The Parrot's Plight: A Tale of Temperance and Repentance
A grocer learns a harsh lesson about patience and the value of forgiveness after a moment of anger silences his beloved parrot.
Once upon a time, in a bustling marketplace, there lived a grocer who owned a magnificent green parrot. This parrot was no ordinary bird; it possessed a melodious voice that could charm the most hardened heart and an eloquence that rivalled the wisest scholars. The parrot served as both a delightful companion and a vigilant guardian of the grocer's shop. It kept watch throughout the day, engaging customers with its amiable chatter and enchanting songs, thereby boosting the grocer's sales and bringing barakah (blessings) to his business.
One afternoon, as the grocer returned home for a midday meal, he entrusted the shop to the parrot's care. During his absence, a cat darted into the shop, chasing a mouse. The sudden commotion startled the parrot, and in its frantic attempt to escape, it inadvertently knocked several bottles of precious almond oil from the shelves. The oil cascaded onto the floor, creating a slippery mess and coating the parrot's vibrant plumage.
Shortly thereafter, the grocer returned to find his shop in disarray. The floor was slick with oil, and the parrot sat perched in a corner, its feathers ruffled and its expression crestfallen. In a moment of uncontrolled anger, the grocer struck the bird on the head with considerable force. The parrot, already burdened by guilt and shame over its clumsiness, could not bear the pain and humiliation. It immediately lost all the feathers on its head, and from that moment forward, it ceased to speak or sing.
The grocer soon realised the gravity of his actions. He had not only lost his cheerful companion but had also jeopardised his thriving business. Overwhelmed by regret, he lamented his rash behaviour, wishing he had broken his own hand instead. He felt as though he had squandered a ni'mah (blessing) from Allah.
Consumed by remorse, the grocer began to give alms to every poor darvish (Sufi mendicant) who passed by his shop, hoping that through these acts of charity, he might be forgiven and his parrot would regain its mesmerizing voice. He understood the importance of tawbah (repentance) and sought to atone for his transgression.
After three days and nights of anguish and repentance, a stroke of fate occurred. A bald darvish entered the shop, and to everyone's astonishment, the parrot suddenly spoke.
"Did you spill bottles of almond oil too?" it asked.
"Darling little parrot," said one of the customers compassionately, "never equate one action with another. One must never compare oneself to others even though they may appear to be the same on the surface; truly nothing is as it seems!"
The customers in the shop were amused and smiled at the parrot, who had innocently assumed that the bald man had suffered the same misfortune as itself. The grocer, witnessing this miraculous return of speech, was filled with renewed hope and understood that Allah is indeed the Most Merciful, the Oft-Forgiving. This incident served as a poignant reminder of the importance of patience, forgiveness, and the value of every creature, great and small, in the eyes of Allah.