There is a tale told of a Sufi named Hatem al-Asamm, who lived in Baghdad, and died in 852 CE. One of his students said that during the many years he was a disciple of Hatem, only once did he see him angry.

The master had gone to the market, the student said, and there he saw a man who had seized hold of one of his apprentices and was shouting. “Many times he has taken my goods and eaten them, and does not pay me for them.”

“Good sir, be charitable,” Hatem said.

“Don’t talk to me about charity. I want my money!” the man retorted.

All of Hatem’s pleading was without effect. Finally, growing angry, he took his cloak from his shoulders and flung it to the ground there in the middle of the bazaar – and it was filled with gold, all true coin.

“Come, take what is owing to you, but no more than that, or by Allah, your hand will be withered!” he told the merchant.

The man immediately began busily picking up the gold until he had taken his due, but despite the Sufi’s warning, he could not contain himself. He greedily stretched his hand out to pick up more, and when he did so, just as Hatem had said, his hand immediately became withered.