*The Story of Sultan Mahmood and Ayaz*

Summarised from ‘Mathnavi’ by Moulana Rumi rahmatullah alayh

Sultan Mamood bought his slave Ayaz for a great sum of money, more than anyone would pay for a slave at that time. The reason is that Ayaz had claimed that there is no slave more loyal than him. Sultan Mahmood wants to test the loyalty of his new slave. He orders that Ayaz be lashed 100 times. While Ayaz is being lashed the people with him tell him to ask pardon from his Master, and maybe his punishment will be lessened. Ayaz replies that as the Master orders for the slave, so must the slave accept his fate. Sultan Mahmood is impressed with his slave’s servitude. He dresses Ayaz in fine robes and makes him sit next to him. Ayaz is moved from his room in the slave’s quarters to a room in the palace of Sultan Mahmood. The other palace workers are jealous of Ayaz. They have schemed to show Sultan Mahmood that his trust and love for Ayaz are misplaced. The palace workers spy Ayaz leaving his room at night and going to the slaves quarters in the lower levels of the palace. They suspect him of stealing the palace treasures and hiding them in the slave’s quarters. The palace workers notify Sultan Mahmood the next morning of Ayaz’s suspicious behaviour. The Sultan agrees to observe Ayaz the next night. Sultan Mahmood and the palace workers watch as Ayaz sneaks out of his room and heads down to the slaves quarters. Ayaz closes the door behind himself and locks it. Sultan Mahmood and the palace workers wait a few minutes, then Sultan Mahmood bangs on the door and orders Ayaz to open immediately. Ayaz unlocks the door and is trembling as he stands in front of Sultan Mahmood and the others. There is a chest in the room. Sultan Mahmood demands that it be opened. The palace workers are certain that Ayaz has been caught out! Inside the chest are tattered, dirty, smelly clothes and torn shoes. Sultan Mahmood wants an explanation. Ayaz, the loyal slave of Sultan Mahmood explains that he comes to the slaves quarters every night and puts on the torn clothes that he wore when he was a slave, before Sultan bought him and dressed him in fine robes. But why did Ayaz do this? Ayaz wanted to remind himself of his true worth, that he was just a worthless slave and nothing more. He would put on his slaves clothes, stand in front of the mirror and remind himself of the reality of his existence. Even though Sultan Mahmood had favored him and made him comfortable in the palace, given him fine robes and special food, Ayaz wished to humble himself every night. Sultan Mahmood was extremely pleased with his beloved loyal slave Ayaz. He turned to the palace workers and told them that he never suspected Ayaz was up to no good, but he merely wanted to prove to them the value of his loyal slave.

*••Lessons to learn from this story••*

No matter how our Master and Owner Allah ‘Azza wa Jallah raises us in this world, either materialistically, or spiritually, we should always remind ourselves of our reality: That we are merely slaves of The One, and it is ONLY on account of His generosity and benevolence upon us that He gives us comforts, wealth, and raises us in piety and spirituality. These do not come from what we do. Allah Subhanahu Ta’ala’s gifts to His slaves are innumerable and so are His Blessings. We should acknowledge this to ourselves often and remind ourselves : Wa maa Tawfeeqi Illa Billah - There is no ability or gain that can be made except by the power of Allah. It all comes from Him and it is all about Him. Many times we forget this, then Pride and Ego set in. We must constantly guard against the sins of Pride and Ego by reminding ourselves that we are slaves of Allah and that is our true worth.