A Traditional Muslim Tale of Persistence

A man woke up early in order to pray at the mosque.  He got dressed, made his ablution and left home headed to the mosque.  On his way, the man fell and his clothes got dirty.

He got up, brushed himself off and headed back home.  Once there, he changed his clothes, made his ablution and was, again, on his way to the Mosque.

But at the very same spot, he tripped and fell again! He again, got up, brushed himself off and headed back home.  Once again he changed his clothes, made his ablution and was back on his way to the mosque.

At the spot where he tripped, he met a man holding a lamp.  He asked the man of his identity and the man replied, “I saw you fall twice on your way to the mosque, so I brought a lamp so I can light your way.”

See Also

Zen Tales – Attachment

The first man thanked him profusely and the two were on their way to the mosque.  There were no further incidents, and they were soon there.  The first man asked the man with the lamp to come in and pray with him, but the second man refused. The first man asked him a couple more times and, again, the answer was the same. Disappointed, the first man asked him why it was that he did not wish to come in and pray.

To which the second man replied,”Because I am Satan”.