Contentment

Dear children, you must have heard the famous name of Caliph Harun al-Rashid. He was a ruler who often disguised himself to observe the conditions of his people firsthand. On one such occasion, he was walking along the bank of a river when he noticed a man fishing quietly, having cast his net into the water.

The Caliph asked him politely, “Have you caught any fish yet?”

The fisherman replied calmly, “Not yet.”

“Do you have any hope of catching some?” the Caliph asked again.

“Yes,” the man said with complete confidence, “by evening I will catch three fish.”

Surprised, the Caliph asked, “Why only three? How can you be so sure?”

The fisherman smiled and replied, “For many years, I have lived like this. Nature arranges exactly three fish for me every day. As soon as I catch three fish, I fold my net and return home.”

The Caliph found this answer fascinating and asked further, “And what do you do with these three fish?”

The fisherman explained, “I cook one fish for my family, and I sell the other two to meet our daily needs. That is enough for us.”

After thinking for a while, the Caliph said, “Make me your partner. Let us work together.”

The fisherman replied honestly, “I do not need a partner. Whatever I need, I receive daily.”

After much insistence, the fisherman finally agreed—but on one condition: the fisherman’s three daily fish would remain entirely his, and any additional fish caught beyond that would be shared—three parts for the fisherman and one part for the partner.

The Caliph accepted the terms. He provided the fisherman with new nets and necessary equipment and said, “If I cannot come someday, visit me in Baghdad. My name is Harun al-Rashid.”

From that day on, by the will of God, the number of fish increased. The fisherman would separate his three fish first, sell the remaining catch, and carefully set aside the Caliph’s one-quarter share. In those days, gold and silver coins were commonly used, and the fisherman collected the Caliph’s share in a vessel.

A long time passed, and the fisherman became worried. He thought, What kind of partner is this who never returns after starting the business? Finally, he picked up the vessel filled with gold coins and set out for Baghdad.

Asking people along the way about Harun al-Rashid, he eventually reached the royal palace. The guards had been instructed to allow anyone who wished to meet the Caliph to do so. When the fisherman entered the magnificent court and witnessed its grandeur, he was stunned. At that moment, the Caliph recognized him immediately.

Harun al-Rashid welcomed him warmly, seated him beside himself, and asked, “What brings you here?”

The fisherman hesitantly replied, “I have brought your share of the profits.”

The Caliph was deeply pleased. Not only did he return the fisherman’s share as a reward, but he also gave him generous gifts and honors. Then he said, “When I first heard your words, I realized that God had written three fish per day in your destiny, and you were content with that. God has blessed me with immense wealth. When I partnered with you, it was a sharing of destinies—and the blessing that followed was the result of that shared fortune.”

Dear children, this story teaches us that contentment is a great virtue. When a person is satisfied with what God provides and lives honestly, blessings increase in unexpected ways. We should always do good with others, because sometimes our partnership, kindness, or sincerity becomes a source of immense benefit—not only for others, but for ourselves as well.