almakki said my father had an uncle called sulayman alkathri who was called that because of his great wealth. he used to bring me close when i was a boy until i reached puberty. despite that closeness he never gave me anything. he had gone beyond the limits of miserliness in that. one day i went to see him and in front of him were pieces of a chinese house worth not even a qirat. when he had fulfilled what he needed from it i extended my hand to take a piece but when he looked at me i withdrew my hand. he said do not shrink but relax and let your opinion be good for your situation with me is as you wish so take it all for it is yours in its entirety and in its entirety and it is all yours my soul is generous with that. and god knows that i am pleased with the good that has reached you. so i left it in his hands and i got up from him and headed as i was to iraq. i did not see him and he did not see me until he died.
قال المكي كان لأبي عم يقال له سليمان الكثري سمي بذلك لكثرة ماله. وكان يقربني وأنا صبي إلى أن بلغت. ولم يهب لي مع ذلك التقريب شيئا قط. وكان قد جاوز في ذلك حد البخلاء. فدخلت عليه يوما، وإذا قدامه قطع دار صيني لا تسوى قيراطا؛ فلما نال حاجته منها، مددت يدي لآخذ قطعة، فلما نظر إلي قبضت يدي، فقال لا تنقبض وانبسط واسترسل وليحسن ظنك، فإن حالك عندي على ما تحب، فخذه كله، فهو لك بزوبره ١ ، وبحذافيره، وهو لك جميعا؛ نفسي بذلك سخية. والله يعلم أني مسرور بما وصل إليك من الخير . فتركته بين يده، وقمت من عنده وجعلته وجهي، كما أنا، إلى العراق. فما رأيته وما رآني حتى مات.