They say that during the reign of the great Aurangzeb, a certain rich merchant named Khoja Mahdi went from Bukhara to India. There he met Musallamkhan, one of the seven thousand emirs, and they fell in love with each other so much that they were always inseparable.
Aurangzeb's entourage, overcome with envy, reported to their master that Mussalamkhan was allegedly plotting something evil against his Shah.
and therefore does not appear before his bright eyes. Meanwhile, Mussalamkhan spent all his time in the company of Khoja Mahdi, and the angry Aurangzeb ordered to take away all his wealth and deprive him of honors. Mussalamkhan himself barely saved his life.
Having learned about the misfortune that befell his friend, Khoja Mahdi immediately went to him and found him immersed in deep thoughts.
“Oh, my friend,” said Khoja Mahdi, “your nobility and wealth and your friendship with the Shah were so great!” Why are you now sitting in grief and sorrow on an old mat, and there are no devoted friends next to you who would console you in your grief?
“O my brother,” Musallamkhan answered him, “the Shah’s favor is like the light and warmth of a bright flame; it can not only caress, but also burn! The cause of my troubles is the evil machinations of envious people.
Hearing these words, the noble and generous Khoja Mahdi said:
“I don’t have the strength to contemplate your grief.” Take all my wealth and use it. If Allah wills to restore you to your former greatness, I hope you will not forget that you are my debtor.
Musallamkhan thanked his friend for his generosity and accepted his gift.
After some time, fate would have it that one of Aurangzeb's emirs rebelled against his Shah. The Shah equipped a huge army and sent it to pacify the rebel. However, the rebel emir put up worthy resistance to the Shah’s army and completely defeated it. The news of the defeat plunged the Shah into despair, and then one of his close associates said:
- Retribution for an unrighteous act is inevitable. If your associates had not killed Mueallamkhan, what happened would not have happened.
Hearing these words, Aurangzeb realized his mistake. He immediately invited Mueallamkhan to the palace, treated him kindly, returned all his wealth and titles to him, and appointed him chief military leader. Musallamkhan immediately opposed the enemy army and, showing courage, courage and great sophistication, soon defeated him. And when he returned to the palace, Aurangzeb thanked him and added new wealth to his wealth.
Soon the news of Muyallamkhan's success reached the ears of Khoja Mahdi, and he decided to remind him of his duty. Khoja Mahdi went to his friend and came to him and asked to return at least a small fraction of what he had once lent to him, because he was consumed by homesickness, and there was no money for the trip.
At first, Musallamkhan pretended that he did not understand anything, then Khoja Mahdi’s insistence infuriated him, and he said that he had not received any wealth, knew nothing and had no idea, and as for Khoja Mahdi’s difficulties, they did not interest him, and he was free to act according to his own understanding.
Khoja Mahdi sighed heavily and went to the Shah with a complaint against Mueallamkhan. However, Shah Aurangzeb refused him the favor, and then Khoja Mahdi asked for advice from his entourage.
“We would be glad to help you, but we can’t,” those close to him answered. “Now Musallamkhan is in great favor with the Shah, and our efforts will be in vain.”
Having lost hope of justice, Khoja Mahdi wandered around the city for a long time and one day met an old man on his way, who attracted his attention. And that old man said to him:
- Tell me your sorrows, maybe I can help you!
Khoja Mahdi told him everything that happened: about his friendship with Musallamkhan, and about his
betrayal, and that Khoja Mahdi is tired of the foreign land in which he has been staying for so long, but apparently it is not his destiny to get out of here.
“Quiet the confusion of your soul,” said the elder. “Your case is not hopeless.” There is a mosque not far from Aurangzeb's palace. A Sufi shoemaker lives in a small cell of that mosque. Go to him, tell him everything and do as he tells you.
Khoja Mahdi listened to the elder and went to the shoemaker. And he came there and greeted the Sufi in a befitting manner. And then I told him my sad story. The Sufi took a piece of leather, placed it on a block of wood and hit it with a wooden hammer. The skin became thin and patchy. The Sufi gave this skin to Khoja Mahdi and said:
“Here is the leather for you, take it to Musallamkhan and tell him that the Sufi shoemaker sent it to him.” Ask him again to fulfill your request. If he refuses you this, let him explain what is the reason for this.
