The Wisdom of One Goat

Once upon a time, in a village, there lived a prosperous man who owned a herd of animals. He sold their milk, butter, and ghee, and enjoyed great wealth.

One day, however, a disease struck his animals and, one by one, they all died. He was distraught. Though he had amassed considerable savings at home, he began to spend that fortune on daily expenses. Gradually, all his valuables were sold, and he soon faced starvation.

Desperate, his wife reminded him that the chief of a neighboring village was his friend. She urged him to go and ask for help. The very next day, dressed in his best clothes, he went to visit the chief. The chief welcomed him warmly and feasted him lavishly. After hearing his friend’s plight, the chief called his servant, saying, “Bring a goat for my friend,” and pressed upon him, “Take this goat, and if you ever need help again, come straight to me.” He also gave gifts for the man’s wife and children.

The man was surprised that, though his friend was the powerful village chief, he offered him only a single goat. Nonetheless, he took the goat and returned home. His wife, too, was puzzled by such meager aid.

They milked the goat, drank its milk, and sold the rest. It brought them some relief, and after a month the goat died. Both husband and wife were once again in despair. Remembering the chief’s advice, the man returned to his friend. Again the chief welcomed him, listened to his troubles, and had a new goat brought. “Take this one too,” he said, “and come back whenever you need.”

The man returned home with the second goat, whose milk they drank and sold. After some time, that goat too died, and once more he went to his friend, who again received him graciously, fed him, and gave him a third goat with the same instruction.

This time the goat produced so much milk that, after selling it, the man earned a good sum. Being prudent, he saved enough to buy another goat himself. With Allah’s blessing, his fortunes began to turn; he bought more animals, and prosperity returned to his household.

One day his wife reminded him how it was his friend’s help that had restored their wealth, and urged him to go thank the chief. The next morning, rejoicing, he set out for his friend’s village. The chief greeted him with delight, feasted him as before, and asked his purpose. The man thanked him sincerely and explained that, thanks to his help, his circumstances were far better than before.

Hearing this, the chief was overjoyed. He summoned his servants and ordered, “Release fifty animals from my herd and take them to my friend’s house.”

The man was astonished: when his friend had known he was in dire need, he had given only a goat, yet now that his fortunes had improved, he offered fifty animals. He could not help speaking his mind: “O friend, when I was in deepest distress, you gave me only a goat. If you had given me fifty then, they too would have died. You gave me only what I could sustain, and so I survived.”

The chief smiled and said, “When you first came, I saw you were in hardship—giving you fifty animals then would have meant losing them all. So I gave you one goat at a time, enough to keep you going. Now that your bad times are past and prosperity returns, it is fitting that I help you in a manner worthy of our friendship. Now I have no fear: these fifty animals will serve you well.”

Hearing this, the man was filled with gratitude and marvelled at his friend’s wisdom.