There was a farmer in a village who had a son and a very beautiful horse. The beauty of his horse was not only famous in his own village but also in nearby villages. One day, a rich man from another village visited his house to buy the farmer's horse.
He told the farmer, "I am willing to pay any amount for this horse. I love it and want to buy it at any cost."
The farmer replied, "I have taken care of this horse like my own son. How can a father sell his son?"
Some village elders who were present said to the farmer, "Are you mad? This man is willing to pay any amount for your horse. You are very poor and can barely afford to keep this horse. Don't be a fool; listen to us and sell it to this rich man."
The farmer smiled and said, "I already told you, I have looked after this horse like my son. How could a father sell his son for some money?"
The rich man and the village elders left the farmer's house annoyed.
The next morning, when the farmer woke up, he saw that his horse was missing from its stable. He woke his son, and together they searched the village, but they couldn't find the horse. Once again, the village elders came to the farmer's house and said, "We told you to sell the horse, but you acted like a fool and missed the opportunity. Look, now you’ve lost your horse. It’s your misfortune. You lost the horse as well as the money."
The farmer smiled and said, "How can losing the horse be connected to my fate?"
The village elders said, "He’s gone mad; he doesn’t realise what he has done."
The next morning, when the farmer woke up, he saw his horse had returned—and it had brought along 20 beautiful wild horses. The village elders heard about this and ran to the farmer’s house.
They said, "Forgive us. We didn’t know that losing your horse wasn’t bad luck but good fortune! Your horse has brought you 20 more horses!"
The farmer replied, "Yes, you may be right, but how is the return of my horse connected to what has been written, good or bad?"
Hearing this, the village elders left the house, puzzled.
The next day, the farmer’s son tried to play with the new horses to befriend them. However, one of the horses kicked him so hard that his leg broke in two places. The village elders visited again and said, "He is your only son, your only hope to help you in your work. Now his leg is broken because of those horses. The return of the horse did not bring you good luck after all."
The farmer smiled and replied, "Why do you make everything about qismat?"
A week later, a war broke out in the country. The government ordered all young men to join the army. Soldiers went from house to house to enlist the youth for the war. When they came to the farmer’s house, they saw the boy with a broken leg and left him there.
Once again, the village elders visited the farmer’s house. They said, "The army took our sons, and we don’t know if they will return or not. It’s your good luck that your son was left behind."
The farmer replied, "Not everything has to be good or bad fortune, some things are written. Don’t be in a hurry to jump to conclusions. Whatever happens is for the best."
Source: Recorded in Balochi, in Turbat, Balochistan
Notes: Qismat refers to fate or destiny; "It is written" refers to fate - Maktub - a concept Muslims believe in. It is the idea of everything we will experience in life being pre-destined, albeit, with the free will to react to our surroundings in whatever way we choose.
The belief in things happening for good is also an Islamic concept. Muslims believe that whatever happens, it happens with the will of Allah, and He has promised that it will always be for the better. Whilst other religions believe in good and bad, both coming from God, Muslims believe that God does not wish ill upon His creations. Whilst temporary hardships may be a test, they will ultimately be for our betterment, in one way or another.
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