'Obeyd-e Zakani The Ethics of the Aristocrats, translated by Hasan Javadi (Chapter Five)

 

Chapter Five

On Generosity

The Abrogated Practice

 

Trusted sources have noted that people in ancient times admired generosity, and one who was characterized by this quality was praised and glorified. They encouraged their children to be generous. They believed in this to such an extent that if someone fed a hungry person or clad a naked one, or helped one in distress, he was not ashamed. They went to such an extent in upholding this trait that people not only did not disparage someone generous but praised and admired him. The learned wrote books to glorify his name and the poets eulogized him. This point can be proved by the clear verses (of the Koran): "One who brings forth a good deed is rewarded ten times more,"1 and "You will not attain goodness until you have given away what you have."2 Also the Blessed Prophet is related to have said: "Though sinners, a generous man will not enter the fire of hell." 3

A dear friend has said concerning the subject:

Bind your heart to munificence, if it is greatness that you seek;

Bind your purse with nothing but a single branch of leek.

The Adopted Practice

 

 

When the great men of our times, who have distinguished themselves by virtue of their perceptive minds and steadfast views from the sages of the past, pondered over this subject, their keen minds perceived the shortcomings of this quality. Therefore, they have tried hoarding wealth and enjoying the best of life, and have taken the Koranic verses as their mottos that say: "Eat and drink but don't waste,"4 or else, "Truly God does not love the extravagant people."5 It became evident to them that generosity and extravagance brought the ancient families into ruin. One who is known for munificence will never rest in peace. From every side men of greed will seize him and rob him of his wealth with flattery and other pretences. That poox good-hearted man will be elated by vanity on account of their nonsensical tales and before long will squander all his acquired as well as his inherited wealth only to become poor and disappointed. But the person who is protected by the quality of miserliness would be safe in the refuge of avarice from the evil intentions and the insistence of beggars, and would live in bounty and plenitude far away from bothersome people. Our contemporaries put wealth on the same level as one's very life, and say: "Since one's precious life is spent in the search of wealth, it would be unwise, for instance, to waste it on clothing, drinking, and eating or on bodily comforts or on pleasing words from another person." Consequently, if a great man has left some money, not even a single penny can be extracted from his heirs by means of a thousand pincers. Even though the entire kingdoms of India and Rome would be his lot:

Even if the press-stone, which extracts oil from cotton seeds,

Be placed on his belly, a wind will not parted be.

Also the following lines are appropriate here:

Lest he hears the words "to part,"

He'll die of cholic ere letting a fart

 

Anecdote

 

One of the great men of our time told his son: "O my son, know that the word 'No' averts calamity, whereas 'Yes' increases misfortune. Another one has said: "O my son, close your ears to the word 'Aye' and utter nothing but 'Nay', because your prosperity will be high with 'Nay', whereas 'Aye' equals 'despair.'

 

 

Anecdote

 

One of the great men, who was a Croesus of his time, lay on his deathbed and his hopes were severed from life. He summoned his dear ones who were the children of the House of Generosity, and said: "O children, a long time have I suffered and toiled in search of wealth at home and abroad, and I have pressed my throat with the grip of hunger in order to collect these few golden dinars. Never be neglectful of guarding them, and under no circumstances spend them. As they have said:

Gold is a dear creation of God;

Whoever debases it will be debased.

If someone tells you that he has seen your father in a dream asking for sweetmeats to be given in the way of charity, never believe him, for I have not said it, and a dead man will never eat. Even if I myself appear in a dream and make such a request, pay no heed, and consider it nothing but a dream. Perhaps a demon has assumed my shape. What I have not eaten in my life I should not request after my death." He uttered these words and gave up his soul to the guardian of hell.

 

Anecdote

 

It has been said of another great man that in dealing with someone he haggled beyond reason over the value of two silver grains. He was told that such a trivial amount is not worthy of such a refusal. He said: "How can I dispense with some of my own property, which suffices me for one day, or a week, or a month, or a year or even for the rest of my life?" He was asked, "How can this be?" He said:"If I buy salt with it, it will be enough for one day. If I go to the public bath, it will be enough for a week. If given to a blood-letter, it will suffice for a month. If a broom is bought with it, it will last for a year. If I buy a peg, it will last me a lifetime. Why then should I give away the money through sheer negligence which can attend to so many needs?"

 

Anecdote

 

It has been said of a great man that when bread was being baked in his house, he would take the loaves one by one in his unblessed hands and say:

 

May you remain safe from any harm!

 

Then he would entrust the loaf to his butler. When the smell of the baked bread reached his servants, they would say:

You are behind the veil and our hearts bleed,

O what will happen if from the veil you are freed?

 

Anecdote

 

Not long ago a nobleman's son gave his robe to a beggar. His critics informed his father, and he reproached his son. The son said: "I have read in a book that one who wishes greatness must bestow whatever he has (onthe people). It was because of this that I gave away my robe." The father said: "O foolish boy, you are mistaken, for that was a misprint for 'stow'.6 The wisemen have said: 'You should store whatever you have, if you wish to attain greatness.' Don't you see that great men of our time are forever hoarding?" The poet has said:

Little by little it becomes more,

Grain by grain it fills the store.7

 

Anecdote

 

                Another nobleman of our time said to his slave: "Get some meat from your own money and prepare a dish from it. I will eat it and set you free. The slave was happy, and prepared a fried chicken. The master ate and gave some of it to the slave. The following day he told him: "Add some chick peas and suffaron to it. I will eat it and set you free." The salve obeyed and prepared a dish. The master gobbled it up and gave some to the slave. The next day the meat had gone to pieces and was of no use. he said: "Sell this meat and get some butter and make it into another dish. I will eat it and set you free." The slave said: "O master, for the sake of God, let me remain in your servitude, but if you have any good intentions in your mind, set this piece of meat free."

Truly great and prudent is the man who can be so cautious in spending. So as long as he lives he will be held dear and everyone will be in need of him. And in the world to come the exaltation of his status will be beyond description.