The Tale of Wise Luqman

I heard that Luqman had dark skin; he was not pampered or delicate of frame. A man mistook him for his own slave, saw him as lowly and set him to hard labor with clay. Luqman endured the cruelty and injustice, and within a year built the man a whole house. When the runaway slave was later brought before that man, a wave of dread came over him from Luqman. The man fell at his feet and begged forgiveness. Luqman laughed: what good does an apology do now? For a whole year your cruelty made my heart bleed; how can I clear it from my chest in a single hour? Yet I forgive you all the same, good man, for what you gained from me did me no harm. You built up your own home, while my wisdom and understanding only grew. I have a servant among my household, fortunate friend, whom I sometimes set to grueling tasks. From now on I will not harshly wound his heart, whenever I recall the hardship of working the clay. Anyone who has never suffered the cruelty of the powerful feels no ache in his heart for the weak and small. If harsh words come to you from those who rule, do not be harsh in turn with those beneath you. King Bahram put it well to his minister: do not deal harshly with your subordinates.