The Generosity of a Drop of Water

Once, in the vast desert, an Arab and his wife lived in extreme poverty. Their meager existence became a reproach to their neighbors. The wife, weary of their destitution, began to berate her husband, urging him to improve their condition. She longed for more, resenting their humble life.

The Arab, however, held a different perspective. He reminded his wife of the Prophet’s words: “Poverty is my glory.” He explained how their lack of material wealth was a better preparation for the inevitable journey into the afterlife than riches ever could be. Frustrated, he even threatened divorce if she persisted in her discontent.

But wives have their ways. Through gentle persuasion and flattery, she softened her husband’s resolve. He promised to heed her wishes. She instructed him to travel to Baghdad and present their case to the Khalifa. Their humble offering would be a simple pot of water—the only gift they could afford.

And so, the Arab embarked on his journey. He reached Baghdad and humbly laid the pot of water at the Khalifa’s feet. To his astonishment, the Khalifa received it graciously. In return, he filled the pot with gleaming pieces of gold. The Arab, overwhelmed by this unexpected benevolence, returned home by boat along the Tigris River.

The Khalifa’s generosity left the Arab in wonder. How could such abundance flow from a mere drop of water? The story, with its digressions on Pharaoh, the prophet Salih, and Adam and the angels, seemed to stretch into eternity—an eternal loop without a beginning or an end.

And so, in this tale, we find that even the smallest offerings, given with sincerity, can yield unimaginable rewards. The drop of water became a vessel of transformation, forever etching its lesson upon the sands of time.