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King & the Farmer – Short Moral Story

Once upon a time, there lived a King who, despite his luxurious lifestyle, was neither happy nor content.

One day, the King came upon a farmer who was singing happily while he worked. This fascinated the King; why was he, the  Ruler of the Land, unhappy and gloomy, while a lowly farmer had so much joy.

The King asked the farmer, ‘Why are you so happy?’

The farmer replied, ‘Your Majesty, I am nothing but a farmer, but my family and I don’t need too much – just a roof over our heads and warm food to fill our tummies.’

The king was not satisfied with that reply. Later in the day, he sought the advice of his most trusted advisor. After hearing the King’s woes and the farmer’s story, the advisor said, ‘Your Majesty, I believe that the farmer Has not been made part of The 99 Company.’

‘The 99 Company? And what exactly is that?’ the King inquired.

The advisor replied,  ‘Your Majesty, to truly know what The 99 Company is, place 99 Gold coins in a bag and leave it at this servant’s doorstep.’

When the servant saw the bag, he took it into his house. When he opened the bag, he let out a great shout of joy… So many gold coins!

He began to count them. After several counts, he was at last convinced that there were 99 coins. He wondered, ‘What could’ve happened to that last gold coin? Surely, no one would leave 99 coins!’

He looked everywhere he could, but that final coin was elusive. Finally, exhausted he decided that he was going to have to work harder than ever to earn that gold coin and complete his collection.

From that day, the servant’s life was changed. He was overworked, horribly grumpy, and castigated his family for not helping him make that 100th gold coin. He stopped singing while he worked.

Witnessing this drastic transformation, the King was puzzled. When he sought his advisor’s help, the advisor said, ‘Your Majesty, the servant has now officially joined The 99 Company.’

He continued, ‘The 99 Company is a name given to those people who have enough to be happy but are never contented, because they’re always yearning and Striving for that extra 1, saying to themselves: ‘Let me get that one final thing and then I will be happy for life.’ We can be happy, even with very little in our lives, but the minute we’re given something bigger and better, we want even more! We lose our sleep, our happiness, we hurt the people around us; all these as a price for our growing needs and desires.


60 Responses to King & the Farmer – Short Moral Story

  1. Algazali February 18, 2015 at 7:53 PM #

    Modern day slaves are those who have accumulated more than their needs. That’s the lesson from this interesting story. May Allah (SWT), save us from being slaves of the modern day. Amin.

  2. ismath July 1, 2014 at 7:26 PM #

    father and son was on a way to a shopping mall to purchase only 1 gold coin to present to a mowlana when the son ask his father to purchase extra one, father reluctant to purchase and said that this only one coin is to gift to that mowlana who performed some spiritual deeds to my late father who died a year ago, and the son told to his father please buy one more for me ,the father asked why one more , son replied that you are still alive,,,,because i have to reserve one more coin to present after,,,,

  3. Sundar October 2, 2013 at 10:45 AM #

    Hi,
    This is only one part of the story, if people had lived both the part, then it will become all the more interesting, it is easy to get contented, not to ask for anything at all, like not even to ask for the basic necessities, if it all the almighty wants me to live, he will provide, or else probably he wants me to leave this world, so, nothing is actually required, then, we will not do anything, because the rest of the people are working, people will think of using us, then they will want us to survive, and they will make us survive also, then we will work, but, without any josh, because, it is not our intention to live, as it is others, we can be irresponsible, just be, without bothering to look at the results, then, it will become boring, so, we will have a choice, either to get bored, or to have a goal and work for it, and this cycle shall continue, i am saying this, because i have lived on both the sides.

  4. gr chandran August 16, 2013 at 6:24 PM #

    very impressive moral story

    • Ali - Admin August 21, 2013 at 3:00 PM #

      Thanks!

  5. faisal July 19, 2013 at 6:35 PM #

    Thanks a lot Sara

    • Ali - Admin July 27, 2013 at 12:50 PM #

      Welcome Faisal.

  6. ADEGOKE WAHAB July 16, 2013 at 3:40 PM #

    contentment is the best policy

    • Ali - Admin July 18, 2013 at 12:17 PM #

      Rightly said!

  7. Fahad buka February 2, 2013 at 12:26 AM #

    very nice , I like it . human being nature, if he has one mountain of gold ,he wishes to have anothermountain of gold ,never satisfied

    • Ali - Admin February 3, 2013 at 7:33 PM #

      True.

