One of the sons of Harun al-Rashid came to his father, angry, saying that the son of a certain officer had insulted his mother.

Harun asked his state officials, “What should be the punishment for such a person?”

One suggested execution, another suggested cutting out his tongue, and another suggested …

One of the ministers showed mercy to his subordinates and worked for their well-being.

By chance, he fell into the king’s disfavor.

Everyone tried to help him, and the officials treated him kindly in his punishment. The nobles praised his good character, and the king forgave him.

A wise man, …

A trickster braided his hair and claimed to be a descendant of Ali. He entered a city with a caravan from Hejaz, pretending to have returned from pilgrimage, and presented a poem to the king, claiming it as his own.

The king bestowed many gifts upon him and honored him. …

The ministers of Nushirvan were deliberating on an important matter of state, each offering different opinions, and the king also proposed a plan.

Bozorgmehr chose the king’s opinion.

The ministers asked him in private, “What advantage did you see in the king’s opinion over the thoughts of so many wise …

A king ordered the execution of an innocent man. The man said, “O King! Do not seek your own harm by the anger you have towards me, for this punishment will end my life in a moment, but its guilt will remain with you forever.”

The span of life, like …

One of the ministers went to Dhu’l-Nun the Egyptian and sought his help, saying, “Day and night I am occupied in the service of the king, hoping for his favor and fearing his punishment.” Dhu’l-Nun wept and said, “If I worshipped God, the Almighty, as you serve the king, I …

A dervish was sitting alone in a corner when a king passed by. The dervish, content with his state of detachment, did not raise his head or pay any attention. The king, accustomed to the awe of his subjects, was offended and said, “These ascetics are like animals; they have …

There was a man who excelled in the art of wrestling, knowing three hundred and sixty fine techniques, and each day he would wrestle using a different one. He had a particular fondness for one of his students and taught him three hundred and fifty-nine techniques, but he always delayed …

They tell the story of a tyrant who bought firewood from the poor at an unfair price and gave it to the rich for free. A wise man passed by and said to him:

You are like a snake that bites everyone it sees, Or an owl that ruins every …

I heard that one of the Arab kings told his attendants, “Double the stipend of so-and-so, for he is always present at the court and ready to obey orders, while the other servants are busy with play and neglect their duties.”

A wise man heard this and cried out in …

The king of Zozan had a nobleman who was generous and well-regarded, serving everyone kindly in person and speaking well of them in their absence. However, the king was displeased with one of his actions, confiscated his property, and punished him. The king’s officers, acknowledging the nobleman’s past generosity, treated …

One of the servants of Amr Lays had escaped. People went after him and brought him back. The minister had a grudge against him and ordered his execution to prevent other servants from doing the same. The servant bowed his head to the ground before Amr and said:

"Whatever happens …