The children of Adam are limbs of each other
Having been created of one essence.
When the calamity of time afflicts one limb
The other limbs cannot remain at rest.
If thou hast no sympathy for the troubles of others
Thou art unworthy to be called by the name of a human.

---

Zara was a young journalist who had traveled to Iran to cover the aftermath of a devastating earthquake. She had seen many tragedies in her career, but nothing prepared her for the sight of the rubble, the cries of the survivors, and the smell of death. She felt a pang of guilt as she snapped photos and interviewed people, wondering if she was exploiting their pain for her own gain.

One day, she met a boy named Ali, who had lost his entire family in the quake. He was living in a makeshift tent with some other orphans, sharing a meager ration of bread and water. He had a bright smile and a curious mind, and he asked Zara many questions about her life and her country. He also recited some poems by Saadi Shirazi, his favorite poet, and explained their meaning to her.

Zara was touched by his resilience and wisdom, and she decided to write a story about him and his friends, hoping to raise awareness and funds for their plight. She also bought him a new backpack, some books, and a soccer ball, and promised to keep in touch with him. She felt a bond of friendship and compassion with him, and she realized that he was not just a subject, but a human being, like her.

She remembered one of Saadi's verses that Ali had taught her:

The children of Adam are limbs of each other
Having been created of one essence.

She understood then that she was not a stranger in a foreign land, but a part of a larger family, and that she had a responsibility to help her fellow humans in their time of need.