Prayer for a tyrant

A dervish, whose prayers had a ready acceptance with God, made his appearance at Baghdad.

Hajjaj Yusuf (a great tyrant) sent for him and said: "Put up a good prayer for me." He prayed, "O God! Take from him his life!" Hajjaj said: "For God's sake, what manner of prayer is this?"

He answered: "It is a salutary prayer for you, and for the whole sect of Muslims. ---O mighty sir, thou oppressor of the feeble, how long can this violence remain marketable? For what purpose came the sovereignty to thee? Thy death was preferable to thy tyrannizing over mankind."

Gulistan of Sadi
Translated by James Ross