THE BLESSED NECKLACE

Feb 27, '13 11:34 AM for everyone

A pale and dusty old man came into the mosque. He was clad in rags. He went to the Prophet and in three short sentences explained his circumstances:

"Oh Prophet of God, I am hungry, give me food. "I am clothless, give me clothes. "I am without means, help me!" The Prophet (S.A.) told him, "I have nothing in hand. Go to my daughter's house. She will help you. The house of Fatima was near and one of the Prophet's companions led the old man to it. The old man knocked at the door.

”Who is it?"

"I'm a hungry person, I'm clothless, I'm without means, be kind and generous to me, God will be kind and generous to you.

Fatima took from her neck the necklace given to her by her cousin and gave it to the old man saying. "Sell this  necklace and spend the money. I hope that in the future you will be free of need."

The poor man returned happily. The Prophet was still in the mosque. The old man showed the necklace and said, "Oh Prophet, your daughter, Fatima, gave me her necklace to sell."

One of the Prophet's friends, Ammar ibn Yasir, heard what the old man said and asked him what price he wanted.

The old man said that he would sell it for enough food to satisfy his hunger, enough cloth to clothe his body, and enough money to get home.

Ammar said, "I buy this necklace from you, "for a meal of bread and meat, "clothes of Yemenite cloth, "a four- footer' to take you home, "and, in addition, eight dinars of gold and 200 dirhams of silver."

Ammar then took the old man home and paid him the price of the necklace.

The old man ate the food, put on the clothes and went on his way satisfied and happy.

Then Ammar put perfume on the necklace, wrapped it up in a piece of cloth and ordered his slave, "Go to the Prophet of God. I have given you and this necklace to him."

The slave went to the Prophet and delivered Ammar's message.

The Holy Prophet looked at the necklace and said, "And I have given you and the necklace to my daughter."

The slave went to Holy Fatima and told her what the Prophet had said and presented the necklace. Fatima thanked him and said, "And in the path of God, I have freed you. You are not a slave anymore!"

That man, the slave, became very happy and with joy and surprise said, "What a blessed necklace!

"It satisfied hunger, "clothed the body. "Bestowed means in place of helplessness, "mounted the walker, "freed the slave, "and finally returned to its owner!"

The Holy Prophet of Islam and his followers strove hard to combat slavery and were continually freeing slaves, whatever the price. Thus, in Islam, the freeing of slaves is counted amongst the highest acts of worship, and, in some circumstances, is even considered obligatory.