A young man was getting ready to graduate from college. For many months he had
admired a beautiful sports car in a dealer’s showroom, and knowing his father
could well afford it, he told him that was all he wanted.
As Graduation Day approached, the young man eagerly waited for his father to
purchase the car. Finally, on the morning of his graduation, his father called
him into his private study. His father told him how proud he was to have such a
fine son, and how much he loved him. He handed his son a beautiful wrapped gift
box. Curious, but somewhat disappointed the young man opened the box and found a
lovely, leather-bound Quran.
Angrily, he raised his voice at his father and said, “With all your money you
give me a Quran?” and stormed out of the house, leaving the holy book.
Many years passed and the young man was very successful in business. He had a
beautiful home and a wonderful family, but realized his father was very old, and
thought perhaps he should go to him. He had not seen him since that graduation
day. Before he could make arrangements, he received a telegram telling him his
father had passed away, and willed all of his possessions to his son. He needed
to come home immediately and take care of things.
When he arrived at his father’s house, he was filled with sadness and regret. He
began to search his father’s important papers and saw the still new Quran, just
as he had left it years ago. With tears, he opened the Quran and began to turn
the pages.
As he read those words, a car key dropped from an envelope taped behind the
Quran. It had a tag with the dealer’s name, the same dealer who had the sports
car he had desired. On the tag was the date of his graduation, and the
words...PAID IN FULL.