Intelligence

This is a story from centuries ago, from the time when a benevolent and just king ruled over the land of Yemen. The king was well known for his mercy, fairness, and deep concern for his people. He governed with wisdom, maintained good relations with neighboring kingdoms, and avoided unnecessary wars and bloodshed. Like the king, his princes were also kind-hearted and cared greatly for the welfare of the common people.

One day, a serious incident disturbed the peace of the royal palace. The queen’s necklace—an extraordinary ornament adorned with diamonds, precious jewels, and rare pearls—went missing. The palace superintendent searched everywhere with great effort, but the necklace could not be found. A generous reward was announced for anyone who could return it, yet no one came forward. Eventually, the matter reached the king himself.

The king addressed the royal court and said with regret, “We trust our servants and attendants completely, but it pains me to say that someone among them has betrayed this trust. The necklace has not been returned despite the reward. We need an intelligent person who can help us recover it. Whoever succeeds will be rewarded generously.”

Many people came forward claiming to be clever and wise. They interrogated the servants, maids, and attendants, but none confessed, and the necklace remained missing. Days passed, and the king grew increasingly worried.

One day, during a court session, an unusual sight appeared. A man entered the royal court holding a donkey by its rope. The courtiers were surprised and amused. The man bowed respectfully and said, “Your Majesty, this is a magical donkey. It can help you find the queen’s necklace.”

The king looked astonished and asked, “How is that possible?”

The man, whose name was Abu Dhar, replied calmly, “Your Majesty, all the servants and maids will be asked to touch the donkey’s tail one by one. The moment the thief touches it, the donkey will start braying loudly.”

The courtiers exchanged puzzled glances, but they said, “We only care about finding the necklace.”

At Abu Dhar’s request, two tents were set up. The donkey was tied inside one tent, while Abu Dhar sat with the king in the other. All servants and attendants were ordered to pass through the first tent, touch the donkey’s tail, and then come to the second tent before leaving.

One by one, the servants entered the donkey’s tent, touched its tail, and then walked into the second tent. Abu Dhar greeted each of them politely, pretended to offer respect, and discreetly smelled their hands before allowing them to leave.

This continued for a long time. Abu Dhar kept calmly smelling the hands of every servant and letting them go. Suddenly, he stopped one servant and held his hand firmly. Turning to the king, Abu Dhar declared, “Your Majesty, this is the thief who stole the queen’s necklace.”

The servant turned pale and immediately fell at the king’s feet. Trembling, he confessed, “Forgive me, Your Majesty. I was overcome by greed. I will return the necklace at once.”

The king ordered him to bring the necklace immediately. Soon, the servant returned with the precious necklace and handed it over to the king. The entire court was filled with amazement.

The king then turned to Abu Dhar and said, “You caught the thief so easily. How did you do it? Did the donkey truly help you?”

Abu Dhar smiled and replied respectfully, “Your Majesty, my donkey has no special powers. A donkey is just a donkey. Before the test, I applied a strong fragrance to its tail and spread the rumor that the donkey would bray if the thief touched it. All the innocent servants touched the tail without fear, so their hands carried the scent. The real thief, however, was afraid and did not touch the tail at all. When I smelled his hands and found no fragrance, I recognized him immediately.”

The king was deeply impressed by Abu Dhar’s intelligence and presence of mind. As promised, he rewarded him with a great amount of wealth and honored him before the entire court.

This story teaches that true intelligence lies not in force or magic, but in sharp observation, wisdom, and understanding human behavior.