The Story of the Father and His Three Children

Introduction

• Narrative about a father and his three children arguing over the division of 17 camels.
• A demonstration of leadership in problem-solving.

Setting the Scene

• The father is aged, feeling unwell, and believes his time is nearing an end.
• He calls for his children to discuss the division of his property.

Children’s Initial Reaction

• The children are preoccupied with fighting instead of responding to their father.
• The father's wish is to divide his 17 camels among them as per his will.

The Will

• The will states:
  • Eldest Son: Half of 17 camels.
  • Middle Son: One third of 17 camels.
  • Daughter: One ninth of 17 camels.
• The will creates confusion among the children about how to divide the camels.

The Conflict

• Children argue about their shares, believing that they deserve more.
• They decide to seek help from a leader to resolve their dispute.

Introducing the Leader

• The leader listens to the children's problem regarding the division of 17 camels.
• Suggests adding one additional camel to make it easier to divide the camels.

Problem Solving

• New total: 17 camels + 1 camel = 18 camels.
• Division based on the new total:
  • Eldest Son: Half of 18 = 9 camels.
  • Middle Son: One third of 18 = 6 camels.
  • Daughter: One ninth of 18 = 2 camels.

Conclusion of the Division

• Total distribution: 9 + 6 + 2 = 17 camels.
• The extra camel is taken back by the leader after solving the problem.
• The division becomes fair, and the initial confusion is resolved.

Key Takeaways

• The story conveys the importance of calmness and awareness in problem-solving.
• Highlights a leader's quality of having presence of mind and thinking creatively to resolve issues.