  8. Syed A K January 3, 2013 at 7:38 PM #

    A reminder again……Trust the Almighty for what you need, Thank the Almighty Allaah for what has already been given. …satisfaction on what you have is the true wealth. …Yaa Allaah, please Grant us All peaceful life…Aameen…*

    • Ali - Admin January 5, 2013 at 12:37 AM #

      Rightly said Syed.

  9. Aziz Rao January 2, 2013 at 9:24 AM #

    Thank you dear for waking me up, i am resigning from THE 99 COMPANY at the moment

    • Syed A K January 3, 2013 at 7:47 PM #

      me too willing to resign from the 99 company….but the “Nafs” keeps asking for more. lets pray for a satisfied and peaceful Life

    • Ali - Admin January 5, 2013 at 12:45 AM #

      Glad you liked it Aziz.

  10. sharif123 December 27, 2012 at 5:39 PM #

    All of us are somewhat suffering from this 99 syndrome.

  11. Tasneem Ataullah December 1, 2012 at 1:15 AM #

    be satisfied and thank-full, you will recieve more along with happiness.

  12. Sonah August 21, 2012 at 11:25 PM #

    People are generally never happy with what they have. They always desire for more. Such an obsession results in their losing their peace and happiness theyenjoyed at the time they had just what they needed.

  13. Sonah August 21, 2012 at 11:19 PM #

    Reminds one of the common saying:
    When you have little, you want for more,.
    when you have more you desire still more,
    when you lose everything, you realise,
    Little was enough.

    • Sara - Admin August 25, 2012 at 8:19 PM #

      Beautifully said Sonah!

      • Sonah August 26, 2012 at 4:43 PM #

        Sara,
        Thank you for your appreciation. I take this opportunity to compliment you for the very successful blog you are so professinally managing, combining humour and lessons in values through outstanding stories.Keep it up.

    • Syed A K January 3, 2013 at 7:28 PM #

      Agree with you

  14. Jufraida June 8, 2012 at 2:41 PM #

    Thanks for sharing a wonderful story that can awaken some of us that aspiring too much for self gain is not good for our selves but if we strive more to do service and sharing blessings with other brothers and sisters then we become worthy children of Allah.

  15. Hussain R HJI May 22, 2012 at 4:59 PM #

    true, unfortunaly the greedy some times over come the human’s princple and forgets the god blassing which distrabutes his mercy on the man kind, that was wounderfull Sara.. thanks.

  16. Manzoor Ahmed May 5, 2012 at 10:55 AM #

    GREATTTTTTTTTT

  17. wasim May 5, 2012 at 10:35 AM #

    Nice.
    Happiness is something to fulfill our obligations towards every relation.
    Our rights are the result of our duties.

  18. sharif123 May 5, 2012 at 12:18 AM #

    Very much true in real life.

  19. Nn6878 August 2, 2011 at 11:55 AM #

    happieness … I would say,is not achieved by getting ,but more by giving,so try to give and practice that wonderfull feeling.
    Be happy while you are doing things regardless the results.
    Thanks for a great moral.

    • Ali August 7, 2011 at 9:55 AM #

      Thanks!

  20. Goldypearl August 1, 2011 at 8:21 PM #

    nice and important story

  21. Haider Ali786 August 1, 2011 at 1:58 PM #

    NICE ONE THANKS FOR SHARE

  22. Zeeshannoor7 August 1, 2011 at 4:19 AM #

    thanks for the story

  23. Samjith August 1, 2011 at 4:11 AM #

    Yeh dil maange more…thats the root of all problems….good story…Sara, thanks for sharing…:)

  24. YusefQasemQufaanAl-Yemeni August 1, 2011 at 12:01 AM #

    Great Story and Nice Moral!!!
    i think ill have a lil talk with myself becuz this should teach everyone a lesson!
    thanks and Ramadan Kareem to all Muslims!! 🙂

  25. Anonymous July 31, 2011 at 11:30 PM #

    thanks alot for this extremely nice story!
    It’s so true but I think, that when you earn money from your own work, you feel great satisfaction!

  26. Shakabansh5 July 31, 2011 at 11:15 PM #

    Satisfaction is required.Good story

  27. Junedayz July 31, 2011 at 10:47 PM #

    thank you so much for posting this moral story. we will never be satistfied with what we have because all we want is money and to be rich and that one last dollar or shirt or car or what ever the object is and we think will be happy. however, happiness lies within the heart of someone who accepts what Allah swt has given them and they help others! being rich and just spending money doesnt make you happy, but rather helping others no matter how much money you have makes you the happiest person in the wolrd.  in the end  we are nothing but travelers on a rocket ship going to the after world….

    ramadan kareem to all of the muslim brothers and sisters and inshallah we help somalia, pray for libya, syria, egypt, and everyone else during the month of ramadan more than ever.

