𝗠𝗲𝗻'𝘀 𝗕𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗳𝗶𝘁𝘀 (31)

Cheaters Never Prosper! Al-Manṣūr once sat in one of the pavilions of his city and saw a distressed, anxious man wandering through the streets. He sent someone to bring the man to him. He asked him about his situation, and the man informed him that he had gone out for trade, earned some money, and upon returning home had entrusted the money to his wife. His wife then claimed that the money had been stolen from the house, though she had seen no sign of a break-in nor any climbing over the walls. Al-Manṣūr asked him: “How long have you been married to her?” He replied: “For a year.” He asked: “Did you marry her as a virgin?” He replied: “No.” He asked: “Does she have a child from someone other than you?” He replied: “No.” He asked: “Is she young or old?” He said: “Rather, she is young.” So Al-Manṣūr called for a bottle of perfume he had prepared for himself — a sharp-scented, unusual type — and handed it to the man. He said to him: “Perfume yourself with this fragrance; it will take away your worry.” When the man left Al-Manṣūr’s presence, the caliph said to four of his trusted men: “Let each of you sit at one of the city gates. Whoever passes by you and you detect this fragrance on him, bring him to me.” The man went home with the perfume and gave it to his wife, saying: “The Commander of the Faithful has gifted this to me.” When she smelled it, she sent for a man whom she loved — the same man to whom she had given the stolen money. She told him: “Use some of this perfume; the Commander of the Faithful gifted it to my husband.” So the man perfumed himself and passed by one of the city gates. The guard at the gate smelled the perfume on him, seized him, and brought him to al-Manṣūr. Al-Manṣūr said to him: “Where did you obtain this perfume? Its scent is rare and remarkable.” The man replied: “I bought it.” Al-Manṣūr said: “Tell us from whom you bought it.” The man faltered and became confused in his speech. So Al-Manṣūr summoned the chief of police and said to him: “Take this man. If he produces such-and-such amount of dinars, let him go wherever he wishes. But if he refuses, strike him with a thousand lashes without consulting me.” When the man was taken out, Al-Manṣūr called after the chief of police and said: “Make the matter severe for him, but do not lash him until you notify me.” The chief of police dragged the man violently by his clothes, so the man submitted and returned the dinars in their exact form. When Al-Manṣūr learned of this, he summoned the original owner of the money and said to him: “If I return your dinars to you exactly as they were, will you grant me authority over your wife’s case?” He replied: “Yes.” Al-Manṣūr said: “Here are your dinars — and I have divorced the woman on your behalf,” then informed him of her treachery. Source: https://t.me/AbdulkareemAlhassni/186