Once there lived in Arabia a notorious thief. He did not fear anybody. On the other hand, everybody was afraid of him. One day the Prophet (Sm) called him and advised him not to steal. “Stealing is a great sin,” said the Prophet, “and nobody respects a thief.” “O Prophet, ask me to do any other thing. I will do it. But stealing! No, I cannot give it up” said the thief.
“All right”, said the Prophet, “then follow this simple advice Do not tell a lie.” The thief promised that he would not tell a lie from that day. At night the thief went out to steal as usual. On the way a man asked him, “Where are you going?” The thief remembered the advice of the Prophet. So he could not tell a lie. He also could not speak the truth. So he came back home.
Next night, the thief went out to steal too,. Again a man met him on the way and asked him, “Where are you going?” The thief could not tell a lie. He also could not speak the truth. So he came back home that night too.
The same thing happened to the thief every night. And he could not tell a lie. He also could not speak the truth. So he could not go to steal. As a result he gave up the habit of stealing. And finally he beame a great saint.
