Blessed mother

Blessed mother

Translation: Makbule E. Dündar

Imam  Hasan al Basri saw a young man who was circumambulating Kaaba with  pannier basket on his back. There was an old woman in that tall basket which made of wicker… He was young strong enough to carry her.
Hassan al Basri came closer to him and asked:
“Hi young man! Who is that an old woman you are carrying ?
Young man replied:
She  is my mother, we were poor but now we could find possibility to come  here, this holy place but my mother has walking difficulties recently  so I’m helping her to circumambulate Kaaba. I know that she did many things for me and I wonder if I can pay back with doing this? Imam Hasan al Basri answered with annoyed voice:
You !  How you can dare to think ‘pay back’ ? Even you brought her to here 70  times, it will not be equal with one of your kicking while you were in  her belly.
You will never do enough to pay back, all your life, not possible. Just forget about it !!

Source: Süleyman Kösmene, Velilerin Dilinden İbretli Kıssalar, Yeni Asya Publ.., İstanbul October 2003, p. 269-270.