Sufi parable from Attar Through work, trade and usury, the miser accumulated three hundred thousand dinars. He had lands and buildings, and a wide variety of wealth. Then he decided that he would spend one year having fun, living for his own pleasure, and then decide what his future should be like.
But as soon as he finished counting his money, the Angel of Death appeared before him to take his life. The miser tried with all sorts of arguments to convince the Angel, but he remained adamant. Then the man said:
- Give me just three days, for that I will give you a third of my property.
The angel refused and again pulled on the miser’s life to take it.
Then the man said:
“If you just give me two extra days on earth, I will give you two hundred thousand dinars from my savings.”
But the Angel did not want to listen to him. He even refused the unfortunate man one single day in exchange for all his three hundred thousand coins.
Then the miser said:
“I beg you, let me have just a little: let me write just a few words.”
This time the Angel made this only concession to him, and the man wrote with his own blood: “Man, do not waste your life. I couldn’t even buy an hour for three hundred thousand dinars. Make sure you understand the value of the time you have."
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru