Abunu The Wise

King Ahmed and the Complaints

Long, long ago, when many of the Arab people lived in tents—as some still do—there lived a king named Ahmed. King Ahmed had a magnificent palace built of gold and marble, standing on the edge of a lake called Hamman. In the village near the palace, where the king’s servants lived, there was a wise and clever young man named Abunu. Abunu was kind and loved to help others. The villagers had a saying: “If you do not know what to do, go and ask young Abunu.”

The Weekly Gathering

Every Wednesday, when the marketplace was closed and work had ceased, King Ahmed sat on his throne in the palace courtyard. On this day, people who had complaints or felt wronged in the market approached the king to share their troubles. King Ahmed would then decide how best to resolve their issues. Sometimes, even the king was unsure of what to do, and that was when he called for Abunu the Wise to advise him.

The Greedy Merchant

On Wednesday, as the king sat on his throne with Abunu beside him, a greedy merchant pushed his way to the front of the queue, dragging a poor man behind him. The merchant bowed low and declared, “Your most Imperial Majesty, this little man has stolen something from me. He has taken away one of the most treasured things in my life.”

A Peculiar Theft

“What did he steal?” asked the king, expecting news of lost gold or riches. “This man has stolen the smell of my dinner,” replied the merchant. “The smell of your dinner!” exclaimed the king. “By the great desert sands, how did he manage to do that?” He turned to the beggar and asked, “Is this true? Did you steal the smell of this merchant’s dinner, and if so, how did you do it?”

The Beggar’s Story

The beggar bowed low and began to recount his sad story. “Your Highness, I was wandering through the desert on my way to the oasis of Hamman when I saw this merchant’s tent. The merchant was awaiting his evening meal, and as the aroma of roast beef and rich gravy wafted through the air, I stood by the tent, drawn in by the lovely smell. It is not often I can smell such a beautiful dinner, let alone eat one. When the merchant finished his meal, I thanked him for sharing the scent, but he ordered his servants to seize me and tie me to the nearest camel, dragging me here.”

The Merchant’s Complaint

The king turned to the merchant for his side of the story.

“Your Highness,” said the merchant, bowing low. “My cook prepared a lovely piece of beef, but when I went to eat, I could taste it but could not smell it. I was very angry because I loved the aroma of roast beef. When I asked my cook, he did not know what had happened, so when I heard this beggar talking to me, I knew he had stolen the smell.”

The King’s Decision

The king pondered this unusual case before answering. “I realize,” he stated, “that the beggar admits to smelling the roast beef, but the dinner belonged to the merchant, and therefore the smell did too. I declare that the beggar is guilty of this crime and must pay the merchant twelve silver pennies.”

The greedy merchant was delighted, eager to claim his money, but the poor beggar looked sorrowful. “Your Highness, I cannot pay the fine as I have no silver pennies,” he protested.

Abunu the Wise Speaks

As everyone pondered the issue, Abunu the Wise, who had been listening closely, stepped forward and addressed the king. “Your Majesty, I have a suggestion. May I pay the twelve silver pennies to the merchant? This poor beggar cannot afford to pay.”

“Very well,” responded the king, eager to conclude the case. Turning to the merchant, he asked, “Are you ready to receive the money?” “Yes,” replied the merchant, greedily rubbing his hands together. Abunu smiled wisely, took twelve pennies from his purse, and gave them to the beggar. He instructed the beggar to throw the coins to the ground, penny by penny. The beggar was puzzled but obeyed, tossing the coins onto the stone floor of the courtyard. As each silver penny struck the ground, they tinkled softly.

A Just Resolution

When the last coin fell, Abunu turned to the merchant. “Did you hear the tinkle of those coins?”

“Yes,” answered the merchant, somewhat confused. “Well,” Abunu said, “the tinkle of the coins is yours, for that belongs to you. This beggar had the scent of your roast beef but none of the meal itself. Therefore, you will receive only the tinkle and none of the money.” “That is fair,” agreed the king. “You are correct, Abunu the Wise. Let that be the verdict in this case.”

Aftermath

Hearing this, the poor beggar left happily, relieved not to be fined, while the greedy merchant walked away in anger for not increasing his wealth. Abunu the Wise bowed to the king and returned home, satisfied that justice had been served.