A rich person dressed in clean and elegant clothes arrived in the presence of the Noble Prophet (S) and sat down before him. A short while later, a poor person wearing old and tattered clothes, came and sat down near the rich person, who immediately gathered his neat garments from near the poor person and drew it towards himself.
Having observed this, the Noble Prophet (S) remarked to the rich man: “Did you fear that the poor person next to you might make your clothes dirty?”
“No,” replied the man.
“Then why did you behave so?” asked the Noble Prophet (S).
“I have a companion (soul) that makes good deeds appear evil to me and vice-versa. O’ Prophet of Allah! As a punishment for this reprehensible act of mine, I gift half of my wealth to the poor man”.
Turning to the poor person, the Noble Prophet (S) inquired, “Do you accept the offer?”
“No, O’ Prophet of Allah,” said the man.
When the rich person wanted to know the reason, the poor man explained: “I fear I too might come to acquire the pride and self-conceit which has overwhelmed you.”( Rahnama-e-Sa’adat, Volume 1, Page 161; Al-Kafi, Volume 2, Chapter The Excellence Of the Poor Muslims )