Giving is Superior than Receiving

A young disciple, one day, was taking a walk with his spiritual leader (Saint) who was extra ordinarily friendly, kind and nice to his followers.

As they were walking on a small track in the lush green fields around, they saw a coat along with a pair of old shoes lying  in the path, which they supposed belonged to a peasant who was employed in a field close by, and who had nearly finished his day's work.The disciple turned to the Saint, asking "Shall I play a trick to the peasant? I will hide his shoes, and we will conceal ourselves behind those bushes, and wait to see his perplexity when he cannot find his shoes."

"My young buddy," answered the Saint, "we should never amuse ourselves at the expense of someone else. But I know you belong to a rich family, and may give yourself a much greater pleasure and satisfaction by means of the poor man. Put some coins into each shoe of the peasant, and then we will hide ourselves to watch how the discovery affects him." The disciple agreed to obey the suggestions and did so, and they both hide themselves behind the bushes close by.

The poor peasant soon finished his work, and came across the field to the track where he had left his coat and shoes. While putting on his coat he slipped his foot into one of his shoes; but feeling something hard, he stooped down to feel what it was, and found some glittering coins. Expressions of amazement and surprise could be seen upon his face.  He gazed upon the coins, turned them round, and looked at them again and again. He then looked around on all sides to find, who could place them in his shoes, but could not find anybody nearby.

He put the money into his pocket, and put on the other shoe; but his amusement was multiplied on finding some more coins in the other shoe.

His feelings overpowered him; he fell upon his knees, looked up to heaven and expressed aloud a passionate thanks to Allah Almighty. He spoke about his sick and feeble wife, and his children without bread, whom the timely bounty, from some unknown hand, would save from perishing.

The Disciple stood there deeply affected, and his eyes filled with tears. "Now," said the Saint, "are you not much more pleased and satisfied than if you had played your intended trick?"

The youth replied, "You have taught me a lesson which I will never forget. I feel now the truth of those words, which I never understood before:

"Giving hand is much more superior and blessed than the one receiving."