ibn suleman
09-11-06, 03:23 PM
A famous Sheikh once visited the Caliph Harun al-Rashid, and when he entered his presence the caliph asked him if he wanted anything. The Sheikh said that he only desired a simple cup of water.
When the cup of water was given to the sheikh he asked the Caliph, “what would you give if no water was available to you and you are forced to trade for this one cup of water?”
Harun al-Rashid replied, “I most certainly would give at the very least half of my kingdom”
The Sheikh then said, “and what would you give if you were not able to release the waste of that water from your body unless you traded something for it?”
The Caliph said, “I would certainly give the other half of my kingdom”
The Sheikh smiled and told the Caliph, “It is God that controls both these things, so what is the worth of all your kingdom if it can be so easily traded for a simple cup of water”.
When the cup of water was given to the sheikh he asked the Caliph, “what would you give if no water was available to you and you are forced to trade for this one cup of water?”
Harun al-Rashid replied, “I most certainly would give at the very least half of my kingdom”
The Sheikh then said, “and what would you give if you were not able to release the waste of that water from your body unless you traded something for it?”
The Caliph said, “I would certainly give the other half of my kingdom”
The Sheikh smiled and told the Caliph, “It is God that controls both these things, so what is the worth of all your kingdom if it can be so easily traded for a simple cup of water”.