Where should true generosity be shown?
A woman asked an elderly street vendor, "How much are the eggs per dozen?" The old man replied respectfully, "Madam, thirty rupees per egg." The woman retorted, "I will take six eggs for 150 rupees, otherwise I'm leaving." The old man smiled gently and said, "Madam, take them however you wish. For me, at least this is a good start to the day. Not a single egg has been sold yet, and I have to make ends meet with this." The woman left, feeling delighted with what she thought was an excellent bargain. A little later, she sat in her luxury car and reached an expensive restaurant, where she had lunch with her friend. Both ordered without hesitation, barely even touched the food, and when the bill of 4,500 rupees arrived, she paid 5,000 rupees, telling the owner to keep the change as a tip. For the restaurant, this generosity might be a normal thing, but for the egg vendor, it was a silent injustice. Why do we often feel the need to show our power in front of weak and needy people? And why do we display generosity where it is not truly needed? I once read a story of a father who would always pay more than the actual price when buying things from poor street vendors. His children asked him, "Father, why do you do this?" He replied, "This is charity, but wrapped in the veil of respect." (Adapted from English Literature — Selection: Islamic Tube Pro App)
- Anas Memon Palanpuri
