Once upon a time in a Baghdad marketplace, there was a servant who bumped into Death himself. Terrified, the man dropped his purchases and ran home on foot. When he arrived, he breathlessly begged his master, “Please, may I borrow your fastest horse? I met Death in the marketplace, and he gestured like he was about to take me, so I ran back here as fast as I could. I must escape from him!” The master said, “Take my fastest steed, and perhaps you can outrun Death tonight. Flee to Sammara, for he will never find you there.” The servant thanked him profusely, and galloped off at breakneck speed toward the village of Sammara, which was many hours away. The master then went to the marketplace, and when he saw Death, he asked, “Why did you threaten my poor servant when he was here earlier today?” Death replied, “I wasn’t threatening him. I was just shocked to see him, that’s all. You see, I was expecting to meet up with him tonight—in Sammara.” Continue reading →