“I come from a land rich beyond measure. I have brought gold to show the generosity of my empire, for a ruler is judged not by what he keeps, but by what he gives.”
— Mansa Musa
Mansa Musa's legendary pilgrimage to Mecca in 1324 was so extravagant that he crashed the gold economy of Egypt for a decade. He gave away so much gold that he single-handedly caused inflation across the Mediterranean world.
When I crossed the Sahara with my caravan, I gave gold to every city I passed through. Not to show power, but because wealth means nothing if it sits in a vault. A king who hoards is a prisoner of his own treasure. What you give away defines you more than what you keep. In that moment, I understood the true meaning of greatness. It is not the gold in your treasury, but the hearts of people you have helped. Ask yourself: what are you sharing with the world? Do not wait until you have more. Start giving today.