As soon as Khoja Mahdi handed the skin to Musallamkhan, he seemed to turn over. He became polite and courteous and immediately asked Khoja Mahdi for forgiveness and ordered his servants to repay him double the debt. Khoja rejoiced and decided to thank the Sufi shoemaker for his help. He took an ingot of red gold and went to ha-iaka.
Khoja Mahdi came to the khanaka and, seeing a shoemaker-monk, said:
“May Allah reward you, good man, and my gratitude knows no bounds.” - With these words, he placed a gold bar in front of the Sufi.
“Take your gold back,” the Sufi answered him, “I see the meaning of life not in money, but in good deeds and aspirations.” I dedicated my life to the creator and on the path of serving him I value freedom most of all. As for human wealth, then
they do not last forever and change their owners every now and then. You went on a journey with the aim of enriching yourself, and my worries are alien to you.
- O noble Sufi! - said Khoja Mahdi. - Reveal to me your secret: what is the reason for your power? After all, neither the emirs nor the nobles could help me! Only you were able to do this.
And the Sufi said:
- Let it be known to you that my ancestors from generation to generation were muezzins of the local mosque. I, like them, continue this custom. However, the isolation of a hermit is not to my liking; I cannot limit my world to a cell. One day I happened to be wandering around the city. As dusk fell, I turned into the market and saw there a rider on a horse, held by the reins by a handsome and handsome young slave. Not far from them stood a nobleman. Apparently, he fell in love with that horsewoman at first sight. Pushing the slave away, he dragged the horse behind him. The woman initially begged him for mercy. Afterwards, seeing his inflexibility, she began to resist, calling for help. However, people were afraid to stop the nobleman, for he was holding a naked sword in his hands. Great anger seized my soul. Prompted by pity for the unfortunate woman, I jumped up to the offender and exclaimed:
“It’s not right for you, worthy man, to offend the weak!” Let her go, because she has no favors towards you.
“It’s impossible,” he answered.
Then that woman, turning to me, said:
“My husband is angry and jealous and has never let me leave the house before.” Now my father is seriously ill, and I begged permission to visit him. However, my husband told me to return home that night. Otherwise he threatens to drive me away.
Having said these words, the woman began to sob. Her tears were so touching that her persuasion
mine were replaced by threats. However, the nobleman was still adamant.
“I’ll let her go before dawn, and she’ll have time to return home before dark.” There can be no other way. “He whipped his horse and, threatening me with his sword, left the market.
When I returned home, I could not find peace. What if this unworthy man does not keep his word and does not release the woman before morning? After midnight, my patience ran out, and I decided to climb the minaret and notify people about the hour of morning prayer, in order to remind the ruthless nobleman of his promise. So I did.
Meanwhile, Shah Aurangzeb had just started his evening meal. Hearing the muezzin's voice, he was surprised.
“It’s only midnight,” he said sternly. —Can a muezzin not know the time of prayer? “And he ordered the servants to immediately take me to the palace.” As soon as I descended from the minaret, the Shah’s servants grabbed me and, showering me with blows, dragged me along with them. When I appeared before the Shah, Aurangzeb looked at me and said:
- What a fool! I considered you to be the best of muezzins, but you do not know when to call people to morning prayer.
Frightened by the Shah's wrath, I was forced to tell him the whole truth. Aurangzeb's heart was filled with rage, and he ordered the unworthy nobleman to be brought to him. By order of the Shah, the nobleman was punished in an exemplary manner, and the Shah thanked me and said:
“If in the future you happen to see that the strong offend the weak and helpless, do the same.” Then it will be clear to me that there are unworthy people within my control who cause harm to my loyal subjects.
Since then it has been like this. As soon as the Shah hears my cry, he immediately drops everything and begins to administer just justice. And if Musallamkhan had not heeded my warning, he, too, would have suffered a well-deserved punishment... May the Creator send us more just Shahs, and may all my sins be forgiven along with them.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru