 his brother was his partner in everything and he was equally stingy. one friday while we were at his door his brother placed in our hands a plate of dates worth two danqans in basra. while we were eating his brother came and did not greet us or speak until he entered the house. we disapproved of that but he was very cheerful and he used cheerfulness as a shield against his money. he knew that if he combined stinginess with arrogance he would be killed. he said we did not know his reason and his brother did not know it.
وكان أخوه شريكه في كل شيء، وكان في البخل مثله، فوضع أخوه في يوم جمعة بين أيدينا، ونحن على بابه، طبق رطب يساوي بالبصرة دانقين، فبينما نحن نأكل إذ جاء أخوه، فلم يسلم ولم يتكلم حتى دخل الدار. فأنكرنا ذلك، وكان يفرط في إظهار البشر، ويجعل البشر وقاية دون ماله. وكان يعلم أنه إن جمع بين المنع والكبر قتل. قال ولم نعرف علته، ولم يعرفها أخوه.