Absolute Justice, Kindness and Kinship — Page 381
— Part IV 372 and when they grow old, whatever the child spends on them is not to be considered as an act of charity but as his duty. He should not think that he is bestowing any favours. In another tradition it is reported that once a person appeared before the Holy Prophet sa and complained that his father was utilizing his earnings as he pleased. At that time the father was also present. The son requested the Holy Prophet sa to stop his father from interfering in his affairs. The father remained silent and did not once utter a single word. The Holy Prophet sa detected the signs of sorrow in his eyes and encouraged him to say what was in his heart. In response, the father recited some verses of an Arabic poem which are translated as follows: O Prophet of Allah! When he was young and could not walk, I carried him in my arms and moved him from place to place, as though I had become his legs. When he was an infant and felt hunger and he did not have the strength to pick up the milk by his side, I picked it up on his behalf and held it for him to drink. O Prophet of Allah! When he was young, there was no strength in his arms to defend himself, I defended him and taught him archery. Now O my master, when he has learnt the art of archery, he is aiming his arrows at me! When the Holy Prophet sa heard this he was overwhelmed with emotion. He caught the son by his