The Story of Zayd who was slapped

The Story of Zayd who was slapped: Story from Rumi’s Masnavi

A man slapped on the neck of Zayd. Zayd reacted and gave him a good beating.

The attacker said, “I will ask you a question, so answer me and then strike me. I struck the nape of your neck, and there was the sound of a slap. Was this sound raised by my hand or by the nape of your neck?”

Zayd said, “The pain I suffer prevents me from such thinking and reflection. Since you, who are without pain, is able to think of such question, but me in pain has no such thoughts!”

Download full Masnavi by Rumi in English here

* Zayd is an Arabic generic name, just like Joe Bloggs in English. 

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