A Tale from Morocco
In ancient times, in Morocco and in the city of Casablanca, there was a rich and prominent merchant. One day, the merchant fell ill and saw that he would not recover. He called for his only son and asked, “Son, what will you do with my money after I die?”
The son replied, “If anyone needs money, I will give him some.
If anyone invites me to a party, I will go. What else is money for?”
The father groaned, “I should have taught you my business and how to make money grow. I was always too busy.” The father died knowing that his fortune would be scattered to the winds.
And so it was, the son squandered his inheritance on gifts and celebrations. When he had no roof over his head or food for his belly, he went to the marketplace to beg alms. He sat among the leather workers and the vegetable sellers with his outstretched hand. But on every corner were customers and friends of his father. He was ashamed to be seen begging. “I will go to Marrakesh. No one knows me there,” he told himself.
He walked barefoot from the coast of the Atlantic across the rising and falling waves of sand dunes. At last, rising out of the desert like a mirage, he saw the minaret on the red ramparts of Marrakesh. Behind the city towered the snowy range of the Atlas Mountains. He walked through olive and palm groves into the city. “Surely I will find my fortune here,” he thought.
But because he knew no work but begging, he was soon sitting in the square, surrounded by the music of cymbal and drum. The square was filled with fire-eaters, storytellers, water sellers, and traveling merchants.
One day, a man stopped and called the young beggar by name. “Is it you? Why are you begging?” He was a rich merchant and rival to his late father.
The young man was too ashamed to tell that he had spent his inheritance. Instead, he lied. “I was traveling to buy goods! But thieves robbed me.”
The rich merchant took pleasure in seeing his rival’s son begging for coins. But he put on a kind face and said, “In your father’s memory, I will help you. Come and share a glass of mint tea with me.”
When they were seated on cushions inside the merchant’s stall, the merchant made an astounding offer. “I shall lend you any sum you ask for. You can do whatever you wish with it; any profit you make will be yours. But there is a condition. If at the year’s end you do not pay, I will cut one kilogram of flesh from your body.”
The young man was startled by the condition of the bargain. But he said, “I have no choice,” and signed the agreement.
Throughout the year, the young man engaged in business, but he was unlucky and untrained. He lost all the money. What did the young man do? At the end of the year, he went to the palace where the king sat in assembly. He sat outside the gates wringing his hands and rocking to and fro. He took no food or water and prayed he would die before his life was forfeit. He wept, “I should have been born a kitten and drowned at birth.”
Days passed. Finally, he was observed by the king’s daughter. She was on her way to listen to the cases brought before her father. The princess had a quick and clever mind, a tender heart, and a voice as sweet as a flute echoing through marble halls. Her mother and sisters stayed cloistered behind harem walls. Instead, the princess went to hear her father’s judgments. She concealed herself in a room near the throne to listen to the proceedings. How wise and just was her father, always following the letter of the law.
So it was that one day the princess saw the young man outside the gate, and she was touched by his despair. She sent her servant to ask, “Young man, why do you weep?”
It was not until the third day that the young man replied, “Because I was foolish, and tomorrow I shall die for it.” He told his story. When the servant told the princess, she sent a note which said, “Come to court tomorrow, and you will be aided by one who loves mercy.”
The appointed hour came. The princess disguised herself as a lawyer. She walked through arched corridors hung with silver lamps and entered the Royal Audience Chamber. The merchant and the young man were assembled with the crowds of petitioners. At last, the King asked the rich merchant, ”What does the young man owe you?”
The merchant took the agreement out of his pocket. The King read it and asked the young man, “Do you agree that you signed this document?”
“Ruler of the stars, what can I say? You see my signature here. But one thing you must know. I entered into this agreement because I had no other choice.”
Then the Princess stepped from the crowd. She was dressed in a hooded caftan and kept her face turned and concealed in the hood. In a clear, strong voice, she addressed the King, “Our gracious lord! This was a bargain freely made. I agree on behalf of my client to give a kilogram of flesh to the merchant, but I insist that he cut off exactly one kilogram in a single stroke. If he cuts off too little, then he must make up the difference, and if he cuts off too much, he must restore the extra amount from his own body.”
The merchant protested, “I demand justice! I cannot cut exactly one kilogram of flesh in a single stroke. The agreement does not specify a single stroke.”
“That is correct,” the princess said. “There is no such condition, but our most wise ruler, in his mercy, may impose one.”
“Why should I impose a condition that is impossible, then the merchant is without his money or the flesh?” responded the King.
She answered his question, “The law would require that the merchant receive his payment, either money or flesh. Since there is no money, it is the flesh. And indeed, the merchant has come with a sharpened dagger beneath his robes. But where is the mercy in such a result? The young man will die; the merchant will have only a lump of flesh. And, you, my gracious lord, will have blood on your white marble floors.”
She continued, “Perhaps there is another way, a way that provides justice and more kindness than justice requires.”
The crowds were hushed and listening to the beardless young lawyer. The King leaned forward. “Counselor, would you enlighten us all about this other way?”
“Yes, my lord. Let the merchant receive the labor of the young man until the debt is paid. The young man needs the guidance of a mentor. The merchant needs to temper his ethics with concern for more than money. All can gain from such a result.”
“Well spoken!” replied the King. “And so it will be. Young debtor, use this opportunity to make something of yourself. Merchant, you shall take this young debtor into your service. Work and train him until the debt is discharged. It is our wish that you open your heart and mind to him, that you treat him as a son and bring him to the marketplace as a credit to you, his dead father, and your king.”
The litigants dropped to the floor and bowed to their king, arose, and turned to leave the courtroom. As the crowd filed from the chamber, the King called to the Princess, “Counselor, I wish to speak to you. I do not know you. Come closer so I may see your face.”
The Princess was startled and replied, without thinking, “Oh, Father, I cannot.” When she realized her mistake, she felt exposed and covered her face.
The King roared, “Who is this who calls me ‘Father’? Why are you hiding your face? Show yourself.”
The Princess turned her face and dropped her hand and hood so that her father could gaze upon her. “Is this my daughter? What am I to do with such boldness? Leave me!”
The princess fled to the garden where she sat rocking and trembling. The King paced and pondered and at last went to the garden. He took his daughter’s hands and said, “My daughter, my dove. I want to open my heart and mind to you. Will you come and sit at my right hand? Will you be my mercy?”
“Yes, my lord and gracious King,” replied the princess. “I will.”
Through the long years ahead, the kingdom was ruled with more kindness than justice required.
May all your tales end with peace and Justice
a Justice Tale shared by the IPS Chaplain
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Chaplain Rachmiel Tobesman is a motivational speaker and Master Storyteller. He is available for speaking engagements or storytelling, Click here to contact us
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