Hamid was sleeping when all of a sudden the roof collapsed on top of him. He awoke with a feeling of terror, and related what he saw to an aged neighbor known for his ability to interpret dreams.
“Do you want a lie that will make you happy,” asked the neighbor, “or a truth that will hurt and make you feel sad?”
“Let me hear the lie first,” Hamid answered.
“You’ll be saved from cares that you think are mountains but which turn out to be nothing but dust,” said the neighbor.
“Now, I’ll hear the truth,” Hamid said.
The neighbor smiled. He advised Hamid to keep his eyes open day and night, observing his wife’s behavior.
“But, as you know, I’m not married,” Hamid said in utter surprise.
“You’ll marry soon,” said the neighbor, “and don’t forget to keep watch over the woman you marry, or you’ll regret it.”
The neighbor’s prophecy came true. In a few months Hamid married a widow with much experience. He did not neglect his neighbor’s advice, and kept watch over his wife like one who expected something bad to happen. But he forgot to watch himself, with the result that his wife caught him in the guest room in very close contact with his youthful guest. She immediately threw the guest out of the house. Hamid spoke to his wife in a broken voice about his respect for ancient customs that called upon people to practice generosity with guests, but she cut him off angrily. “Can’t I also be a guest to practice your generosity on? Why didn’t you let me know what you preferred and what I also prefer?”
And she bent forward, just like the youthful guest, and Hamid admitted he had been blind and ignorant.