The Purse

Once upon a time, one merchant, while he was walking on a street, lost his purse were he had eight hundred golden coins.

He searched all over in hope he could find his purse or anyone who had found or took it. He hired a town crier to convey the message that whosoever bring his money he will reward him with one hundred golden coins.

Veli, a shoemaker, who was a righteous man, found the purse. He had decided not to show the purse until the owner of that purse would start asking for it. When he heard the voice of town crier, he went straight away to the merchant a gave him the purse.

The merchant was very stingy and a great liar. A person who never rewarded the good. He was very happy for he found the money, but he didn’t express it. Immediately, after he opened the purse and counted the money, said: -O you friend! You have already taken the money I promised you to give.

He not only took his money, but he even slandered to the shoemaker.

Veli, the shoemaker, grab the merchant from his collar and said to him:

- Look at me, Sir, I am poor indeed, but not liar and traitor. You cannot give me the money, but also you cannot accuse me that I have taken any of your money.

When the merchant continued with his slander, the judge of that town decided to send the matter to trial. After he heard both parties, he understood that the merchant was lying. When the merchant swore that he was right, the judge became angry and decided to give a good lesson to the merchant. Without showing his anger, he read the decision:

- The merchant says that one hundred golden coins are taken from his purse and the shoemaker says that he has taken nothing. So, as it can be seen, both of them are saying the truth. From all these, we understand that the purse found by the shoemaker isn’t the purse of the merchant, but of someone else. The purse will remain here until the true owner will come and claim it.

The stingy merchant repented for what he did, but it was late already. The behavior of this merchant reminds us of a Hadith of Prophet, peace be upon him, when he says: “He who isn’t thankful to man, isn’t thankful to Allah, too.”

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