we found that a mans gift to his companion is either for god or for someone other than god. if it is for god then his reward is from god. how should i according to the argument of reason thank him when if he had met a wayfarer other than me he would not have carried me or given me anything? or his giving me was for the sake of mention and if that is the case then he has made me a ladder to his trade and a means to his goal or his giving me was out of mercy and tenderness and because of the pressure and pain he finds in his heart and if that is why he gave then he has treated himself for his illness and he is like someone who has been relieved of his chokehold. if he gave me only to seek reward and love of recompense then this matter is well known and if he gave me only out of fear of my hand or my tongue or to seek my assistance and support then his path is the path of all that we have described and detailed.
ووجدنا عطية الرجل لصاحبه لا تخلو أن تكون لله، أو لغير الله. فإن كانت لله، فثوابه على الله. وكيف يجب علي في حجة العقل شكره، وهو لو صادف ابن سبيل غيري لما حملني ولا أعطاني، وإما أن يكون إعطاؤه إياي للذكر، فإذا كان الأمر كذلك، فإنما جعلني سلما الى تجارته، وسببا إلى بغيته، أو يكون إعطاؤه إياي من طريق الرحمة والرقة، ولما يجد في فؤاده من العصر والألم، فإن كان لذلك أعطى، فإنما داوى نفسه من دائه، وكان كالذي رفه من خناقه ١ . وإن كان إنما أعطاني على طلب المجازاة وحب المكافأة فأمر هذا معروف، وإن كان إنما أعطاني من خوف يدي أو لساني، أو اجترار معونتي ونصرتي، فسبيله سبيل جميع ما وصفنا وفصلنا.