OUR BEHAVIOURS SHAPE THE PEOPLE WHO LOOK UP TO US: A Lesson from the Repentant Horse Thief

𝐎𝐔𝐑 𝐁𝐄𝐇𝐀𝐕𝐈𝐎𝐔𝐑𝐒 𝐒𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐄 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐏𝐄𝐎𝐏𝐋𝐄 𝐖𝐇𝐎 𝐋𝐎𝐎𝐊 𝐔𝐏 𝐓𝐎 𝐔𝐒: 𝐀 𝐋𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭 𝐇𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐞 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐞𝐟

A man named Ahmed admired an Arabian horse owned by a Caliph and was determined to buy it. He offered the Caliph many camels, yet the Caliph refused because he had no intention of selling the horse at any price.

Angered by the refusal, Ahmed declared, “Since you have rejected my fair offer, I will get this horse from you even if it is through foul means.”

One day, Ahmed disguised himself as a beggar and lay in the desert pretending to be gravely ill. He knew the Caliph often passed that route and that he was a kind and compassionate ruler.

As expected, the Caliph noticed the weak beggar, dismounted from his horse, and attempted to help him. Seeing that the beggar could not walk, the Caliph placed him gently on the horse and walked beside it.

In that moment, Ahmed revealed his true identity, seized the opportunity, and galloped away laughing triumphantly.

“I told you I would get this horse by any means possible,” he shouted.

Instead of being angry, the Caliph called after him with a plea. He said, “Take the horse if you must, but do not tell anyone in the kingdom how you deceived me.”

Surprised by this, Ahmed asked why.

The Caliph replied, “Someday a truly poor and sick beggar may lie by the roadside, and if your trick becomes known, no one will stop to help him.”

The weight of those words pierced Ahmed’s conscience. Filled with shame, he returned the horse and asked for the Caliph’s forgiveness.

There is a profound lesson here. We can talk endlessly about the consequences of certain actions, but people often learn more from what they see than from what they hear. When we emphasise the benefits of good behaviour and model it ourselves, we inspire others to choose better paths.

Our behaviours influence the people who look up to us. Let us live in a way that encourages others to do good and be better.

Have a great week.

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