The mother’s desire
Usama bin Zayd, who lived in Madina in the reign of Uthman, the third Caliph, wasvery fond of his mother. He loved her very much, so much so that he did everything possible toplease her, and to serve her and bring her joy and comfort. If his mother asked him for anything,Usama would get it for her without a second thought.But one day, something that Usama’s mother asked for created a problem.‘Bring me a drink of juice from the trunk of that palm tree, Usama’, his mother said.Usama hesitated. Usually, he went away at once to do his mother’s bidding, but this timehe remained where he was, shifting anxiously from one foot to the other.‘Why do you delay, Usama?’ his mother wanted to know. ‘I asked you for a drink...’Usama nodded. ‘I know you did, Mother, but... palm trees are our most precious possession herein Madina, and if I take some of its juice, it will lose its value. The tree could even becomebarren, and bear no more fruit for al long time to come, if ever...’What Usama said was quite correct. The people in Madina greatly valued their palm trees,and their delicious dates, and they made their living from the fruit of these trees. Recently,because much wealth had come to Madina, the prices of palm trees were rising: many peoplewere able to pay high prices, so naturally the owners of palm trees asked high prices for them. Theprice had risen so high, in fact, that one palm tree could cost at least a thousand dirhams.’I do not want to damage such a valuable tree’, Usama thought miserable to himself. ‘Yet, I love mymother very much, so how can I refuse her the juice of the palm tree, even though it will damageit?’The answer was that he could not refuse. So, his mind made up, Usama took out a sharp knife andwent into the garden. Without another thought he sank the blade of the knife in the trunk of thepalm tree. The juice began to flow out at once.There were several people passing by Usama’s house at this time, and they stopped in their trackswith amazement when they saw what he was doing.‘he is spoiling that precious palm tree!’ they muttered to each other. ‘Has Usama gone mad?’The people were so concerned that they came into the garden and crowded round Usama as hestood by the palm, collecting the juice.‘What do you think you are doing, Usama?’ cried one man, rather angrily.‘You have ruined this palm tree... it is very precious and ought not to be used like this!’ criedanother.Another man became quite furious and began shouting at Usama: ‘Have you gone mad,Usama’ he said in a very angry voice. ‘This tree is valuable... it costs a great deal of money, andyou are spoiling it!’The people crowded round Usama were getting very heated, and the questions they fired at him weregetting angrier and angrier. But Usama remained perfectly calm, knowing he had done the rightthing, whatever the people said. ‘My mother wants the juice of this tree to drink’, said Usama.‘Nothing is more precious to me than to grant my mother’s wishes. It does not matter thatthe palm tree is valuable. As long as I am able to do so, I will always fulfill my mother’sdesires...’When they heard Usama’s words, the crowd fell silent. Some of the people even began to feel a bitashamed of themselves. For the Blessed Prophet had told them, too, how very important it was toplease one’s parents. However valuable it was, the palm tree was of no importance compared to that.
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