By: Bro Qays Arthur From Jordan
One cent is called a Qirsh. The other night I went to a little shop to get some bread.
They were completely out of bread and I had already picked up some sweets.
So there I was at the counter with no wallet (as usual- an oft forgotten entity) but with lots of change in my pocket.
"Fifty-five qirsh." said the shopkeeper smiling as I reached into my jingling pocket.
"Make it fifty," he added "don't bother with the five."
I returned his smile as I gave him the fifty. I then reached over the counter and dropped the five I knew he would not have accepted otherwise into his cash register.
And quickly turned about to exit. Of course he protested but the matter was over.
As I left the shop I wondered whether it would have been better for me to have simply accepted his gesture. Specifically I wondered what would have pleased God more.
Well I was still without bread so I walked some time in the crispy Fall, Amman air till I came to another slightly larger shop.
Five Qirsh's Pride
At the counter the shopkeeper cheerfully greeted me, asked me how I was doing, and said, "Fifty qirsh."
I returned his greeting and salutations, reached into my pocket, grabbed the remainder of the change and counted as I let the little silver discs fall into his palm.
Believe it or not the coins stopped falling at exactly forty five qirsh. That was it. Not a cent more was on my person. With what must have been more than a hint of embarrassment in my eyes I looked up at his face, beaming like a full moon, smiling even more generously than the first shopkeeper but before I could speak he interjected.
"No problem Sidi. Don't bother with the five. It's OK." Again I tried to reassure him that on the next occassion I would... but yet again he interjected.
"It's OK." he said this time with much more insistence holding up the bag for me to take. As I left the shop I glanced up into the clear night sky and squinted with jesting protest at the stars.
"Exactly five qirsh short." I laughed to myself thinking of the first shopkeeper.
Next time, insha Allah I know what to do.
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