The Most Valuable Merchandise

بِسۡمِ ٱللهِ ٱلرَّحۡمَـٰنِ ٱلرَّحِيمِ

A scholar was on a ship with some merchants who were transporting their goods.  They asked the scholar what kinds of merchandise he dealt in, and the scholar replied, “The most valuable of all.”  But when they inquired further, he would not say what it was. 

The merchants, somewhat puzzled, began searching the ship to see what the scholar’s merchandise was.  When they could not find anything, they began laughing at the scholar.  But as they sailed further, a band of pirates attacked them and stole everything they had. 

When their ship reached land, the merchants had nothing and encountered many problems.  But the scholar began imparting his teachings to the people, and they soon rewarded him with many things.  When the merchants saw this, they said to him, “Please forgive us for laughing at you earlier.  Please help us out.  We did not know that learning is indeed the supreme merchandise.”