The Prophet (S.A.W.) prayed. It did not take long when an opportunity arose for Jihad and that young man participated in that Jihad. The tenth person who got martyred in that war was none other than this young man.