. Yes, praise to Him in every condition of life!

_Arab_. Never shall I greet Ma'an as an emir should be greeted!

_Ma'an_. Greeting is an ordinance among Arabs in which you are free to
take what form you like.

_Arab_. An Emir who eats sweet pastry in secret, and entertains his
guest with barley bread!

_Ma'an_. The food is our own: we eat what we like and give others what
we like.

_Arab_. I shall leave a land in which thou dwellest, and depart,
though the hand of Fortune is hard upon me.

_Ma'an_. Brother Arab, if thou stay, thou art welcome; and if thou
depart, peace go with thee.

_Arab_. Son of shame, give me something for my journey, for I have
decided to go.

_Ma'an_ (_to his treasurer_): Give him a thousand pieces of money.

_Arab_. Noble prince, I have heard much of thy great forbearance, and
came only to try thee. Thy gentleness is indeed very great, and has no
like among men. I pray God that thy life may be long, and thy
forbearance be ever a noble example to which men may look up!

TRUTHFULNESS TO TRUST

The following historical incident is related by Arab authors as the
highest example of faithfulness to trust. Al-Samau'al (Samuel) was the
emir of a Jewish tribe in Southern Arabia, shortly before the time of
Mohammed. A friend of his, before setting out on a journey, left with
him some very fine mailed armour. This friend was killed in a battle,
and one of the kings of Syria demanded the arms. Al-Samau'al refused
to give them up except to the rightful heir, and the king laid siege to
him in one of his fortresses. One day his son fell into the hands of
the enemy, and the king threatened to kill him if the arms were not
given up. Again he refused, and from the turrets of the castle saw his
son put to death. The siege was soon after raised, and the arms were
delivered to the heirs of his friend.

TRUTHFULNESS TO PLEDGE

The terms of surrender at the capture of Jerusalem by Saladin, in 1187,
were that the Crusaders should retire with their goods from that city
to one of the garrisoned ports which were held by the Franks, on the
payment of ten pieces of gold for each man. As they were filing out of
the city, and handing in their ransom-money, Saladin and his generals
looked on, watching the proceedings. The patriarch's turn came, and he
was followed by a number of mules laden with much treasure. Saladin
made no sign, but his generals said: "Sire, the conditions of surren