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An old Arab story goes that two boys – one rich and the other poor – were returning home from the market.

The rich boy bought honey-covered cookies and the poor one, a piece of old bread. 'I will let you eat my cookie if you play the dog for me,' the rich boy said.

The poor boy accepted and, on his fours on the walkway, he began to eat the rich boy's goodies.

The wise man Fath, who was watching the scene, said: 'If this poor boy had a little bit of dignity he would find out a way of making money.

But he prefers to turn into the rich boy's dog in order to eat his cookies. Tomorrow, when he is grown up, he will do the same for a public office and will be capable of betraying his country for a bag of gold.'

 'Many times we are tools of evil when we try to do good,' Al- Fahid said to his friend. 'I try to be constantly alert, but today I was used by the demon.'

'How come? You are known to be wise!' 'This morning I went to pray at the mosque.

Respecting the tradition, I took off my shoes before I went in; as I came out I noticed they had been stolen: I ended up creating a thief.' 'But that isn't your fault,' his friend said.

'It is my fault. It is easy to awake our fellow men's bad side. It is easy to irritate someone, sow discord, raise doubts, separate brothers. The Devil needs Man to carry out his actions - and that is why I am responsible.'

A group passed through the street: soldiers led a sentenced man to the gibbet. 'That man was no good,' a disciple said to Awas-el Salam.

'I once gave him a silver coin to help him get out of misery and he did nothing important.' 'He may be no good, but he might be walking to the gibbet now because of you.

It is possible that he used the money you gave him to buy a dagger, which he ended up using in the crime he committed; so, your hands are bloody as well. Instead of supporting him with love and tenderness, you chose do give him alms and get rid of your obligation.'

An old man was selling toys at the market in Bagdad. His buyers, knowing he had weak sight, would sometimes pay him with fake coins.

The old man noticed the trick but didn't say anything. In his prayers he asked God to forgive those who had tricked him.

'Perhaps they don't have much money and want to buy gifts for their children,' he would say to himself.

Time passed by and the man died. Standing before the portal of Paradise, he prayed once again. 'Lord,' he said, 'I am a sinner.

I did many things wrong, I am no better than the fake coins I was given. Forgive me!'

On that moment the gate opened and a Voice said: 'What should I forgive? How can I judge someone who has never judged anyone throughout his life?

-Translated from Portuguese by Bettina Dungs-
Source: HERE