The best price of all
Al-Risala (English), March 1994, p. 31
By Maulana Wahiduddin Khan
Maulana Wahiduddin Khan is named as the default author of the periodical; a piece that carries another writer’s byline is credited to that writer.
The best price of all
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1994 3 March 31 The best price of all (303)
During the Caliphate of Abu Bakr, there was a. period when the people were in great distress because of a prolonged drought. But the Caliph told them to be of good cheer, because the Almighty would surely come to their rescue. Sure enough, the glad news soon spread that a caravan, belonging to ‘Uthman, had arrived laden with foodstuffs from Syria. It was a big caravan – of one thousand camels and all the great traders of Medina rapidly converged on ‘Uthman’s house. When he emerged to meet them, they expressed their urgent desire to purchase the foodstuffs so that they could pass it on to those who needed it in Medina.
Ushering them inside, he asked them how much profit they were prepared to give him on this merchandise. “Twelve dirhams on every ten dirhams worth,” they replied. “But I can get a better price,” said ‘Uthman, “Then we’ll give you fourteen.” ‘Uthman again said that he could get a better price, where upon they put their price up to fifteen dirhams. But ‘Uthman stood firm. Bewildered by his attitude, they asked him who could give him a better price, considering that all of the merchants of Medina were already assembled there. “I can get ten dirhams for every dirham’s worth,” he told them, then asked them if anyone of them could give a better price than that. No one spoke up. Then ‘Uthman recited the ayah of the Qur’an which says that those who do good will be rewarded tenfold (6:60). He explained to them that he intended to give away all the wheat and other foodstuffs to the needy people of Medina.
Having faith in the promises of the Almighty raises one’s courage to a plane where there is no self-sacrifice which appears too great or too difficult to carry out.
