One day, a very pious man was walking through the desert when he became extremely thirsty. He found a well, but there was no bucket to draw water. Just then, he saw a dog approaching the well, panting and licking the dry ground due to thirst.
The man felt deep sympathy for the animal. He removed his shoe, tied it with his turban, and lowered it into the well to fetch water. He then gave the dog water with his own hands, saving its life.
Allah was so pleased with this act of kindness that He forgave all the man’s past sins. When the Companions of the Prophet (PBUH) heard this, they asked, “O Messenger of Allah, will we be rewarded for showing kindness to animals?”
The Prophet (PBUH) replied:
“Yes, there is a reward for serving every living creature.” (Sahih Bukhari)
Moral of the Story:
This incident teaches us that mercy and kindness to animals are highly rewarded in Islam. Even small good deeds, done sincerely for Allah’s sake, can lead to great blessings and forgiveness.