bu al-Hasan, “Yes, O Commander
of the Faithful (the Almighty protect thee), truth is thine inner garb
and sincerity is thine outer garment and none may speak otherwise than
truly in thy presence.” The Caliph bade him be seated and said, “Tell
us.” So he began, “Know, O Commander of the Faithful, that my father
belonged to the markets of the money-changers and druggists and
linendrapers and had in each bazar a shop and an agent and all kinds of
goods. Moreover, behind the money-changer’s shop he had an apartment,
where he might be private, appointing the shop for buying and selling.
His wealth was beyond count and to his riches there was none amount; but
he had no child other than myself, and he loved me and was tenderly fain
of me. When his last hour was at hand, he called me to him and commended
my mother to my care and charged me to fear Almighty Allah. Then he
died, may Allah have mercy upon him and continue the Prince of True
Believers on life! And I gave myself up to pleasure and eating and
drinking and took to myself comrades and intimates. My mother used to
forbid me from this and to blame me for it, but I would not hear a word
from her, till my money was all gone, when I sold my lands and houses
and naught was left me save the mansion wherein I now dwell, and it was
a goodly stead, O Commander of the Faithful. So I said to my mother, “I
wish to sell the house;” but she said, “O my son, an thou sell it, thou
wilt be dishonoured and wilt have no place wherein to take shelter.”
Quoth I, “’Tis worth five thousand dinars, and with one thousand of its
price I will buy me another house and trade with the rest.” Quoth she,
“Wilt thou sell it to me at that price?”; and I replied, “Yes.”
Whereupon she went to a coffer and opening it, took out a porcelain
vessel, wherein were five thousand dinars. When I saw this meseemed the
house was all of gold and she said to me, “O my son, think not that this
is of thy father’s good. By Allah, O my son, it was of my own father’s
money and