There are two very spiritual neighboring shepherds who live on the opposite sides of the Kashmir border. 

One is a devout Muslim, the other a faithful Hindu. 

One morning they realize that they were both robbed of one goat the night before. 

Being faithful men, they both went into their homes and prayed about what happened. 

The Hindu meditated and prayed that thief would be spared and forgiven for his sin 

The Muslim man prayed that Allah would forgive the thief and that Allah would have mercy on him, as he was a humble shepherd who was a devout Muslim, both in prayers and fasting.

A month went by and both men tried to forget the incident. 

Then one night, very late in the evening, while the Muslim man was up praying a special prayer, he heard rustling outside his door and went to see what it was. 

He hurried to his doorway and saw a man climbing his neighbor’s fence and trying to steal his goats. 

The Muslim man thanked Allah and said, "Allahu Akbar!" because he was so happy to catch the man in the very act of theft. 

The Muslim man ran to the thief and surprised him, then bound him quickly both by his hands and feet. 

In great fear, the thief confessed that he had also previously stolen both of the men's goats so that he could provide for his starving family. The thief begged for forgiveness from the Muslim man. 

 

 

The Muslim man decided he would make it so that this thief would never steal from him or his neighbors ever again, so he readied his knife and prepared to chop off the thief's hands. 

As the Muslim man was about to bring his blade down the Hindu man came out of his house screaming and running, "Stop! Stop this at once!" he exclaimed. 

The Muslim man stopped and explained that this was the same thief that previously stole their goats, and that he had caught him once again in the very act of stealing from the Hindu man, and that he was thankful to Allah for delivering this thief into his hands again so he could prevent him from ever stealing from anyone again. 

The Hindu man untied the thief and told him to run as fast as he could, as far away as he could.

The Muslim man was furious and yelled at his neighbor, "We had him! Allah had delivered this thief into our hands and you let him go!?"

The Hindu man replied, "The first time he stole our goats I meditated and prayed that he be truly forgiven, because I know how this Universe works, I am aware of the law of Karma, and I know he will not get away with what he did. I do not want to see him punished, by me or by anyone or anything else for what he has done - that is what forgiveness is to me. And then I myself tried to forget it had happened. What did you do?"

The Muslim man replied, "I prayed the same as you and know all the same things that you do - we are both wise and spiritual men. The only difference is that I really believe that Allah and his angels protect me and watch my interests. I believe that Allah caused the man to be delivered into my hands this second time, maybe even on your behalf! And why aren't you even upset? I caught him in the very act stealing from you this time!?"

 

Now tell me, who really and truly forgave the thief? 


- Adam Josh 
20/07/2015