    🙂 

  28. Bintailham July 31, 2011 at 10:39 PM #

    Nice story with great moral

  29. Mohamoud July 31, 2011 at 7:19 PM #

    great story

  30. Tanweer Ishaq July 31, 2011 at 6:41 PM #

    A good lesson.

  31. El-Osery July 31, 2011 at 5:36 PM #

    very instructive…. how to be happy

  32. Mumtaz July 31, 2011 at 5:16 PM #

    Very nice story! It’s a moral for those who are never satisfied for what they are getting…or earning. One should always be thankful to the Almighty Allah for everything what he or she is eating, wearing etc. There are lots of people on earth, who are living in a very pathetic condition without food, clothes or shelter.

    At the same time, people should have a healthy sense of competition with own-self to earn  more and make his/her life better.

  33. Mubarek Alamin July 31, 2011 at 3:26 PM #

    That’s why we’re called: “the sons of Adam”, we never know when is enough. the goods are unlimited.. Allah knows what is best for you/../.

  34. Humayundaud July 31, 2011 at 3:19 PM #

    Very Nice 🙂 …

  35. Riaz Ahmad Barni July 31, 2011 at 2:35 PM #

    Thank you for a story with a great moral !  Yes, we should count the blessings Allaah SubHaanahu wa ta’Aalaa has showered on us & seek more bounties from Him only. Of course we should put to use all our potential, talents, skills and mental & physical capabilities to the fullest for the benefit of humanity & to spread the message of peace & love to the entire world. But I think if we can work to earn some more money even if we already have enough, we should do that & donate it to the needy not only during Ramadhaan but also in other months. Charity is a lifelong activity. // One secret of the farmer’s happiness must have come from the hardwork. He finds it self-rewarding & that too keeps him healthy & happy. So we should be seeking taufeeq & help from Allaah SWT to save us from inactivity & lethargy. The simple principle should be that if we don’t have any of our tasks to accomplish or complete, we should be assisting in doing someone else’s task. That way we’ll prevent ourselves from rusting our minds & limbs. I think volunteerism is a very Islamic thing. It is so sad that we are increasingly becoming materialistic in this age of commercialism making money our only goal in life. I also think that there shouldn’t be any real retirement till death. We should remain active in doing more & more good deeds. May Allaah SWT bless you all! Aameen!
    Riaz Ahmad Barni, Karachi – Pakistan.

    • Ali July 31, 2011 at 8:08 PM #

      Jazakallah Riaz Ahmad Barni for the kind advises.

  36. mustafa July 31, 2011 at 1:19 PM #

    the 99 co. ltd. maybe i should leave it 🙂

    great story

    but how can such a farmer be so happy while he doesn’t have even a computer 

    • Junedayz July 31, 2011 at 10:49 PM #

      a life without a computer is better than one with because ur always hoocked up on it. but when u dont have it, then there are soo many things to do that you wouldnt think of right now.

  37. Misk July 31, 2011 at 12:24 PM #

    Loved that story.

    Thanks.

  38. Misk July 31, 2011 at 12:24 PM #

    Loved that story.

    Thanks.

  39. Rizwan July 31, 2011 at 9:33 AM #

    Every body came to this world bare handed and has to leave this worldly mean world forever etarnally one day with bare handed whether its a king, president, priminister, scientists, doctors, engineers etc all have to taste and witness death one day, the only thing which will acounted and will be an assest hereafter is your good deeds you take along with you. 

    So be happy in this holy month of RAMADAN and do good deeds as much as you can, don’t became a part of 99 company.

    Thank you SARA for sharing this great moral story.

    • Ali July 31, 2011 at 10:40 AM #

      Thanks Rizwan, please share with us if you have any good moral stories and jokes.

    • Ali July 31, 2011 at 10:40 AM #

      Thanks Rizwan, please share with us if you have any good moral stories and jokes.

  40. Shuaib Desai July 31, 2011 at 9:22 AM #

    be thankfull for what we have.

  41. Mohammed Yasin July 31, 2011 at 9:10 AM #

    Really good moral story. This story shows why we people are crazy about money even though  we have a house to stay we still look for bigger one and earn as much as we can..

  42. M.Hazari July 31, 2011 at 7:39 AM #

    Very True

  43. Bilalmvs July 31, 2011 at 7:26 AM #

    superb story

  44. Tamermetwally Mcse July 31, 2011 at 6:41 AM #

    nice story and hope that it helps

  45. alzubeidi July 31, 2011 at 6:33 AM #

    very nice, interesting, and has a very clear moral.
    I like the story.