There lived oncein the city of Cairoa merchant by name Hassan the Jeweller of Baghdadwho had great store of wealth in money and jewels and lands and houses beyond count. God had blessed him with a son of perfect beauty and elegance，rosy-cheekedfair of face and well-shapedwhom he named Ali of Cairo and taught the Koran and science and elocution and the other branches of polite letterstill he became proficient in all manner of knowledge and was under his father's hand in trade. After awhileHassan fell sick and his sickness increased upon himtill he made sure of death and calling his son to himsaid'O my sonverily this world passeth away；but the next endureth for ever. Every soul must taste of death；and nowO my sonmy last hour is at hand and I desire to lay on thee an injunctionwhich if thou observethou shalt abide in peace and prosperitytill thou meet God the Most High；but if thou follow it notthere shall befall thee weariness galore and thou wilt repent of having transgressed my admonitions.'O my father，'replied Ali'how shall I do other than hearken to thee and do after thine enjoinderseeing that I am bounden by the law of God to obey thee and give ear to thy word？'O my son，'rejoined his father'I leave thee lands and houses and goods and wealth past count；wert thou each day to spend thereof five hundred dinarsthou wouldst miss nought of it.
ButO my sonlook that thou live in the fear of God and follow His Chosen One（whom may He bless and preserve）in what he is reported to have enjoined and forbidden in his traditions. Be thou assiduous in good works and the practice of beneficence and in consorting with men of worth and piety and learning；and look that thou have a care for the poor and needy and shun avarice and meanness and the converse of the wicked or those of doubtful character. Look kindly upon thy servants and familyand also upon thy wifefor she is of the daughters of the notables and is with child by thee；belike God will vouchsafe thee virtuous offspring by her.'And he went on to exhort him thusweeping and saying'O my sonI beseech God the Bountifulthe Lord of the Empyreanto deliver thee from all straits that may betide thee and grant thee His speedy relief！'