[THE TWO BARGAINS] UNIT: 7

Pre-Reading:

• Look at the picture and predict what the lesson is about? 

   Reading:

                  Arabia is a desert land where water is scarce. Even if water is found it is not always suitable for drinking. In olden days people had to travel long distances to fetch water and sometimes they had to remain without it for a day or even more . When Hazrat Muhammad SAW migrated to Medina, there was only one well of sweet water in town. It was called Bair-e-Roma . The well was owned by a jew who sold its water at a high price. The companions of the Rasool SAW were generally poor and found it hard to get water. One day they came to Hazrat Muhammad S.A.W and apprised him about their condition. Hazrat Muhammad SAW was sitting in Masjid at that time and many of his SAW companions were there too. He looked around and said,"Is there anyone here who would like to purchase paradise for himself in return for Baire Roma?Hazrat Usman R.A stood up and went out quietly. 

         He went to the jew and offered to buy the well from him. The Jew did not agree to sell it first but then he thought it to be more profitable to make Hazrat Usman R.A a partner as he was a rich businessman. He,therefore,agreed to sell half of his share in the well to Hazrat Usman R.A for twelve thousand dirhams(silver coins). It was agreed that Hazrat Usman R.A would receive all the income from the well for one day and the Jew for the next . Hazrat Usman R.A returned to the Masjid and offered his share in the well to Hazrat Muhammad S.A.W.. It was proclaimed in Medina that every one could carry as much water free of cost ,as he/she liked,on the day appointed for Hazrat Usman's generosity and carried enough water to last for the next day as well.

 

The jew learnt a bitter lesson. Whereas he had hoped to make more money,he made none at all. He went to Hazrat Usman R.A and offered to sell the other half of the well also. Hazrat Usman R.A R.A could have refused to buy it,for the Muslims had no longer any difficulty,but such was his generosity that he paid the jew whatever he asked for his share . The well was dedicated as an endowment to the people of Madina. The well exists in Medina to this day and is known as Baire Usman Or Usman's well.

During the days of Caliph Umar RA famine broke out in Arabia. Hazrat Umar RA was greatly distressed. He did all he could to lesson the hardships of the people. All the food that was brought into Madina was purchased by the Caliph for the Bait-ul-mal and distributed among the people. One day he learnt that a thousand camel-load of flour belonging to Hazrat Usman R.A had reached Madina. Hazrat Umar RA went to him straight...........to buy the entire stock from him at 25%profit.

Hazrat Usman R.A,however turned down the offer and said,"I have another buyer who is offering me much more." The Caliph said,"I can offer you 50% profit". Hazrat Usman R.A still declined. Hazrat Umar RA raised his offer to 100%but Hazrat Usman R.A didn't agree and said ,"I have a buyer who is offering me even more. The Caliph offered to pay three times the price of the flour,then four times and even five times . Hazrat Usman R.A rejected all these offers. Hazrat Umar RA got up angrily and said ,"Usman R.A,why have you become so hard hearted now,whereas you used to be generous in the days of HazratMuhammad SAW. He answered ,"I am only doing business and I would sell my goods to the one who would give me the greatest profit."The Caliph raised his offer higher and higher until he was willing to pay nine times the price of the flour as profit.

Hazrat Usman R.A then stood up calmly and said,"Umar R.A,I have already sold my stock . The buyer is Allah who has promised to pay me at least ten times the price as profit and may raise it to seventy or even seven hundred times.Go and distribute the flour among the people in the name of Allah. 'The Caliph was so touched by the generosity of Hazrat Usman R.A thar he wept . He then  embraced him and begged forgiveness for the harsh words he had used earlier. Then it was distributed among the people happily and generously.