Pre-teens

In the name of Allah, the Compassionate, the Merciful

Poverty and Pomp

Behlool liked to visit the graveyards. "People here are good friends", he used to say, "They do not backbite." Once, he sat in a corner of a graveyard and with a long heavy stick started probing some of the old skulls which lay scattered about. Harun Rashid, the king passed by, and saw him. The he said: O Behlool, what are you doing?

Oh nothing very important, said Behlool. I am just trying to find out whether the skulls belong to kings or paupers. They are all the same.

And what is the stick for, Harun asked.

Well, I am measuring the earth, Behlool replied.

Measuring the earth? What are your findings? Harun joked!

It is equal and the same, O King! Behlool retorted. Three armlengths for me, inspite of my poverty and three armlengths for you, in spite your pomp and wealth.

Questions to ask yourself and discuss with your family:

1. What is this story about?  What is the meaning what what Behlool said?

2. What is the meaning of life?  Why are we here?

3. Are rich people better than poor people?

4. In the end, when we die, will all someone's riches do him/her any good?

5. What do we take with us to the grave: money or our deeds?

Source of the story: http://www.al-islam.org/masoom/wisdom/utg4.html