Jawamiʿ al-hikayat wa lawamiʿ al-riwayat 24: Anecdote of Khwaja Hasan Maimandi.

24

[III. xi. 1.]
In the reign of Sultan Yaminu-d daula Mahmud, and in the days when Khwaja Hasan Maimandi was his minister, there was a man called Abu Ahmad Suhal Barar. He was a great spendthrift, a peculator and a wine-bibber. At one time twenty thousand mans of indigo, which belonged to the Sultan, fell into the hands of the son of Ahmad. Some of this he sold and spent the proceeds. One day, Abu Suhal Barar came to the minister to pay his respects. The minister said, "I have heard that your son has embezzled government property, when you saw him doing so why did you connive at it? Do you think that I will pass it over? Should he who possesses such a name as Ahmad ('most laudable') be such a fool and commit such follies?" In short, he expressed himself in unmeasured terms. Abu Suhal exclaimed, "May your life, my lord, be increased! pardon my son; his name is Ahmad, and he should be forgiven." The Khwaja was extremely annoyed, but laughed at his ignorance and folly. He said to Abu Suhal, "You are worse than your son. Curses be upon you, thoughtless fool." Abu Suhal, on hearing this abuse, did not even then perceive that what he had said (was improper), nor did he consider that his name was Ahmad, and that it did not become him to utter such words. He commenced to retort in disrespectful language, and said, "Perhaps somebody has excited you against me, and consequently you are thus angry with me." The Khwaja replied, "No, I have heard it from your own tongue." He then dismissed him ignominiously from his service.
It is proper for those who have access to kings and great men, that they should take heed to their actions and speech, and neither do or say anything boldly and rashly, to bring shame and destruction upon themselves. They should behave respectfully towards their master, so that they may reap the benefit of their services.