The Farmer and the Snake

Once upon a time, in a quiet village nestled among rolling hills, there lived a kind-hearted farmer named Illiyas. He was known for his generosity and gentle nature, always willing to lend a hand to those in need. Illiyas lived alone in a modest cottage, surrounded by fields of golden wheat that he tended with great care.

One chilly winter's morning, as Illiyas was out checking his crops, he stumbled upon a snake lying motionless on the frozen ground. The snake was small and appeared to be on the brink of death, shivering from the cold. Illiyas, moved by pity, decided to help the poor creature.

"Oh, you poor thing," Illiyas murmured, kneeling beside the snake. "How could I leave you here to die in the cold?"

Without hesitation, Illiyas scooped up the snake, gently cradling it in his hands. He could feel its cold, scaly body begin to warm in his palms. Despite the warnings he had heard about snakes, Illiyas believed that every creature deserved kindness.

Illiyas brought the snake into his home, placing it near the hearth where a warm fire crackled. 

He even gave the snake a bit of milk to drink, hoping to revive it. 

The snake slowly began to move, its strength returning as it basked in the warmth of the fire.

Days passed, and the snake grew stronger under Illiyas's care. It began to slither around the cottage, exploring its new surroundings. Illiyas watched it with a smile, pleased with himself for saving the creature's life.

However, as the snake regained its vitality, its true nature began to reveal itself. It would slink around the house, its eyes gleaming with a dangerous glint. Illiyas, still believing that his kindness had tamed the snake, ignored the warning signs.

One day, as Illiyas was preparing food, the snake coiled itself around his leg. Startled, Illiyas looked down to see the snake’s fangs bared, ready to strike. In that moment, Illiyas realized the truth: despite his kindness, the snake remained a creature of instinct.

"Why would you bite me, after all I've done for you?" Illiyas cried out, his voice trembling with fear and betrayal.

The snake, driven by its natural instincts, tightened its grip, ready to strike. But just as it was about to deliver a fatal bite, Illiyas’s quick thinking and understanding of the snake’s nature kicked in. He stopped struggling and remained perfectly still, his heart pounding.

He remembered something he had once heard from an old traveler: "A snake will only strike when it feels threatened. If you remain calm and still, it might not see you as a threat."

Taking a deep breath, Illiyas softly spoke to the snake, "I understand your nature. I should never have expected you to change. You must do what you must, but know that I mean you no harm."

The snake, sensing no immediate threat and perhaps confused by Illiyas's calmness, hesitated. The room was silent, the only sound being the crackling of the fire. After what felt like an eternity, the snake slowly began to uncoil from Illiyas’s leg, retreating back toward the warmth of the hearth.

Illiyas let out a slow breath, watching as the snake moved away. He didn’t feel anger or disappointment, but rather a deep understanding of the nature of the world. He had helped the snake not for the expectation of gratitude, but simply because it was in his nature to be kind.

Realizing the lesson that kindness should be given freely, without expectation, Illiyas carefully guided the snake out of his cottage the next morning, releasing it into the nearby woods where it belonged. The snake slithered away without looking back, disappearing into the underbrush.