Lion, rats, deep pit and honey-drops

[Ruhi_Rose]

As-Salam Alaykum kids.  This is a great moral story.  I hope it will help you to reflect and further strengthen your iman, Insh'Allah.




A man dreamed that a lion was chasing him. He ran, came to a tree, climbed it and sat on a branch. He looked down and saw that the lion was waiting for him. The man then looked to the side of the branch and saw two rats hovering around in a circle and gnawing at the branch. One rat was black and the other was white. The branch would fall on the ground very soon. He nervously looked down again and noticed a deep pit on the ground directly under the branch of the tree he was on, so that he would fall into it.  After that, he looked up and saw another branch with a honeycomb. Drops of honey were falling from it. He wanted to taste a drop of that honey and stuck his tongue out for it.  The honey was delicious.  He wanted to taste another drop and then another and was soon lost in the mesmerizing sweetness of the honey. He forgot about the rats eating his branch away, the lion below waiting to grab him and the deep pit on the ground under him.  Then suddenly as the branch of the tree broke with a crash, he remembered all the dangers.  At that moment, the man awoke, startled and trembling with fright.



It was a very unusual dream and the man was curious about what it meant.  He visited a wise Muslim, narrated his dream and asked if he understood its connections. The wise believer reflected for a while and then mentioned the possible interpretation that seemed right to him.  He said, "The lion you saw was apparently your death. Death always follows us wherever we go. The black rat and the white rat were symbolic of the night and the day, respectively.  The night and day constantly circle around, coming alternately to consume our time and take us closer to death. The deep pit below was obviously your grave waiting for you to fall into it. The honeycomb depicted this world and the sweet drops of honey represented earthly luxuries. Initially we wish to taste a little of this world's luxuries.  It pleases our taste buds so much that we want a bit more, and then more and more.  We become greedy, focused completely on earthly pleasures and heedless of our approaching death and the grave that awaits us."

Moral of the story:  Be discerning.  Do not sell the Hereafter for this fleeting duniya.


Standard theme of moral story partly edited for clarity and improved presentation


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~  Prince and the peasant girl
~  Cinderella Islamic tale
~  Snow White Islamic tale
~  The Wise Vizier
~  Al Naschar's fortune
~  Rapunzel Islamic tale
~  The Believer and the atheist
~  Mole, Rat, Toad and Badger - Wind in the Willows

[Heba E. Husseyn]

Very heart warming.  Sent it to my 2 older kids who have email accounts.  Will narrate it to the others, InshAllah.  Actually the moral of this story needs to be learned more by adults than children. 

Many thanks dear Sis.  It's a beautiful post, Subhan'Allah.

[Ruhi_Rose]

lol ,, absolutely right Sister Heba.  Except for a few snotnosed brattos here n there, it's always the adults who are doused in greed and narcissism.

[Zainab_M]

Very interesting story which teaches a lot, Maash'Allah.  Most people follow Faith so ritualistically that this moral story applies to almost everyone. 

Images are wonderful, especially the one with the guy clinging on to the branch, beehive above him, rats by his side, lion and pit below  great one!
 

[N. Truth Seeker]

Subhan'Allah, the moral of this story is very well illustrated in words as well as in picture.  True it's the grown-ups who indulge in materialism and forget how temporary earthly life is.  But it will help to prepare children not to be forgetful about it as they grow older.  Positive lessons at an impressionable age help to construct a positive foundation.  Otherwise it might get too late.