It was mentioned that a man was brought who had stolen. He was asked: "What induced you to steal?" He said: "My evil state and lack of means." He ordered that his name be recorded and that what sustains him be provided from the public treasury (bayt al-māl). Another who stole was brought and asked: "What induced you to steal?" He said: "Lack of my wealth and the many members of my family." He ordered that his name and the names of his children be recorded in the Register of the Weak. Another who stole was brought and asked: "What induced you to steal?" He said: "Ignorance from me and an error; I sought to attain wealth." He ordered that he be placed in the House of Wisdom to learn what would remove his ignorance, and that he be given from the public treasury what sustains and suffices him.

If I were to mention what was recorded for them of their wisdom and governance of their subjects and followers, it would be long. It was mentioned of them that their purpose in eating food was not for pleasure or desire, but they consumed of it only the measure that preserves strength and keeps it from weakness. Most of the kings of India do not eat animals and prevent their consumption. Among them are those who abandoned eating them out of asceticism and monkhood (rahbāniyyah). Their argument for abandoning it was that the animal possesses sense and feels pain just as man does. They say the animal, by its spirit, is hot and moist, and by its body, is cold and dry; if the spirit departs and it lacks life, it returns to coldness and dryness. What remains of its kind of moisture is the nature of a weak, dead animal. They have a lengthy explanation for this.

It was mentioned of one of their kings that jewels were presented to him one day. He chose the most precious of what was presented and placed it beside him. In his palace was a bird; the bird caught him unaware, snatched the jewel with its beak, and swallowed it. It was among the most precious jewels. This weighed heavily upon him; he hid it from the treasurer and ordered that the bird be kept. It was placed in a room and locked.