Once upon a time, there were two stores next to each other, separated by a wooden wall. One store belonged to the oil maker, and the other belonged to a perfume seller. In the wooden wall, there was a hole big enough to see through. After a weary day, the oil maker was counting the days profits, and the perfume seller watched him through the hole. He saw him count all the coins. They amounted 120 dinars. Back then, 120 dinars were worth about $1000 dollars. Anyhow, the oil maker put his coins in a red napkin, hid the napkin, closed the store, and left for the mosque to pray. When the oil maker left, the perfume seller knew he had a chance to get all the money. He threw himself onto the street, screaming, "My money! My money! A robber stole my money!" A police officer ran to him. "When did you lose your money?" aksed the officer. "Just now!" "How many dinars were there?" "120!" "Where did you put them?" "In a red napkin!" "Who do you suspect of stealing the money?" "My neighbor, the olive maker!" The officer got more police, and they searched the olive makers' store, only to find the money. The police asked, "Why did you steal the money?" "I didn't steal, those are my daily profits!" replied the oil maker. In a teasing manner, the police replied,"Daily profits in robberies!" All the police broke into laughter. They sent the oil maker and the perfume seller to the local court. Days of court passed, and the judge had a hard time deciding who was innocent and who was guilty. Since he could not place his verdict, he passed the lawsuit to the supreme court of Palestine. When the local judge could not place his verdict, he sent the oil maker and the perfume seller to the supreme court of Palestine. Days of court passed, and the judge had a hard time deciding who was innocent and who was guilty. After a year of court, he still couldn't decide who's innocent and who's guilty, and who really should own the money. After a day of court, and no verdict placed, the supreme court judge went home. On his way home, he watches three kids play a game name named "Verdict!". (Verdict is an old Arab game in which the people playing are either plaintiffs, defendants, or judges. They make up a case and they place an imaginary verdict.) They were trying to solve the oil maker and perfume seller's case. The child judge said, "Bring forth a bowl of warm water, and 40 of the 120 dinars!" The other children asked, "Why?" "If we place the dinars in the warm water, and they belonged to the oil maker, oil will rise to the surface because the coins would be full with oil from his hands. If we place the dinars in the warm water, and they belonged to the perfume seller, good smells will fill the air because the coins would be full with perfume from his hands." The judge ran to the child. He said, "Thank you, child! I will use your method in court tomorrow Insha'Allah!" (Insha'Allah means "if God wills") The child was given a prize for his wise but simple method of testing, and the perfume maker was proven guilty..
By Strive Masiyiwa A few weeks ago I went to the doctor. I will tell you what he said about my health at the end, but first read this: Twenty years ago, I arranged to meet a well-known British international businessman who invested a lot in Africa at the time. We agreed to meet for dinner at a leading hotel in London. After a good meeting, we started to walk out of the restaurant when he suddenly collapsed in the lobby. There was total pandemonium as they rushed to get medical assistance. Being London, an ambulance arrived in minutes. I jumped in the back with him as paramedics wrestled to keep him alive. He had had a heart attack and had to have triple bypass heart surgery. Sadly he died a few weeks later. He hadn't been sick and his sudden death surprised everyone. And yet as I reflected on it, and later discussed it with a doctor friend who knew him, I realized he was very laid back about his health despite having a hectic business life. Even during our dinner...
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