The Laughing Dervish

In old Stamboul there lived a dervish who led a dissolute and disreputable life. But whenever he wished to speak with his Pir, the Pir always made himself available to this dervish, and conversed with him as if he were talking to a pious man and a dear friend. Many of the Pir's murids were disturbed by the relationship of these two men and asked, "How is it that our Pir, who demonstrates uncanny insight into the character of so many others, cannot see this dervish for the hypocrite that he truly is? And, if he does recognize the truth about this hypocrite, why does he continue to associate with him on such familiar terms?"

After whispering their dismay among themselves for several months, the Pir's murids decided to confront him with their questions. He responded as follows:

"Oh, he doesn't fool me one bit; nor does he even try to. He is a shameless fellow, that one. But you know how I cherish good humor and despise dejection. Well, when this man sins--and he does so quite often--he takes obvious pleasure in his acts. He has no regrets, sheds no false or futile tears. Others behave as he does, but then repent and feel sorry for a day or two, only to return to their evil ways shortly thereafter. This dervish laughs without hesitation and his laughter is infectious. It is his lusty and robust laughter that has captured my heart."