Hatim Tai was a pre-Islamic philanthropist and poet, known for his generosity. He is praised in Hadith as well as Bostan, the great work of Shaykh Saadi.
Shaykh Saadi narrate is Bostan that the King at the time of Hatim Tai became jealous when he heard of Hatim's generosity. He decided to test him and sent an ambassador to Hatim to ask his favourite horse.
When the ambassador arrived at Hatim's house, there was no food at the house. Hatim arranged to make sure the guest is served. After the dinner, Ambassador asked Hatim for his horse to trial him.
"My dear friend". Hatim replied. "I wish you have told me this at your arrival. Since there was no food at home, I asked my servants to slaughter my horse to feed you."
The ambassador went back to King empty handed and told the entire story. The King exclaimed, "Indeed! Only Hatim deserved the title of being the most generous."
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Shaykh Saadi narrate is Bostan that the King at the time of Hatim Tai became jealous when he heard of Hatim's generosity. He decided to test him and sent an ambassador to Hatim to ask his favourite horse.
When the ambassador arrived at Hatim's house, there was no food at the house. Hatim arranged to make sure the guest is served. After the dinner, Ambassador asked Hatim for his horse to trial him.
"My dear friend". Hatim replied. "I wish you have told me this at your arrival. Since there was no food at home, I asked my servants to slaughter my horse to feed you."
The ambassador went back to King empty handed and told the entire story. The King exclaimed, "Indeed! Only Hatim deserved the title of being the most generous."
TheSufi.com Download other hakayat/stories by Shaykh Saadi in english translations of Gulistan and Bostan at
Http://www.thesufi.com/sufi_ebooks/