Kisah Sufi
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.” TINY T TALES ALES FROM THE SUFIS 57