Sarim and Ali were best friends and both were in the same grade in school, besides being neighbours. Mr Ahmed was their favourite teacher and was also their class teacher. In between is usual subject lectures, he would often give small talks that imparted morality lessons and focused on the teachings of Islam. Not just the whole class, but the whole school loved him.

One day Mr Ahmed was teaching his class about charity and he explained, “Charity does not only come in the monetary form. Any good piece of advice, lending your shoulders to someone in pain, giving your ears to someone in misery who wants to talk or even a smile and a polite conversation are also forms of charity.”

“Sir, is helping someone in studies also a form of charity?” Saud, one of his students asked Mr Ahmed.

“Of course, it is! Solving someone’s problem by any means is charity.”

The whole class was excited by the idea of charity through these simple means and everyone started to implement it in their lives in one way or the other. Days passed by and the exam season was about to start. Everyone got busy and started studying hard. All the students were competing with themselves to do better than their previous results.

One day, Ali got the news that Sarim’s father had passed away. It was quite a sudden death and Sarim was in anguish. Ali went with his family to Sarim’s home. His family offered condolences to Sarim’s family. Ali also got to know that Sarim was unable to pay his examination fee and the next day was the last date of fee submission.

Ali immediately told this to his father and the next day, his father submitted Sarim’s fee so that he could appear in his annual exams without any difficulty. Sarim was overwhelmed by Ali’s gesture.

“I cannot thank you enough Ali,” said Sarim thankfully. Had you not been here, I would have been at a loss.”

“That’s okay, Sarim, we are not just good friends, but also dear neighbours. Don’t worry, you can come to my place daily and together we shall prepare for the exams,” Ali offered.

“Of course, I will. Thank you so much.”

Exams started and soon ended too. Both Ali and Sarim were happy to know that they were among the high achievers. On the result day, Mr Ahmed came with big packs of chocolates, both for Sarim and Ali.

“You both have made me proud! Well done Ali, your kindness held my head high.”

That day Mr Ahmed appreciated both Sarim and Ali in front of the whole school with special applause for Ali for being such a great support for Sarim in his difficult time.

“Remember children, little acts of kindness are the purest form of charity. The good you do today, go a long way and will be returned to you both in this world and the Hereafter,” everyone clapped loudly as Mr Ahmed gave his concluding remarks at the annual prize distribution ceremony of the school.

Published in Dawn, Young World, December 23rd, 2023