In one of the small cities spread throughout India, there lived a goldsmith named Jifar with his family, living a simple, tranquil life. This goldsmith was very skilled in making antique necklaces and confirming their authenticity. He had been working since his childhood in a large shop for the making of precious necklaces.
But his circumstances changed with his family after he died in a severe accident while returning from his work. The family found itself in a great financial predicament due to his absence. He died at a young age without being able to gather the wealth that guaranteed them a dignified life.
Therefore, the wife was compelled to sell a necklace of diamonds that her husband Jifar had left her. She presented the necklace and said to her son: “Take this necklace to your uncle’s shop and ask him to buy this necklace for you and give you some money in exchange for it.”
So the boy went to his uncle with the necklace and asked him to appraise it for him or sell it for him in his shop, so that he might obtain some money as its price, for there was no food or drink in the house. The uncle took the necklace and appraised it well.
Then he said to his brother’s son: “O my son, go to your mother and inform her that the market is not as we wish currently, and she must wait for some time until she obtains a better price for this necklace.” He gave him some money and asked him to come the next day, so that he might work with him and teach him the goldsmith’s craft.
“In this way, he can earn money and help his family without need for a neighbor or relative.” Indeed, the boy attended the next day to learn the goldsmith’s craft with his uncle. He discovered the precious gems and knew the secrets of the craft. The boy was the one who made him learn the goldsmith’s craft quickly.
Until one day after another, he became good day by day. He learned the appraising of necklaces and the precious gems with his ease and began to manage the matter, until he became well-known, and everyone came to him from everywhere to obtain necklaces, or to appraise their making and know their natures or even to repair them.
After a period of work, his uncle came to him and said: “Go to your mother and inform her that the market is now good, and it is possible to sell the necklace and obtain an appropriate price.” The boy went to the house and asked his mother about the diamond necklace. She presented it to him, and the boy appraised it. But he was astonished that it was a fake and not of value.
So the boy went to the shop the next day without taking the necklace with him. When he arrived, his uncle asked him about the necklace. The boy said to him: “I did not bring the necklace with me, for after appraising it, I confirmed that it is without value. But inform me, O my uncle, of a matter you had surely known—that this necklace is fake and not of any value.”
“Despite that, you informed me to wait for a time until the market improves and its price increases. Why did you do this?” The intelligent uncle answered, saying: “In the first time you came to me with the necklace, you were in severe need of money and knew nothing of necklaces. I feared you would fall into error, and believe I was lying to you if I told you it was fake.”
“As well, I wanted from you to learn the craft to help your family. Behold, you now know the truth and learned the craft, and with your skills you were able to help your family. This is what I desired. I am truly in extreme happiness with you, O my son.”
The Value Derived from the Story:
Without knowledge and understanding, we always fall into error and ruin relationships among people. Therefore we must think with wisdom and insight.
Translated from: PRICE OF NECKLACE