'I hear and obey the judgment of the Imam，'answered the Bedouin'and am content to submit me to the requirement of the law of Islam；but I have a young brotherwhose old fatherbefore his deathappointed to him great store of wealth and much gold and committed his affair to mesaying，'I give this into thy hand for thy brother；keep it for him with thy might.'So I took the money and buried it；nor doth any know of it but I. Nowif thou adjudge me to die forthright，the money will be lost and thou wilt be the cause of its loss；wherefore the little one will sue thee for his due on the day when God shall judge His creatures. Butif thou wilt grant me three days'delayI will appoint one to undertake the boy's affairin my steadand return to answer my debt；and I have one who will be my surety for this my word.'
The Khalif bowed his head awhilethen raised it and looking round upon those presentsaid'Who will be surety to me for his return？'The Bedouin looked at the faces of those who were in company and pointing to Abou Dherrsaid'This man will answer for me and be my surety.'O Abou Dherr，'said Omar，'dost thou hear what this youth says and wilt thou be surety to me for his return？'YesO Commander of the Faithful，'answered Abou Dherr'I will be surety for him three days.'
So the Khalif accepted his guarantee and let the young man go.
Nowat the appointed timewhen the days of grace were nearly or quite at end and still the Bedouin came notthe Khalif sat in his councilwith the Companions surrounding him，like the stars about the moonAbou Dherr and the plaintiffs being also present；and the latter said'O Abou Dherrwhere is the defendant and how shall he returnhaving once escaped？
But we will not stir hencetill thou bring him to usthat we may take our wreak of him.'As the All-Wise King liveth，'replied Abou Dherr'if the days of grace expire and the young man return notI will fulfil my warranty and surrender myself to the Imam.'By Allah，'rejoined Omar'if the young man tarryI will assuredly execute on Abou Dherr that which is prescribed by the law of Islam！'Thereupon the eyes of the bystanders ran over with tears；those who looked on raised groansand great was the clamour. Then the chiefs of the Companions were instant with the plaintiffs to accept the bloodwit and win the thanks of the folkbut they refused and would nothing but the talion. Howeveras the folk were swaying to and fro and clamorously bemoaning Abou Dherrup came the young Bedouinwith face beaded with sweat and shining like the new moonand standing before the Imamsaluted him right fairly and said to him'I have given the boy in charge to his mother's brothers and have made them acquainted with all that pertains to his affairs and let them into the secret of his good；after which I braved the heats of midday and am come to redeem the promise of a free-born man.'
The folk marvelled at his good faith and loyalty and his intrepid offering himself to death；and one said to him'How noble a youth art thou and how loyal to thy promise and thy duty！'Are ye not certified，'rejoined he'that when death presenteth itself none can escape from it？ And indeed I have kept faiththat it be not said'Loyalty is gone from among men.''By AllahO Commander of the Faithful，'said Abou Dherr'I became warrant for this young manwithout knowing to what tribe he belongednor had I seen him before that day；but when he turned away from all else who were present and singled me outsaying'This man will answer for me and be my surety，'I thought ill to refuse himand humanity forbade to baulk his expectationthere being no harm in compliance with his desire，that it be not said'Benevolence is gone from among men.'
Then said the two young men'O Commander of the Faithfulwe forgive this youth our father's blood，--seeing that [by his noble behaviour] he hath changed desolation into cheer，--that it be not said'Humanity is gone from among men.'
The Khalif rejoiced in the acquittance of the young Bedouin and his truth and good faith；moreoverhe extolled the humanity of Abou Dherrover all his companionsand approved the benevolent resolve of the two young mengiving them grateful praise and applying to their case the saying of the poet：
He who doth good among the folk shall be repaid again；For works of Good are never lost betwixten God and men.
Then he offered to pay themfrom the Treasurythe bloodwit for their father；but they refusedsaying'We forgave him but of our desire unto God the Bountifulthe Exalted；and he who is thus minded followeth not his benefits with reproach neither mischief.'
