The Story of a Traveller Parched with Thirst

✒ Muhammad Shameel

24 October 2026, 13 Jumada Al-Awwal 1448 AH

A man was travelling through the desert. The water and food he had carried with him had run out. Exhausted by the scorching sun, the journey, and the thirst and hunger that accompanied it, he searched around for some water. After travelling for quite some distance, he spotted a well in the distance.

He hurried towards the well. There was clean water inside, but the well was very deep. Unable to bear his thirst any longer, he sat beside the well, stretched out both hands towards the water, and cried out, “O water! Will you come rushing into my mouth? I am terribly thirsty!”

No matter how long he stretched out his hands and pleaded with the water, would it rise by itself and reach his mouth? Absolutely not! His thirst would be quenched only if he drew water from the well and drank it. The Qur’an gives an example of someone like this.

Allah says:
“To Him alone is the true supplication. Those whom they invoke besides Him do not respond to them in any way, except as one who stretches out his hands towards water, asking it to reach his mouth, but it will never reach it. The supplication of the disbelievers is nothing but futile.” (Qur’an 13:14)

Those who pray to created beings instead of Allah are like the man in the story we have just read. We must direct our prayers only to Allah, who created us, sees everything, and knows everything. That is true supplication. Only He can hear our prayers and respond to them.

The Prophet ﷺ gave a beautiful piece of advice to Ibn Abbas (May Allah be pleased with him).
Abdullah ibn Abbas (May Allah be pleased with him) narrated:

“One day, I was riding behind the Prophet ﷺ when he said, ‘Young man, I shall teach you some words. Be mindful of Allah, and He will protect you. Be mindful of Allah, and you will find Him before you. If you ask, ask Allah; and if you seek help, seek help from Allah. Know that if the entire community were to gather together to benefit you with something, they could benefit you only with what Allah had already decreed for you. And if they were all to gather together to harm you with something, they could harm you only with what Allah had already decreed against you. The pens have been lifted, and the pages have dried.’” (Tirmidhi)