Sheikh Abdul Karim Al Hairi was a great scholar and founder of the great Islamic College or Hauza in the city of Qum. One of his assistants called Sheikh Ali relates that one night as he was sleeping, he heard a knock on the door.

As he went to open the door, he saw a poor woman who asked for help. She said that her husband was sick, and in addition they didn't have any food, and her family was cold as they didn't have any fuel to get warmth.

The assistant informed her that his master could not help her as his own condition was not good in those days. The woman left with great disappointment.

Sheikh Abdul Karim Al-hairi had heard somebody at the door and so he asked his assistant what was going on. The assistant informed him about the whole incident. Sheikh Abdul Karim said, "What will Allah ask us on the day of judgment?"

Then he asked his assistant whether he knew the house of the lady. Although it was difficult to reach the lady's house as the roads were covered with snow, yet the Sheikh Hairi was determined to reach the lady and help her. Thus they found themselves on the way to the lady.

On reaching the lady's house, they found the family in a dire state. The Sheikh asked his assistant to call a doctor who diagnosed the husband and prescribed the medicines. Again the Sheikh asked his assistant to go and buy the medicine from the chemist on credit and that he would pay for it, as well as getting some firewood and food to give warmth to the family.

When the sick husband took the medicine he felt better and they had food and warmth restored in the house. Then only did the Sheikh find it suitable to leave and return. In addition, the Sheikh asked his assistant to divide the portion of firewood which was supplied to their house daily and give it to the poor family. Such were these great scholars who served Islam by example. (NOOR ILM VOL 11)