53. A Prayer for a Tyrant


There was a dervish whose prayers were very acceptable to God. 
One day his wanderings took the dervish to Baghdad, and there the tyrannical governor summoned the dervish into his presence.
"Pray a good prayer for me," the governor commanded.
The dervish prayed, "O God, please take away this man's life!"
The governor shouted, "What kind of prayer is that?"
"It is a prayer for you and for the whole world," replied the dervish. "Nothing in this world's bazaar lasts forever. I prayed that you be free of life, and so then the world will be free of your tyranny."



You can find a longer version of that story, and many other stories besides, in the online book, which is available at Hathi Trust.






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