The Right Charity
Long, long ago, there lived a Sultan in Persia who ruled over a territory called Tamask. One day, a neighboring king invaded his country, prompting the Sultan of Tamask to pray to God for victory in battle. In his desperation, he vowed to give each devotee of God one golden flower and one golden fruit if he emerged victorious.
The Victory
The Sultan won, and the forces of the intruder fled in confusion. Overjoyed, he ordered his vizier to distribute the golden flowers and fruits to all the devotees of God. However, the vizier, a clever man, realized that fulfilling the Sultan’s orders would deplete the royal treasury, leaving the army unable to defend the kingdom against future invaders. Thus, he devised a plan to thwart the Sultan’s grand scheme.
The Vizier’s Deception
The vizier approached the Sultan and said, “Sire, I searched everywhere but could not find a single devotee of God. Perhaps no true devotee aspires for gold.” The Sultan, wise to the vizier’s pretense, replied, “If you truly believe that, then I will prove you wrong. To the west of our capital lives a holy man who eats only the roots and leaves offered to him. He prays to God with steadfast devotion. Can you prove that he is not a true believer?”
The Journey to the Holy Man
The vizier accepted the challenge, and the next day, he set out to meet the holy man. Upon arrival, he found the Sultan’s description to be true. The holy man was a simple soul, eyes closed and hands clasped around a string of beads. The vizier addressed him, “Holy Sir, our Sultan desires you to visit him in the palace. He will build you a lovely house and provide all comforts. You may still retreat to your cave whenever you wish, but your presence in the city will bless our land.”
The Temptation
Curiosity stirred within the hermit as he longed to see the city he had heard so much about. Though reluctant to leave his cave, the vizier’s assurances of returning comforted him, and he agreed to the Sultan’s offer.
The Fall from Grace
Soon, a magnificent palace arose in the heart of the city, lavishly adorned with luxuries. The hermit, once a man of simplicity, now reveled in pleasures, surrounded by beautiful maidens attending to his every whim. He feasted and indulged, far from the holy life he once led.
The Sultan’s Realization
One day, the vizier took the Sultan to see the hermit. They peered through a latticed window and witnessed the hermit lost in indulgence, dancing with a singing girl. The vizier remarked, “Sire, have you seen how this erstwhile hermit revels in pleasure? Such false devotion could wreak havoc upon our land. Instead, it would be wiser to build caravanserais for weary travelers who would bless you in gratitude.”
The Lesson Learned
The Sultan took the hint and promptly sent the hermit back to his cave. He then built inns and caravanserais along the main roads, earning the praise of all for his generosity and wisdom.