Overview

In Jami's Baharestan, the Caliph Ma'mun notices that his servant, who is charged with preparing water for ritual ablution, repeatedly makes off with a ewer or bucket. Instead of punishing him, Ma'mun offers to buy the current bucket, pays two dinars for it, and then secures the servant's own pledge that this bucket is now under trust and safe from theft.

Symbolism and Meaning

1. Magnanimity over retribution: Ma'mun neutralizes the theft by transforming it into a legitimate transaction, choosing generosity and cleverness rather than harsh punishment.
2. Relinquishing wealth for peace: The closing verses counsel that one should freely let go of material possessions so that the other person's restless soul may find ease, warning that clinging to wealth can culminate in the loss of life itself.
3. Trust as a bond: By granting ownership and receiving a pledge in return, Ma'mun replaces an ongoing cycle of theft with a relationship of trust, illustrating the ...