Once upon a time, there was a prince in Mughal India, the Son of an wise Emperor. He had four wives, and loved them all but in varying degrees.

He got married to his first wife on the order of his father when he was young, innocent, and full of ambition. She supported him in his early life, and encouraged him to do good and to act righteously for the sake of poor. She reminded him that Allah had bestowed upon him a station where he can make a difference. He quickly gained a reputation of helping the needy wherever he could find them. But after his fame spread across India, he grew tired of this endeavour, and thought he had done enough, but his wife continued to encourage regardless. He slowly felt he outgrew her as he wanted to move to what he thought was bigger and better things in life. With time, their personalities clashed because she despised lavish public appearances, and wasteful spending. So he decided he should marry a second wife more suited with his new lifestyle. His first wife, who truly loved him for who he was, stayed by his side, but he ignored her for the rest of his life, and secretly disliked her because she did not support him to enjoy the finer things in life. Thus, he tended to avoid her and her advice as the years went by.

His second wife was well accustomed to the workings of the Mughal Court, was a master orator, great listener, and knew the most influential merchants in India. With her, he felt he not only found a wife but a best friend. With his popularity, she recommended that he build on the relationships around him so he can gain power and become an influential prince, in the hopes that he one day he becomes Emperor. So, in the Court he became reliable, always kept promises, was true to his word, supported minorities, and made a circle around him that he could trust. But as soon as he accumulated power in his father’s court, his ego grew and he quickly forgot about his second wife’s contributions. He decided to marry a third wife that suited his newfound prestige, so he asked his right hand man to look for the most beautiful woman in India. Meanwhile, his second wife understood this was inevitable but she loved him and wished him the best. They still had a good relationship but he somewhat moved on but took care of her.

The prince’s third wife was not only stunning, but also very ambitious. She enjoyed the luxuries of the palace, and wanted one day to be a Queen that oversees a dominion of her own, which her sons would eventually inherit. She encouraged the Prince to go and conquer the neighbouring lands so he be known as a great commander, but the truth was she wanted more wealth and riches for herself and her future children, in a land they called their own. So the prince went to war, conquered and became wealthier than ever before. This elated his wife, as all her dreams were finally coming true. She had many children, and spent all her time raising them because she believed they would establish a dynasty, to keep the name of the family alive for generations.

The prince’s reputation now was at an all time high. He had the respect of his people, power in the court, and also great wealth which he acquired through his military expeditions, but for a reason unknown to him, he felt empty. His right hand man, assuming he knew what was missing, recommended the perfect fourth wife, one that compliments him in every way. He told him about a noble princess, who was said to be the most coveted princess in all the lands. He was confident this woman would make the Prince an Emperor and bring peace, harmony and prosperity to India. She was the second daughter of the Persian Shah, but she had declined her last twenty suitors, deeming them unworthy. The Prince, happy with the challenge agreed, and was confident that this is what was missing in his life afterall. With his reputation he thought there was no girl in the world that would dare to say no to him.

He approached the Persian Court and paid all manner of respect to the Shah who was impressed with the famous Mughal Prince. He thought, “Perhaps, today is the day my daughter gets married, I mean who else could reject such a fine suitor.” The prince showered the Persian Court with exquisite gifts from across India, and some the Persian ministers had never seen in their entire lives.

The Shah called out for his daughter to make her appearance. When she stepped onto the court, the Prince was stunned and lost for words, he could not believe his eyes, she was truly the most beautiful woman he has ever laid eyes on.

After their marriage the prince, now an Emperor, was obsessed with his fourth wife. All he did was think about her, but ironically she never thought about him. She had a strange attitude towards him, one of indifference, but that only made him want her even more. As the years went by, strangely she never aged, she looked exactly as young as the day she met her. He spent the remaining fifteen years of his life trying his best to get her attention, and she always gave away just enough to keep him wanting for more. For the rest of his life nothing else preoccupied him more than doing things to gain her pleasure and time.

But alas, finally the day came when he was on his deathbed. The Emperor was terrified of dying, and as his end was approaching, he became more worried, and gradually more and more terrified. When his dread reached its climax, he asked for his fourth wife, his favourite, to come in. Looking at her radiant beauty, and deep dark eyes he said,

“I loved you more than anything in this world, and I have spent the best years of my life thinking of nothing but you. If you asked me at any moment to die for you I would have, so please, would you die for me now, so we can be buried together forever?”

The fourth wife laughed, and replied, ” I know that you loved me, but what you don’t know is that I never had any affection for you, there is no chance that I would die for anyone. I have only love one person and this myself. I am going to consume all your wealth when you are dead and move on to the next prince I can find.”

The Emperor was heartbroken and in utter despair in hearing those words and summoned his third wife.

“I loved you and went to war for you, and risked my life to fulfil your desires. I gave you much wealth and prestige, please now I’m in need of your help, in my desperate state, die with me so we can be be together forever.”

“Dear Sultan, it’s true I loved you, and what you said is right, but as soon as you die I must remarry to another prince, and continue guiding my children. You will be gone but your progeny will remain to continue your legacy.”

The Sultan then summoned the second wife.

“You were my best friend, and my confidant throughout these years, you’re the only one who truly knows me as a companion, please, I beg you, die with me so we can be together forever.”

The second wife, with tears steaming down her face, replies “Dear Sultan, it is difficult to see you like this, you know you are very dear to me. But all I can do is to be with you up until the grave, but I cannot go any further, I also have a life which I cherish. I love you and I will pray to Allah to have mercy on you.”

The king now lost all hope, he knew the last person he could ask is his first wife, but how could he. He ignored her his whole life, never attending to her needs or even checking up on her wellbeing. As he was contemplating his fate, he heard a voice,

“My dear Emperor, when did you start losing hope on your Lord’s mercy?”

He turned his head and could not believe it. There she was standing by the door, much older but with the same warm and loving smile. The Emperor not being able to look her in the eyes, started crying. When he finally mustered up the means to string a few words together, she gently placed her finger on his lips, silencing him.

With tears in her eyes and smiling she said, “There is no need to ask my dear love… The answer to your question was always yes.”

She then lay with him, side by side, locking her hands with his. And that night they slowly drifted away to world more real, to be together forever.

We all have four wives in our lives:

The fourth wife is this world, you will love it more than anything, but it will never love you back and will laugh at you at your death.

The third wife is your money. It will stay with you until your death, but will find a new owner, the same day you pass away.

The second wife is your family and friends, they love you and will take of you until the grave and also bury you. But they will not be able to go further than that.

The first wife is the good works you have done in the service of others, you may ignore them your entire life, but it is the thing willing to go down in the grave and stay with you in the hereafter.