The sultan summoned his minister, Abu Mansur. "Come at once!" said the sultan's messenger.
"I must finish my prayers first," said Abu Mansur.
When he finally arrived, the sultan shouted, "How dare you make me wait?"
"I serve God first," Abu Mansur replied, "and then Your Majesty."
The sultan could not protest.
Only Abu Mansur knew that he had delayed for a different reason. The sultan was hot-headed and usually summoned Abu Mansur when he wanted to put someone to death. Each time Abu Mansur delayed, the sultan's anger cooled down, and Abu Mansur persuaded him to lighten the punishment.
Inspired by: Under the Sufi's Cloak: Stories of Abu Said and His Mystical Teaching by Mohammad Ali Jamnia and Mojdeh Bayat
Notes: This story is on p. 60 of the book. Following this anecdote, the story goes on to say that Abu Mansur asked Abu Said for advice. You can read about Abu Mansur and the Sultan Toghrul at Wikipedia.
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