A worshiper embarked on a 40-day spiritual retreat to visit and commune with God. He observed fasting during the day and engaged in nightly prayers. He’s staying in a place of worship for a certain number of days, engage in acts of worship, he was not connected with God’s creation, and he spent all his time in mourning and in secret with gods only.
On the 36th night, the preacher came to him and said: “Go to the copper market tomorrow evening, find a certain Coppersmith’s shop, and your wish might be fulfilled.”
The worshiper, following the guidance, reached the market in time, navigating through its narrow lanes to locate the Coppersmith’s shop. He explained, “I saw an old woman holding a copper jug, and she was showing it to every Coppersmith in the market.”
she wanted to sell it, the Coppersmith she would show the pot to would weigh it and say that she would get 4 Rials – increased. She said she will sell it for 6 Rials – No Coppersmith was willing to give her more than 4 Rials – Finally she reached a Coppersmith.
The Coppersmith was busy with his work. I have brought it and will sell it for 6 Rials, will you give 6 Rials? The Coppersmith asked why only 6 Rials? The old woman told her heart and said: My son is sick, Doctor has written a prescription for him which costs 6 Rials. The Coppersmith took the pot and said: Mother, this pot is very good and valuable. If you want to sell it, I will buy it for 30 Rials!! The old woman said: Are you kidding me?!!! “No way,” he said, “I will indeed give 30 Rials” – after saying this, he took the pot and put 30 Rials in the old woman’s hand!!! The old woman was very surprised and hurried towards her house praying.
I was watching all this incident, when she went away, I said to the copper shop owner: Uncle, I think you don’t know business?!! More or less all the coppersmiths in the market used to weigh this pot and no one priced it more than 4 Rials. And you bought it for 30 riyals…
The old Coppersmith said: I didn’t buy the pot, I gave him money to buy his child’s prescription, I took care of his sick child for a week. I have given money for it, I gave him this price so that he would not have to sell the rest of the house.
The preacher says: “No one can attain the honor of God’s visitation through ritualistic worship. If you want to reach him, extend your hand to those in need and the poor. He will come to you in the guise of the destitute and the downtrodden.”
The worshiper, enlightened by this divine lesson, realized that true spiritual fulfillment lay not in isolated rituals but in compassionate deeds toward the needy and the poor.
