Nur al-Din Ali and the Young Woman Anis al-Jalis

[Someone took] Nur al-Din’s hand and said to him, “O my lord, he who has left behind someone like you is not truly dead; and this was also the path taken by the Chief of the Ancients and the Moderns A title for Muhammad: original: "Sayyid al-Awwalin wa al-Akhirin," meaning the leader of all people from the first to the last. The original author notes that Muhammad is considered the "Seal" or final Prophet, and compares his global impact to other figures like Joseph Smith, whom the author considers a failure by comparison.. O my lord Ali, be comforted and stop grieving.” Thereupon Nur al-Din rose and, going to the guest hall, moved everything he needed there. Then he assembled his companions and took back his handmaid; and, collecting ten of the merchants' sons around him, he began to eat meat and drink wine, hosting party after party and lavishing them with presents and favors. One day his steward came to him and said, “O my lord Nur al-Din, have you not heard the saying, 'He who spends without counting will end in poverty without realizing it'?” And he repeated what the poet wrote:

I watch over my money and guard it with care, ⋄ For I know well it is my shield and my sword:
Should I lavish my silver coins original: "dirhams" on flatterers original: "hostilest foes", ⋄ I would trade my good luck for a trap of misfortune:
So I will eat and drink and enjoy my wealth; ⋄ And I will not tolerate spending my pennies on others:
I will keep my purse closed against whoever it may be; ⋄ For I never found a true friend in a thorough miser:
It is far better to deny a man than to have to say, “Lend to me,” ⋄ When you expect five times the loan to return to your hand!
But he turns his face away and sidles off, ⋄ While I stand like a humiliated dog, stripped of my manhood.
Oh, what a sorry lot is his who has no gold coins original: "yellow-boys", ⋄ Though his genius and virtues shine as bright as the sun!

“O my master,” continued the steward, “this lavish spending and these magnificent gifts are wasting your wealth.” When Nur al-Din Ali heard these words, he looked at his servant and cried, “I will not heed a single word of all you have spoken, for I have heard the saying of the poet who said:

If my palm is full of wealth and I never give it away, ⋄ May a palsy take my hand and my foot never rise again!
Show me a miser who ever rose to high rank through stinginess, ⋄ Or a generous man whom giving has ever killed.”