In

the ancient time, in one of the far country, there was a ruler who didnt used to like old people. He used to say: the old arent able to work rather they just sit, eat, and rest, and other than them work, labor, and produce... Therefore, I decided to expel them all from the country. So, the people of the country carried out the order of the ruler out of fear from his severe punishment. However, a young brave smart man whose name is Baasem did not pay attention to the order of the ruler and his heart did not consent to expelling his father. He hid him in a secret place in the house. The solders of the ruler came to the village a few times. They searched for the old people but they never found his old father.

And the ruler had a beautiful daughter. He wanted to give her in marriage but he wanted to choose the smartest young man in the country for her. So, the young men learned of the news and they started to go to the palace of the ruler. The ruler gathered them and said to them: I will give my daughter in marriage with him who knows the answers to three questions. Leave for now. However, you must gather here in the palace tomorrow before Fajr in order for me to see who amongst you is able to know the time of sunrise before others. So, Baasem returned to his father in the house and sought his advice. Thus, the old father said: This is not a dicult matter. Tomorrow, all young men would look at the direction of the east. However, you must turn around to the opposite side and look at the highest pick from the picks of the mountains. In this way, you would be able to see the light of the sun before everyone.

Because it will rst shine on the pick of the mountain. Therefore, you will announce the sunrise before them. So, Baasem did what his old father told him. However, everyone made fun of him when they say that he is looking at the opposite direction of the place from which the sun rises. In spite of that when the rst ray of red light appeared on the pick of the high mountain, Baasem shouted before everyone: (O my master! The sun is in its way to the rise this very moment). And after few seconds, the sun rose. The ruler was surprised from Baasems brightness. Therefore, he mentioned his second question to the present young men at the palace.

The ruler said: who from amongst you is able to attend the palace tomorrow not barefooted nor wearing shoe. Baasem went to his old father and sought his advice. The father said: This matter is simple also. It is upon you, O my son, to remove the sole of your shoe. And you should wear the shoe without sole. And in this way, you wont be barefooted nor would you be wearing shoe. Thus, Baasem attended the palace wearing shoe without sole. The appearance of other young men were funny. Some of them wore torn apart socks from which the ngers of the feet came out while others wore shoes lled with holes. Nonetheless, everyone made fun of Baasem as they look at him while he is wearing his shoe.

However, when he raised his feet, it became clear to the attendees that he was standing on the ground barefooted despite the fact that he is wearing the shoe. The ruler became happy from his smartness and his good trick. The ruler said: You are brilliant O Baasem. You have carried out the request completely. Thereafter, the ruler announced his third and last request. Thus, he said: You must come to the palace tomorrow while you decorated your clothes with the best ower. Baasem left for home. While on the way, he started to collect all that he saw from beautiful owers. He gathered jasmine and yaasmeen owers and some roses. Thereafter, he went to his father to seek the advice.

The old father said: Listen O my son, the grasses were in the world for a long time. I do not know anything better than the spike of the wheat. Also, there are no seeds more benecial than the seeds of wheat. Plus, there is no work more honorable than the farming of the wheat. Whats more, there is no smell better than the fresh bread taken out from the stove. Take a spike of wheat from the eld and attach it on your chest and put your trust in Allah. So, Baasem did what his father advised him with. The young men gathered on the gate of the palace as if the gardens of the world moved there, various colored and smelling owers decorated the chest of the young men. The young men made fun of Baasem as usual and laughed at his wheats spike, which he put on his chest.

However, the ruler looked at everyone then called on the person with the spike (of wheat). And he said: Indeed O Baasem you truly brought the best of the owers of the world. And in this way, you answered my questions with answers that show your smartness and good thinking. You deserve that I marry my only daughter with you. However, at rst tell me from where did you attain such wisdom while you are young in age? Thus, Baasem went toward the ruler with braveness and narrated his story with his old father. The ruler heard Baasems talk and was touched by it. As a result, he learned that he made a mistake when he ordered with the expelling of the old people. So, he brought them back and advised the people to be good to their fathers.

T h e r e a f t e r , B a a s e m m a r r i e d t h e r u l e r s daughter and lived with his beautiful wife and old wise father happily.

What did you learn from the story?

Age is not a number only. Do not

say this to someone older than you ever. Because they have learned much as they grew up. The older one is from you, the more one knows from you in one aspect or the other. has indeed preferred someone older than you to be your leader in the Prayer the 2nd pillar of Islam after the knowledge of the Quraan. Do you think Allah has done this in vain? By Allah! NEVER. rights of those older than you.

If not anything, then learn t h i s :

Allah

So, Fear Allah and safe guard the