The Tale of Hatim Tai and the Envious King: From Shaykh Saadi’s Bostaan

In the land of Yaman, there was a king whose generosity was well-known, yet the mere mention of Hatim Tai’s name would send him into a fit of anger. Hatim, a man celebrated for his boundless generosity, had neither a throne nor great wealth, but his fame spread far and wide. This gnawed at the king’s pride. “How much longer,” he would fume, “must I hear of this man who has nothing, yet outshines me?”

One day, after hosting a grand feast attended by nobles and commoners alike, the king grew even more envious when Hatim’s name came up in conversation. Enraged, he decided that the only way to secure his own fame was to eliminate Hatim once and for all. He called upon a loyal messenger and ordered him to find Hatim and kill him. “As long as Hatim lives,” the king thought, “I will never be truly renowned.”

The messenger set out on his journey, traveling far and wide in search of Hatim. Along the way, he encountered a young man who greeted him warmly. The youth was strikingly handsome and had an air of wisdom about him. Seeing the traveler’s weariness, the young man invited him to stay the night at his home, where he treated him with such generosity that the messenger’s heart began to soften.

The next morning, the youth, with a smile, asked his guest to stay a few more days. The messenger, however, declined. “I cannot delay,” he said. “I have an urgent mission.”

 

 

“Perhaps I can assist you,” the young man offered. “Tell me your mission, and I will do all in my power to help.”

The messenger hesitated, but the youth’s kindness made him trust the stranger. “O generous one,” he began, “I seek Hatim Tai, a man of noble heart. The king of Yaman has commanded me to bring him Hatim’s head, though I do not know the cause of their enmity. If you know where I might find him, I would be forever grateful.”

The youth chuckled softly. “You have found Hatim,” he said, revealing his identity. “Here is my head—take it if you must. I would not want you to suffer for failing in your task.”

The messenger was struck with awe. He threw down his sword and fell at Hatim’s feet, tears streaming down his face. “If I were to harm even a hair on your head,” he cried, “I would no longer be worthy of being called a man.” With that, he embraced Hatim, unable to carry out his mission.

 

 

When the messenger returned to Yaman, the king impatiently asked, “Where is Hatim’s head? Did he defeat you in combat?”

The messenger bowed low and replied, “O wise and just king, I found Hatim, but his generosity and courage overwhelmed me. He killed me, not with a sword, but with his kindness. How could I strike down such a man?”

Hearing the messenger’s account of Hatim’s unmatched generosity, the king was moved. Instead of punishing the messenger, he praised Hatim’s noble family and rewarded the messenger with gold. The king realized that true greatness lies not in wealth or power, but in the goodness of one’s heart.