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The King and his Vizier
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The
King and his Vizier
It
is related that once there was an intelligent, wise and a kind king. He was
dedicated to the well-being of his subjects and always inquired about their
affairs. His vizier was also concerned about the people’s welfare and
assisted the king in this deed. Both of them were friendly towards one
another and shared their views. The vizier remained busy in serving the
scholars and virtuous men. He listened to their wise words and was ready to
sacrifice his life for them. His heart was always inclined towards the
abandonment of this world and its vanities. But for fear and friendship of
the king, he kept it in his heart and worshipped the idols to please the
king, so that he would not harm him.
He
remained worried about the king’s deviation and error, inspite of his
kindness and mercy. He was always looking for an opportunity to guide the
king towards the right. One night when everyone slept, the king told his
vizier, “Come, we shall ride to the town and see in what state are my
subjects living.” The vizier replied that it was a good idea. Both of them
mounted and started going around the town. During their stroll they passed
from near a garbage place and saw a light coming out of it. The king told
the vizier, “We should follow this light and see as to what’s happening
inside.” They came down from their mount and went to that place. When they
peeped inside the crevice, they saw an ugly and indigent man wearing dirty
clothes sitting inside reclining on the garbage. He was beating a drum and
in front of him was kept a glass of wine. An ugly woman wearing soiled
clothes was standing opposite him.
When
the man asked for wine she served it, and when he played the drum she
danced. When he drank wine, the woman praised him in a manner as people
praise the kings. He too praised the woman and called her ‘Sayyedatun Nisa’
(Mistress of the women). They were glorifying each other’s beauty and
spending a life of peace and happiness. The king and his vizier stood there
for sometime and saw what they did. They were surprised at these two who
were happy even though living a degraded and debased life. They turned back,
and the king asked, “Did you see them how happy they are, inspite of being
in such a dirty condition. Our happiness when compared to theirs is nothing.
And I think that they always remain like that.”
When
the vizier heard these words from the mouth of the king, he found the time
appropriate to advise and said, “O king! In the eyes of those who
recognize the ‘True King’, this world and its luxuries are equal to this
garbage place. The palaces and castle that we built bearing hardships are
equal to the ugly faces of these two whom we just saw. And the comforts and
pleasures of this perishable world (in their eyes) are like these two’s
rejoicing at no true happiness.”
The
king asked the vizier as to whether he knew such people. The vizier replied,
“Yes, I do know them.” The king asked as to who they were, and where
they lived? The vizier replied, “They are those people who love the
religion of Allah, and are aware of the kingdom of the hereafter and its
bliss. They always remain eager for the felicity of the hereafter.” The
king then asked him as to what is the hereafter? He replied, “It is a
place of peace and contentment, where there shall be no troubles and
anxieties. It is such a wealth after which a person does not remain
dependent of anyone.” Then he briefed the king about the characteristics
of the hereafter. The king heard his words and said, “Do you know the way
and means to acquire this felicity”? The vizier replied, “Yes, it is for
those who strive to seek this road (to religion and the hereafter).”
The
king was impressed and desired to seek the hereafter. He then told the
vizier why he never informed him about it previously nor related its
characteristics? The vizier said that he was afraid of his kingship and
dignity. The king replied, “Whatever characteristics (of the hereafter)
you have related to me are not to be ignored. But one should strive to seek
them, so that we may be characterised by its characteristics and succeed.”
The vizier said, “O king! If you permit me, I will relate these
characteristics in detail to you, so that you may become fully acquainted
with them, and your belief may become firm.” The king was happy and said,
“In fact I order you to do so day and night, so that I may not become
engrossed in anything else and become negligent of it. One should not
neglect this act, for it is a wonderful and an excellent one and we should
not avoid such a good duty.” Thereafter the vizier daily advised the king
and guided him to the right path.
Here we quote a sermon of Imam Ali (a.s.) as a gift for the believers: “O people! Beware of this deceitful world, for it has attracted the hearts towards evil by its elegance and beauty. It has subdued your wishes by false promises. This world is like a woman who has adorned herself only for marriage, and due to her beauty deceives men and attracts them towards her. She ultimately kills her husbands with her own hands. So the present people should take lessons from those people in the past who had fallen prey to it, and save themselves from its conceit.” Reference: Manazelul Akhreah |