Once, in a large town, there lived a girl of extraordinary beauty. Her charm, elegance, and grace were so captivating that whoever saw her immediately fell in love. Many young men dreamed of marrying her, each believing she would bring them happiness and fulfillment. But the real question was: Who would this girl marry?
One day, a young man, deeply struck by her beauty, went to his father and said,
“Father, I have seen a girl whose face shines like the moon and whose eyes sparkle like stars. Her beauty has captured my heart completely. I cannot imagine my life without her. I want to marry her.”
The father looked at his son carefully and then smiled gently. “My son, show me this girl. If she is as wonderful as you say, I will arrange the proposal.”
The two went together to see the girl. And indeed, the father too was astonished. Her beauty was dazzling, her presence enchanting. For a moment, even he was silent in admiration. But after some thought, the father turned to his son and said:
“My dear child, beauty alone is not enough for a lifelong journey. This girl may be attractive, but she is not suitable for you. A man does not just need beauty in his wife — he needs wisdom, maturity, and the ability to share burdens of life. What you see is surface glitter, but a home is built on far more than this.”
The young man, shocked and angry, replied:
“Father, if you will not let me marry her, then I will take her by myself. I cannot let her slip away.”
This disagreement grew into a heated argument. Neither the father nor the son would back down. Finally, they decided to go to the local police station to settle the matter.
At the station, the officer listened carefully to both sides. Then he asked for the girl to be brought in. When she entered, the officer too was struck by her stunning beauty. For a brief moment, he forgot his duty, but then, regaining his composure, he said:
“This girl is not suitable for either of you. Her beauty is tempting, but beauty fades, and without character and responsibility, marriage cannot survive. You both are blinded by desire. She does not belong to you.”
The argument, however, did not end. The matter escalated further until it reached the city minister, and then the governor. Each time, when the girl was presented before them, the same thing happened. Every man who saw her fell under the spell of her beauty. Even the minister declared:
“This girl is worthy only of someone as powerful as the governor.”
And when the governor himself saw her, he exclaimed:
“No, such a girl is not for an ordinary man. She is fit only for the king himself.”
Finally, the case reached the king. The king, known for his wisdom, gazed at the girl and then spoke calmly:
“All of you desire her, but there is only one way to solve this matter. You all must chase after me. Whoever catches me first, I will give this girl to him in marriage.”
And so, the strange race began. The young man, his father, the police officer, the minister, the governor — all of them ran with all their strength behind the king and the girl. Dust rose beneath their feet, sweat poured down their faces, and their breaths grew heavy, but still, none of them gave up. Each was determined to win her.
But as they ran endlessly, blinded by desire, suddenly the ground gave way. One by one, they all stumbled and fell into a deep pit — a grave. Their race had ended.
The girl stood at the edge of the pit, looked down at them, and said:
“Do you know who I am? I am the World. Every human being runs after me, chasing my glitter and beauty. Some seek wealth, some seek status, some seek pleasures — but all of them run. And in the end, before they can ever truly have me, they fall into their graves. The truth is, no one has ever fully possessed me, and no one ever will.”
Moral of the Story
This story is not about a girl; it is about the illusion of this world. The girl represents the dunya — attractive, tempting, and endlessly pursued. The father, the son, the officer, the minister, the governor, and even the king represent mankind in different forms, each chasing the same worldly desires. But the end is always the same: death and the grave.
The lesson is clear:
We must not waste our lives chasing only the beauty and attractions of this world. Instead, we must prepare for the Hereafter, which is eternal. The dunya will always slip away, but faith and good deeds will remain with us forever.
