07-08-2010, 11:44 PM
<b>More Generous than Hatim Tai (Generosity)</b>
Generosity QuotesHatim Tai was questioned "Have you come across any one more generous than yourself?"
Hatim Tai replied "Yes, I have"
Hatim Tai was asked "Where?"
Hatim Tai said I had been traveling in the desert when I came across a tent. Inside it there was an old lady while behind the tent a goat lay tied. When the old lady saw me she approached me and held the reins of my horse so that I could dismount. A little later, her son arrived and was immensely pleased to have me as their guest. The old lady said to him "Commence the preparations to entertain our guest. Go and slaughter the goat and prepare some food."
The son said "First I shall go and collect some firewood," but the old lady said "Going to the desert and bringing the firewood shall consume a lot of time due to which our guest would have to remain hungry for long, and this would be contrary to social etiquette."
So the son, breaking the only two lances that he possessed, slaughtered the goat, prepared the food and presented it before me. When I investigated about their condition, I realized that the goat had been their only possession and despite this, they had slaughtered it for me. I said to the old lady "Do you recognize me?" When she replied in the negative, I said "I am Hatim Tai. You must come with me to my tribe so that I can entertain you and shower you with gifts and presents!"
The old lady said "Neither do we seek any reward from our guests nor do we sell bread for money, and she refused to accept anything from me." Witnessing this generosity, I realized that they were far more generous and munificent than me.
Generosity QuotesHatim Tai was questioned "Have you come across any one more generous than yourself?"
Hatim Tai replied "Yes, I have"
Hatim Tai was asked "Where?"
Hatim Tai said I had been traveling in the desert when I came across a tent. Inside it there was an old lady while behind the tent a goat lay tied. When the old lady saw me she approached me and held the reins of my horse so that I could dismount. A little later, her son arrived and was immensely pleased to have me as their guest. The old lady said to him "Commence the preparations to entertain our guest. Go and slaughter the goat and prepare some food."
The son said "First I shall go and collect some firewood," but the old lady said "Going to the desert and bringing the firewood shall consume a lot of time due to which our guest would have to remain hungry for long, and this would be contrary to social etiquette."
So the son, breaking the only two lances that he possessed, slaughtered the goat, prepared the food and presented it before me. When I investigated about their condition, I realized that the goat had been their only possession and despite this, they had slaughtered it for me. I said to the old lady "Do you recognize me?" When she replied in the negative, I said "I am Hatim Tai. You must come with me to my tribe so that I can entertain you and shower you with gifts and presents!"
The old lady said "Neither do we seek any reward from our guests nor do we sell bread for money, and she refused to accept anything from me." Witnessing this generosity, I realized that they were far more generous and munificent than me.