The Lantern in the Night
In a small village surrounded by date palms and sand, there lived a boy named Hassan. He was twelve years old, bright-eyed, and curious about the world. His father was a farmer who worked hard in the scorching sun, and his mother often told him stories of the Prophets at night. Hassan loved those stories; they lit a flame in his heart that no darkness could extinguish.
One evening, while sitting near the village masjid, Hassan heard the Imam telling the people:
“Whoever removes a hardship from his brother, Allah will remove a hardship from him on the Day of Judgment. And whoever brings light into the life of another, Allah will bring light into his grave.”
These words sank deep into Hassan’s heart. He wondered, What can I, a young boy, do to bring light into someone’s life?
That night, after praying ‘Isha with his father, Hassan noticed an old man sitting outside his small hut. The man’s name was Abdullah, a blind weaver. He was known to be kind but lived alone with no family left. Often, Hassan saw him struggling to walk in the dark when he wanted to reach the masjid for Fajr prayer. The path was rough, full of stones and thorns.
Hassan thought, If only I could make his way easier.
The next day, instead of playing with the other boys, Hassan searched the village for scraps of wood and clay. From his father’s tools, he borrowed a small hammer and nails. Slowly, with determination, he built a wooden post. From his mother, he requested some oil. “What are you doing, Hassan?” she asked.
“I want to build a lantern for Abdullah so he can walk safely at night,” he replied.
His mother smiled warmly, kissed his forehead, and said, “May Allah bless your heart, my son.”
By the time the sun had set, Hassan had placed the post near Abdullah’s path and hung a simple lantern on it. He lit it with a small flame, and for the first time, the dark path glowed. That evening, Abdullah came out of his hut, tapping the ground with his stick. He stopped suddenly, sensing the glow.
“Who put this here?” he asked, his voice trembling.
“It’s me, Hassan,” the boy said shyly. “I thought you might need some light.”
Tears rolled down the old man’s cheeks. He raised his hands and prayed, “O Allah, illuminate this boy’s life in both worlds as he has illuminated mine.”
Word spread across the village about what Hassan had done. Inspired, other villagers began placing lanterns on different paths, making the nights brighter for travelers, the elderly, and children alike. The simple act of one boy lit up the whole village.
Years passed, and Hassan grew into a righteous man. He never forgot the hadith he had heard that night, nor the prayer of Abdullah. Whenever life became heavy with trials, he remembered the lantern and how a small deed done sincerely for Allah could spread more goodness than he could imagine.
On his final days, Hassan was often found smiling softly, whispering, “A little light in the dark can guide many hearts.”
And indeed, when he was laid to rest, the villagers felt as though his grave itself shone with a gentle light — a reminder that Allah never lets a sincere deed go unrewarded.
