Story No. 19

On Greek soil they raided a caravan and carried off wealth beyond measure. The merchants wept and begged, calling on God and the Prophet for help, but it did no good. Once the dark-hearted thief has won his prize, why would the caravan's weeping trouble him? Luqman the wise happened to be in that caravan. One of the travelers said to him: perhaps you could advise these thieves and preach to them, so they might leave us at least part of our goods, for it would be a shame to see so much wealth wasted. He said: it would be a waste to offer them any word of wisdom. Iron eaten through by rust and rot, no polisher can ever make it clean again. What use is preaching to a blackened heart? An iron nail will never drive into stone. Truly, the fault lies with us. In your days of ease and safety, help the broken, for comforting the poor turns misfortune away. When a beggar pleads with you for something, give it, or a tyrant will take it by force.