57-1 - The
Tale
of the Wolf and the Fox
A fox
and a wolf once lived in the same den, but the wolf was very cruel. They
lived like this for some time that one day the fox said to the wolf - "If
you will continue to behave like this, Allah will give the power to man to
overpower you. He can bring the birds down, he can catch the fish, he can
cut the mountains. All this he can do because of his craft and
cleverness." But the wolf did not listen to his counsel and said
roughly - "What right you have to speak like this to me? Don't speak
to me like this any more lest you have to hear something unpleasant from
me." The fox said - "OK, I will not say anything to you which is
unpleasant to you." But in his heart he had intended to destroy him.
One
day the fox said to the wolf - "The Lord pardons the mistakes of His
servants. If you could know what pain I have suffered because of you. Even
an elephant could not have stood against it, but I am not complaining of
anything. The sages have said - "The blow of the teacher at first
hurts, but later it sooths." The wolf said - "I pardon you, but
you should always be aware of my power." At this the fox prostrated
before him and went away.
Now it
so happened one day, that the fox went to a vineyard and saw a hole near
its walls, but he mistrusted it - "There must be some cause for this
hole. Who is like that who sees a hole in the earth and not shut it,
because by this he will expose himself to danger. Although it is well-known
that people make the figure of fox in their vineyards so that foxes come
there and fall into their net, but still I should regard this hole
properly, because it is said that "Caution is one half cleverness." Now let me examine this hole." So he went up to the
hole, walked around it carefully. It was a deep pit which the owner had
dug to catch wild beasts which had destroyed his vineyard. He got very
happy to be escaped. The pit was covered with dust and matting. He wished
that his enemy wolf fell into it.
He
returned to the wolf and said to him - "Allaah has made a plain path for
you to enter the vineyard, so that you may enjoy the vineyard." The
wolf
asked - "What is the proof that you are speaking truth?" The fox
replied - "I myself went up to the vineyard and found that the owner
was dead, the wolves have torn him, so I went in the orchard and saw the
shining fruits upon the trees. The wolf didn't doubt the fox's report and
he proceeded towards the vineyard, while the fox followed him.
Now
when the wolf had reached the pit, the fox behind him said - "Enter
the vineyard. You need not to use any ladder now because the wall is
already broken." So the wolf walked over the pit thinking to enter the vineyard,
but as he came in the middle of the pit, he fell through it. At this the
fox danced with joy and started singing. After a while the fox looked
into the pit and found the wolf weeping. He also wept with him.
The
wolf asked - "Is it because of the pity on me that you are
weeping?" The fox replied - "No, By Allaah, I weep to regret
that why didn't you fall in this pit long before?" The wolf said -
"O evil-doer, Go to my mother and tell her that I have fallen in this
pit. She will find some way for me to come out from here." The fox
said - "In fact you are brought to this condition because of your
greed. Now you can never escape from here. Don't you know this proverb,
"Who does not think about the end, Fate is not his friend, nor he is
safe from dangers."
The
wolf spoke - "You are not thinking about my friendliness, only Allaah
will give me its reward." The fox said - "O stupid, Have you
forgotten your arrogant behavior and disregarding my advice?" The
wolf said - "Don't tease me for my past sins, for forgiveness is
expected from the generous people." And he behaved humbly before the
fox. He wept and complained and requested him not to be so cruel. He said
- "Rise and get me a rope, tie its one end with a tree, and let the
other end throw down to me, so that I can hold it and come out of this
pit. After I have come out, I will give all my wealth I possess."
The
fox said - "You are talking to me uselessly because this talking is
not going to make you free from here. You can never come out from here.
Just remember your past bad deeds done against me and how near are you
being stoned to death." The wolf said - "Think, that who saves a
soul from ruining, he has saved the whole mankind, so do your best to free
me." The fox said - "I compare your intention with the
Falcon and the Partridge." The wolf asked - "How so?" And
the fox began to tell ...
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