A Strange Cure for Hatred

In the city of Basra, there lived a very kind hearted prince, who was loved by his subjects much. But at the same time there was a poor man, who used to hate the prince. He would always speak ill and bitterly against the prince. The prince very well knew it, but he remained patient. One day, the prince thought of a cure for the hatred of this man. Through his slave, he sent three things---one bag full of wheat flour, a box full of soap cakes and a bag full of sugar.

The poor man was overjoyed to receive the gifts. He went to the one his nearest neighbor, and said, ‘See! how much the prince cares for me.’ He told him about the three items he received from the prince as a gift. The neighbour thought over it for a while and then said, ‘I know how intelligent the prince is and how foolish are you! The prince has hinted something through these gifts. Please try to understand.

The bag of flour is to fill your belly, the box of soap is for cleaning your outfit and the bag of sugar has been sent to you so that you may sweeten your tongue and stop speaking bitterly against the prince.

Hearing this, the man started hating himself for all his mis-behavior against the prince and thereafter he never uttered a word even against the prince.