The little girl Salamā lost her doll. She searched for it in the field, among the trees, near the waterway, and in every place, but did not find it. On the way, she asked a sparrow and said: “Did you see my doll, O sparrow?” The sparrow shook its head and flew away. Salamā walked, weeping near a pond when a turtle emerged. She asked her: “Did you see my doll, O turtle?” The turtle said: “Doll, I do not understand anything you ask about.” It dived into the water. ...
Humility is a praiseworthy trait that we should all adorn ourselves with. It is one of the most important morals that bring friends closer to us and make us bound together without any feeling of grudge or resentment—especially since arrogance takes its place when the trait of humility is absent from us. The donkey Kurkūsh lived in the beautiful forest alongside his neighbors the animals, where they lived in adjacent houses. A neighbor has rights over his neighbor: not to be arrogant or proud toward him. But Kurkūsh was not like that. He would walk every day in the forest on the banks of its clear river, strutting in arrogance, saying to all the animals in the forest: “I am better than you all. I have a body with a strong constitution that endures hardships and carries loads without fatigue or boredom.” He would look at them all as he spoke to them, displaying his strength before them. ...
Nasreddin was leading a donkey and carrying on its back a bundle of wooden sticks, trying to cross the border, when Inspector Rakan stopped him for inspection and asked him: What is your name, man, and what is the nature of your work? Nasreddin answered: I am an honest smuggler and my name is Nasreddin. Inspector Rakan was surprised by Nasreddin’s strange response! He said to him: What are you saying, man? Do you admit you are a smuggler? Nasreddin said: Yes, I am. Inspector Rakan searched him well but didn’t find anything with him. ...
The lion would not leave his den on this day; he felt fatigue and exhaustion and did not desire, as was his custom every morning, to rise to the forest to fill it with his roaring. The hours passed while he remained stagnant in his place, lazy. Then it occurred to him to resort to the forest doctor, hoping he would find a cure for the weakness that had afflicted him. When the doctor examined him, he told him that his illness was not physical—all his organs were sound and healthy—but he was suffering from a sudden psychological illness and had to try to find happiness and peace of mind. If he knew the path to his happiness, he would be completely cured and return to his former state. ...
From a very long time ago, when all things were at their beginning—even plants and stars and almost all ancient things were extremely small—there was a school with a special class that all the students loved because it expressed joy better. The students studied colors in that class from the color white to the color black, passing through red and blue and brown and all the remaining colors. They prepared many colors to become more magnificent. ...
Each of us has flaws of a unique kind, but in this world nothing goes to waste. You may think you are useless, but somehow the flaws you possess can turn into a blessing you never imagined, as happened in the story of the cracked pot. In one of the Indian villages there was a water carrier named Mahindar. He had two large pots that he carried hanging on his shoulders along the road. One of them was cracked at the top, and water would drip from it along the way. When he reached home, he would find the cracked pot with only half the water. ...
In a clean, quiet burrow among the oak trees in the forest lived two rabbits, one large and the other small. An old friendship, affection, and love united them. These two rabbits would play a race together, eat carrots and vegetables together, and sleep together side by side in gentleness and peace. One day a small crack appeared in a corner of the burrow. The small rabbit said: “No doubt my friend the large rabbit will repair this crack soon.” When the large rabbit saw it, he said: “My friend the small rabbit will repair this small crack today.” The days passed, and the crack grew wider and deeper. Each of the two friend rabbits would say: “Perhaps my friend forgot to repair this crack. I don’t think he will neglect it; he will repair it this time.” More days passed, and the crack widened and widened further. The large rabbit would say: “My friend the small rabbit does not like cracks in the burrow; no doubt he will repair this crack. I know he will do that.” ...
Honesty is a great value and a praiseworthy trait that we should all adorn ourselves with, especially when accompanied by a promise and good intention from another person. If we are honest in someone’s promise to us, we must do the same and not betray, for betrayal is deeply harmful, especially to those who have given us security and safety. One day the turtle Fūrī was standing on the bank of the river. As was her custom, Fūrī would wake early, swim, and praise her Lord for the blessing of health and ask for her provision from her Creator. On this day, Fūrī was standing on the riverbank and resolved to descend into it in search of some food and to play with her friends. ...
We have spoken much about the value of cooperation—that it is the foundation by which any individuals can rise and defend one another, and help themselves as well if they use it in the correct way. The simplest rule of proper cooperation is fairness, whether in how to help during the distribution of tasks, or fairness in distributing the gain if cooperation yields tangible benefits. This is the basis of our story. ...
In the beautiful forest with its dense trees, where animals live in different shapes, colors, and sizes, large numbers of huge elephants lived alongside the animals. These elephants cooperated with great love and sincerity with the other animals. In truth, they all understood the value of cooperation in work and in defending one another. Whoever needed help found all the animals behind him, helping him and standing by his side in his affliction. ...