The Devout Man of Tabriz

In a far corner of Tabriz there lived a good man, always awake, always rising at night. One night he saw a thief in a certain spot, coiling a rope and tossing it up onto a rooftop. He roused the neighbors, and an uproar broke out; from every side men came running with clubs. When the scoundrel heard the shouts of the crowd, he saw no place to stay in the midst of such danger. The commotion frightened him, so fleeing while there was still time seemed the wisest choice. The devout man's heart melted with pity: the poor night thief had left with nothing. In the dark he hurried after him and met him coming, by another road, to greet him. He said, 'My friend, don't go, I am a friend of yours; for your bravery I am the dust beneath your feet.' 'I have never seen anyone as brave as you, for combat is of only two kinds.' 'One is to face your enemy like a man; the other is to escape the battle with your life.' 'For both of these traits I am your servant; whatever your name, I am the slave of your name.' 'If you would kindly agree, I'll lead you to a place I know.' 'There's a low house with a poorly locked door; I don't think its owner is even at home.' 'We'll pile two mud bricks one on the other, and one of us will climb onto the other's shoulder.' 'Take whatever comes to hand, better that than going home empty-handed again.' With comfort and flattery and cunning, he coaxed the thief toward his own house. The bold night thief lowered his shoulder, and the wise man climbed up onto his back. Then the coat, the turban, and whatever clothes he had, he passed down from above into the thief's lap. And from up there he raised the cry, 'Thief! A reward and God's blessing, young men, come help!' The treacherous thief leapt to the door through the uproar, running off with the pious man's clothes tucked under his arm. The man of good faith was content at heart that a lost and desperate soul had gotten his wish. A vile creature who had shown mercy to no one, and yet the good man's heart took pity on him. It is no wonder in the ways of the wise that out of generosity they do good even to the wicked. The wicked survive under the good fortune of the good, even though the wicked are no people for goodness.