The Dervish and the Vizier's Servant

A dervish was discontented. Despite his devotions, God's bounty was lacking.

Then the dervish saw the vizier's servant wearing a beautiful belt of gold.

"O God," shouted the dervish, "that is how a good servant is rewarded!"

Meanwhile, the sultan heard about that golden belt and suspected the vizier of embezzlement. He had the vizier's servants tortured. "Tell me what your master has done, or I will cut your throats!" said the king.

But the servants said nothing, refusing to betray their master.

Then the dervish dreamed he heard a voice from heaven. "That is how a good servant behaves!"

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Inspired by: The English prose version of Rumi in More Tales from the Masnavi by A. J. Arberry.
Notes: This is story 157 in the book. The story tells of a nobleman's servant; I made it the vizier's servant to help tighten things up.