It is on record that 'Abdullah Ibn Ja'far (may Allah
be pleased with him!) intended one day to travel,
and approaching a date-grove where he had seen some
persons, he alighted. The guardian of the trees
happened to be a black slave, to whom two loaves
of bread had just been sent from the house; and as
a dog stood near him, he threw one of the loaves
to it, which having been devoured by the animal,
he gave away also the other, and the dog likewise
consumed it. Then 'Abdullah (may Allah be pleased
with him!) asked what his daily allowance was. The
slave replied: "What thou hast seen." "Then why hast
thou not kept it for thyself?" "The dog is a stranger
here; I thought he had come from a long distance and
was hungry, wherefore I did not mean to leave him in
that condition." "Then what wilt thou eat to-day?"
"I shall fast." Then 'Abdullah said to himself:
"Everybody is blaming me for my liberality, and this
slave is more liberal than myself." Then he purchased
both the slave and the date-grove, presenting him
with the latter, and emancipating him.
"LEARN THOU BRAVERY!"
O brave man, learn thou bravery!
From men of the world learn manliness.
Preserve thy heart from the remorse of remorse-seekers;
Preserve thy tongue from the blame of evil-speakers.
Requite with good him who did thee evil,
Because by that evil he injured his own prosperity.
If thou makest beneficence thy rule
The good thou doest will return only to thee.