Overview

In this parable from Attar's Mosibat Nameh, an elderly man finds a worthless black dirham. Deciding to give it to the most needy person, he searches and ultimately presents it to the king.

Core Concept

The allegory criticizes the insatiable greed of worldly rulers. Although the king possesses wealth and power, his constant demand for more resources reveals him to be the most impoverished person, highlighting that true poverty is defined by greed rather than material lack.