Page 125 - The Book of Rumi

Lover of Prayer

ongor was a Moslem slave who belonged to a wealthy master who hap-
Spened to be a nonbeliever. The slave was a conscientious worker who was
never at fault in performing his duties. He was always up at dawn and always
the last to go to sleep, making sure that everything in his master’s house was
in perfect order.
One morning, the master woke up earlier than usual and decided to go to
the public bathhouse before the crowds appeared. He went to Songor’s room
and, seeing that he was already awake, ordered him to collect the necessary
items for bathing: a bowl to pour water over his body, a towel for drying, and
a special mud block to scrub and wash his hair.
Having collected all they needed, the master and slave left for the bath-
house together. On the way, they came across a small mosque, and, as it was
the morning prayer time, it was full of devoted Moslems. Songor, who was
extremely fond of such devotions and prayed every chance he found, begged
his master to allow him to enter the mosque and perform the morning prayers
with his fellow Moslems.
“Master, I never get a chance to perform my morning prayers in the
mosque; will you please allow me to do so now? I promise it won’t take long.
You can rest on this stool here until I’m fi nished.”
The master was amenable to this delay but told him to be quick. Songor
hurried inside the mosque and stood shoulder to shoulder with his brethren,
performing his prayer. After it was over, the imam and all the men left the
mosque one by one; soon the mosque was empty, except for Songor. The
master waited patiently until the sun had risen and it was time for breakfast,
but Songor was nowhere to be seen. Losing patience, he went to the entrance
of the mosque and called for his slave.
“They’re not letting me come out,” replied Songor. “I know you’re wait-
ing outside, but please wait a bit longer, and I’ll be with you in no time.”

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