"Ask from Allah.....

A woman's shopping bag tore open, and a red apple fell out of it, dropped onto the road, and began to roll. The woman immediately managed the bag. My motorcycle was behind their motorcycle; they were probably husband and wife, going home after buying apples. The husband was riding the motorcycle while the wife was sitting with the bag of apples in her lap. The bag tore, and one apple slipped out and started rolling on the road...

The road was crowded, with dozens of cars, motorcycles, and bicycles passing by. I felt that the apple would surely get crushed under some tire, but dodging every vehicle and every tire, the apple moved forward swiftly and rolled to the side of the road. There was a small bridge (culvert) at the roadside, and a beggar was sitting on it. Rolling along, the apple came near the beggar and bounced like a ball right into his reach. The beggar snatched the apple, rubbed it clean against his dirty and soiled shirt, and began to crunch away at it. He was also looking towards the sky and smiling...

I stopped my motorcycle, greeted him (said Salaam), and asked him, 'How did this apple reach you?' The beggar burst into laughter and said, 'Just a moment ago, I had complained to Allah, saying, O Almighty, it has been ages since Your servant last ate an apple; if You show mercy, I too could taste the apple of the passing season. And then, I don’t know where this apple came from, but it bounced right into my hand!' After that, the beggar began to express his gratitude (Shukr). Tears welled up in my eyes; I shook hands with the beggar and went on my way. This incident was more than enough to open my eyes..."