An old American Muslim lived on a farm with his young grandson. Each morning Grandpa reading his Qur'an. His grandson wanted to be just like him .
One day;
Grandson: "Grandpa! I try to read the Qur'an just like you but I don't understand it, and what I do understand I forget as soon as I close the book. What good does reading the Qur'an do?"
Grandfather: "Take this coal basket down to the river and bring me back a basket of water."
The boy did as he was told, but all the water leaked out before he got back to the house.
Grandfather: "You'll have to move a little faster next time,"
This time the boy ran faster, but again the basket was empty before he returned home. Out of breath, he told his grandfather that it was impossible to carry water in a basket, and he went to get a bucket instead.
Granfather: "I don't want a bucket of water; I want a basket of water. You're just not trying hard enough,"
At this point, the boy knew it was impossible, but he wanted to show his grandfather that even if he ran as fast as he could, the water would. The boy again dipped the basket into river and ran hard, but when he reached his grandfather the basket was again empty.
Grandson: "See Grandpa, it's useless!"
Grandfather: "So you think it is useless?, look at the basket."
The boy looked at the basket and for the first time realized that the basket was different. It had been transformed from a dirty old coal basket and was now clean, inside and out.
Grandfather: "Son, that's what happens when you read the Qur'an. You might not understand or remember everything, but when you read it, you will be changed, inside and out. That is the work of Allah in our lives."
