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sent to work as galley slaves. These galley slaves had to pull the oars that made the

ships go for. In those days, there were no steamships or motor-boats.

The prisoners were forced to sit in the same place for hours and row. If they

stopped even for a moment due to tiredness or want of sleep, they were whipped
mercilessly. No one cared whether they had food or sleep.

At that time there was a holy man called Dumais, who always tried to help the sad

and the suffering people. He would often go to the owners of the ships and ask

them to treat their slaves in a better way. Sometimes, he would talk to the poor
slaves and console them by telling them about God who rewards those who suffer

patiently without grumbling.

Among the poor slaves, there was

one who constantly grumbled

against God. Dumais asked him
why. The slave said, “I am innocent;

I have done nothing wrong. The

king has made a mistake and I am
suffering here, my whole family

too is starving. If God were

good, He would have seen that I
was free.”

Dumais knew it would be useless to
ask the king a favour. So he told the

man, “I am going to take your

place in the boat. Go home to
your wife and children.” Then

they exchanged their clothes and Dumais took up the slave’s place.

The king heard about the good Dumais. On making further inquiries, he also

found out that the prisoner was indeed innocent. He not only forgave the prisoner,
but also rewarded Dumais for his kindness.

This story shows us how we can turn evil into good with good’s help. It also shows
us that evil and suffering are permitted by God, to show us how to become good

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