Kisah Sufi
The King Enslaved
A king wished to honor a dervish. “I’ll give you a gift,” said the king. “Tell me what you want!” The dervish just laughed. “A slave doesn’t give gifts to his master; the slave’s life is already his.” This made the king angry. “I’m the king!” he shouted. “You may be the king,” replied the dervish, “but you are also the slave of my slaves, which makes me your master.” The king stared at him in bewilderment. “I’ve mastered both anger and lust, making them my slaves,” the dervish explained, “while you, though a king, are enslaved to them both.” TINY T TALES ALES FROM THE SUFIS 55