دعوة بالكلام

A man in Baghdad is very careful with his money. Every Friday he takes food to a garden and eats alone under a tree beside running water. One day, a passer-by greets him. He returns the greeting and invites the man to join him.

When the passer-by turns back to cross the water, however, the man stops him and asks what he wants. The visitor says he intends to eat, as invited. His would-be host then explains his rules: a greeting deserves a greeting, and an invitation to food deserves polite words wishing the eater well. Words should be exchanged for words, not for actual eating.

The story spreads. People tell the man that he need not greet them or reply to their greetings. He says this is unnecessary. He only needs to stop inviting people to share his food. In his view, that small change will settle the whole problem.