It was a day of celebration and a day of rejoicing. There was an air of festivity in the streets of Medina. All the people, both the young and the old were dressed in their best clothes, especially for this special day of Eid.
As it was time for the Eid prayer, everyone made their way to an open piece of land on the outskirt of the city.
The Prophet(saw), arrived and led the prayers. After they had finished, they all greeted eachother and everyone was walking back home. The children, running and playing in excitement, smiling and laughing, without a care in the world.
As the Prophet(saw), walked back home, he suddenly became aware of a little boy (Zuhair bin Saghir), sitting by himself on the side of the road.
The little boy was crying and looked very sad. The Prophet (saw), bent down and patted him on the shoulders and asked” why are you crying? Please leave me alone sobbed the little boy.
The boy didn’t even see who was talking to him. The Prophet (saw), ran his fingers through the boy’s hair and very gently and kindly asked him again, why he was crying? This time, the boy said, ” My father was martyred fighting, and now my mother has remarried again, and my stepfather does not want me to live at home any more.
Today is Eid and everyone is happy. All the children have new clothes and nice things to eat, but I don’t have any clothes except what am wearing. I have no food and I don’t even have a place to live.
The Prophet(saw), said to him, I know how you feel, I lost both my mother and father when I was a little boy. The boy was surprised to hear that it was an orphan who was comforting him, and when he looked up to his great surprise, it was the blessed Prophet(saw), and he immediately jumped up to his feet out of love and respect.
The Prophet(saw), said to him, ” if I were to become your new father and Aisha my wife your new mother and Fatima my daughter your new sister, would that make you feel better? Oh yes, that would be the best thing in the world. The boy started smiling.
The Prophet(saw), took him home and gave him new clothes and food on this beautiful day of Eid. The boy indeed had a wonderful Eid that day.
Ganiyu Oyebanjo
Senior Special Assistant On Religious Matters to Kosofe Local Government Chairman
Chairmanship Aspirant Kosofe Local Government