avatarHarun Reşit Aydin

Summary

A man in Istanbul invites a shoeless beggar, Ibrahim, into his home, offering food, clothing, and shelter, and in return, Ibrahim, a former software programmer with psychiatric illness, gives him all his money as a gesture of gratitude.

Abstract

The narrative recounts the author's encounter with Ibrahim, a beggar in Istanbul, who despite his own dire circumstances, displays an act of profound generosity. The author initially hesitates due to societal prejudices but overcomes them, leading to a transformative experience. Ibrahim, once a university graduate and software programmer, found himself on the streets after a series of tragic events, including the loss of his family and a psychiatric diagnosis. The author's act of kindness is repaid when Ibrahim leaves him his life savings of 5 lira, an act that deeply humbles the author. This encounter teaches the author about the depths of human resilience and the importance of empathy over judgment, a lesson that becomes even more poignant when the author later faces his own health crises.

Opinions

  • The author initially harbors prejudices against Ibrahim, reflecting societal biases towards the homeless and mentally ill.
  • The act of inviting Ibrahim into his home challenges the author's preconceived notions and highlights the importance of compassion over fear.
  • Ibrahim's background as a university graduate and software programmer defies the stereotype of a beggar, emphasizing the unpredictability of life and the impact of mental illness.
  • The author's perspective shifts dramatically after learning about Ibrahim's life, realizing the shallowness of his earlier judgments.
  • Ibrahim's gesture of leaving his entire savings as a thank you deeply impacts the author, serving as a reminder of the unexpected ways in which generosity can

The wonderful generosity of a beggar

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Generally, when I’m out, no matter where I am, my heart can not stand people on the street. Especially when it comes to children, the water boils in my body.

I wish I had a magic wand in my hand and could turn the whole world into a giant playground for these kids

However, my capacities are limited. That’s why I’m trying to share what I have in my hands with those in need, no matter where they are and what color or faith they have. And that’s why I have also invited some of them into my home several times as a guest.

One of those stories was some years ago when I lived in Istanbul, one of the biggest cities where love and sadness go hand in hand. The capitalist and ruthless city of my country, Turkey.

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Istanbul is very famous for its changeable weather and especially in autumn there can sometimes be extreme storms and rain streams.

It was one of those times again.

When I was running home from work to escape the rain, I met ‘’Ibrahim’’ outside of my door. A young man around the age of 25–30 who has tried to protect himself from this rain under our main entrance door.

Just when I wanted to go in, I noticed that he did not even have shoes or socks on, but stood barefoot.. (looking like in the photo)

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It had made me feel strange, but I went in quickly anyway, went up to my apartment, got into my bath, and then made myself a coffee to watch the rain from the window, in a warm apartment with heating.

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When I looked out, I still saw Ibrahim outside the door, trying to run on his fingertips to escape the rain pouring under his feet. I can never forget how the coffee tasted in my mouth right then.

I was alone at home and in one of the most beautiful cities, but also one of the most dangerous. That’s why a lot was going through my head right then.

‘’ What if he tries to kill me? ‘’

‘’ Maybe he will steal something ?‘’

‘’ Or he is a wanted criminal ?‘’

(Unfortunately this is something very bad that the whole world always thinks so about men, but they help women always immediately)

Then a voice in me said:

‘’ Harun, you only have one life and if God wants, you can fall over here and die now. And you’ve lost so much material things millions of times in this lifetime and God has somehow returned it to you, what are you afraid of?”

So I could not wait much longer and called him up. At first he was afraid to come up, but after I called him several times with a serious face, he started to come up slowly. When he has arrived at my door he finally said his name in a shuddering voice as: ‘’ Ibrahim ‘’ to introduce himself to me.

The first thing that came to my mind was to give him some clothes to wear. When I opened my wardrobe, I actually realized how much I’ve got to wear but never put on. Hundreds of clothes, hundreds of dollars spent, for nothing.

‘’And then we ask ourselves why there is so much injustice in this world.’’

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First I showed him the bath room so he could take a shower, then prepared some of those clothes for him to wear and some put in a bag which he can dress outside later.

Before he came out I also prepared a coffee for him. As he sat in front of me, he was no longer the man who stood outside a few minutes ago, but like each of us, looked clean, serious and very intelligent. Out of curiosity, I asked him why he lives outside (because I immediately decided on his laziness with prejudice, a man around 25–30 years and does not work). How should I know that such a story will come.

Ibrahim started telling:

‘’That he is a graduate of one of the best universities in Turkey, Bosphorus University. He was a software programmer. His parents had died and he was living with his sister and family during this time. One day, he was diagnosed with a psychiatric illness and his brother-in-law threw him out of the house. No one wanted to hire him and give him a house because they found him weird and dangerous. He then started living and begging in the streets. His shoes were taken away from him the day before we have met when some street gangsters threatened him with a knife and many other sad stories..’’

Unfortunately, he could not remember many things in his life. The story was very fragile because of his illness he was often forgetting things very quickly.

My coffee on the table got cold when I heard him close without closing my eyes. I was so ashamed to judge people without knowing them..

When it was night, it was still cold outside and I did not want to send him away. I thought ‘’how many days did he not sleep in a warm house and bed?’’

I prepared my bed for him and made myself a bed on the ground in the other room. He should sleep well, that was the only thing I wanted.

After he slept, I put some money in an envelope which I wanted to give him the next morning as a help.

Next morning, I woke up early, because it was very uncomfortable for me on the floor. The first thing I did was to check his room if everything was ok..

.. but the room was empty.

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I immediately looked around to see if everything was ok at home. Everything was in its original place. Then came the moment that was one of the best lessons and most emotional moments of my life..

..On the bed was a yellow bag..

I had seen this bag in his hand the day before and it was filled with a few coins that some people have given him as a help..

Instead of giving him the envelope..

..Ibrahim had given me all his money (5 lira)

as a thank you..

I still carry this first picture from that day..

I have pictured this on that morning

He had given me his only money for some bread.

Since then, I have put this money aside and whenever I lose myself in arrogance and see my problems bigger than those of other people, I get this money out of the drawer and count it again and again..

One year after this story, I got a brain tumor by myself. I survived it. And shortly after this treatment, I was also diagnosed with a psychiatric illness. And you can not believe how many people have left me alone in this life. Not this story itself, but everything that happened to me afterwards made me understand Ibrahim a lot better.

It is not this world that is brutal and merciless, but WE, the people, who have no more heart for the sufferings of others.

How beautiful my famous writer Orhan Pamuk once said:

“How much can we ever know about the love and pain in another heart? How much can we hope to understand those who have suffered deeper anguish, greater deprivation, and more crushing disappointments than we ourselves have ever known?” -Snow-

Stop to judge others and start to hug them.

With the hope of one day waking up in a much nicer world..

..or not waking up at all !

Thanks for reading.

Author: Harun Reşit Aydin

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