The wise person takes others as a lesson
The man entered the diwaniya (gathering) in a rage, placed his phone on the table, and said, “Brothers, gambling is spreading among the youth in a frightening way.”
The Mu’aq (a participant known for his witty remarks) smiled and asked, “What do you mean? It’s just a game, and it’s over?”
The elder replied, “Yes, you start a game, and it ends with someone needing a guarantor.”
The diwaniya erupted in laughter.
The expert said, “The problem isn’t the loss itself. The problem is that after losing, he says, ‘Tomorrow I’ll make it back.’”
The young man asked, “And then?”
The expert continued, “He loses more and says, ‘There’s no gain without loss.’”
The Mu’aq asked, “And then?”
The expert clapped his hands together: “He goes to the bank to cover the losses.”
The elder added, “And the bank tells him, ‘Come, we’ll give you a loan… and you’ll spend the rest of your life with us.’”
The diwaniya burst into laughter.
The young man said, “And some of them borrow from their friends and families, each time saying, ‘This is the last time.’”
The elder replied, “‘This is the last time,’ for a gambler, is like saying, ‘I’m starting a diet tomorrow.’ It’s just local talk.”
They laughed.
The expert said, “The real tragedy is that gambling websites play on the dream of quick riches.”
The Mu’aq said, “And my dream is to become a millionaire.”
The elder looked at him and asked, “How much do you have?”
“Five dinars.”
The elder said, “Then your dream needs a long nap.”
They laughed.
The young man said, “Even before, we used to get messages saying: ‘You could be the lucky winner of an iPhone… Reply 1 with 500 fils.’”
The elder said, “So they’re not selling iPhones… they’re selling you hope, in installments.”
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The expert said, “That’s why the relevant authorities must deal with the issue seriously: block the websites, pursue the networks and promoters, and protect the youth from a path that begins with play and ends with ruin.”
The elder said, “Young men… don’t believe those who tell you: ‘Pay a little and win a lot.’”
The Mu’aq asked, “Why?”
The elder replied, “Because the one who knows the path to a million won’t wait for your 500 fils.”
The diwaniya fell silent for a moment.
The young man said, “Come on, how do I become a millionaire?”
The elder said, “Work and be patient.”
The young man replied, “I asked artificial intelligence, and it told me the same thing.”
The Mu’aq shouted, “Fine, take me back to gambling… Patience isn’t my specialty.”
The diwaniya burst into laughter.
Then the elder said, “May God enrich everyone with lawful earnings and keep our youth away from a path that begins with ‘win’ and ends with ‘please, pay off my debts for me.’”
The Mutammils (a wealthy or boastful participant) said, “The psyche needs a carton of eggs. Sit on the roof, and whatever passes by, throw it on its head!”
At that moment, Sheikh Zaghloul’s call to the noon prayer reached our ears.
$ A Kuwaiti writer
