Four Meaningful Prayers

One day there was a drunk who invited a group of his friends. They sat down. Then the drunkard called his slave, handed four dirhams to his servant and told him to buy fruit for his friends. In the middle of the journey, the servant passed someone zuhud, namely Mansur bin Ammar. He said, “Whoever gives him four dirhams. Then Mansur bin Ammar asked, “What prayer do you want?” 

Then he replied, 

“First, I have a cruel master. I want to be able to get away from it. Second, I want Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala to replace four dirhams for me. Third, I want Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala to accept my employer’s repentance. Fourth, I want Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala to forgive me. Third, I want Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala to accept my employer’s repentance. Fourth, I want Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala to forgive me, for my master, for you, and the people present there.” 

Then Mansur prayed for him.

The maid walked away and returned to her employer who liked to rebuke her. His master asked him, “Why are you late and where are the fruits?” Then he related that he had met the master of asceticism named Mansur and how he had given him four dirhams in return for four prayers. So, the employer’s anger subsided. He asked, “What are you asking Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala for?” He replied, “I beg of myself to free me from slavery.” Then his master said, “Indeed, I have set you free. You are now free because of Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala. What is your second prayer?” He replied, “I ask Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala to replace four dirhams for me.” His master said, “For you four dirhams. What is your third prayer?” He replied, “I ask Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala to accept your repentance.” 

Then the master bowed his head, wept, and removed the wine glasses with both hands and broke them. Then he said, “I repent to Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala. I won’t do it again forever. Then what is your fourth prayer?” He replied, “I ask Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala to forgive me, for you, and the people present here.” The master said, “This one is not in my power. This is the authority of the Most Forgiving, Most Merciful One.”

When the master went to sleep at night, he heard a voice saying, “You have done what is in your power. Indeed, Allah Subhanahu wa Ta’ala has forgiven you, the servant, Mansur bin Ammar, and all those present.”

(Source: 101 Kisah Segar, Nyata dan Penuh Hikmah, Pustaka Araf)