Story illustrating the Folly of the Ignoble
An impudent fellow begged of a pious man, but the latter had no money in his house. Otherwise, would he have showered gold upon him like dust. The infamous rascal, therefore, went out and began to abuse him in the street.
The eye of the fault-finder sees no merits. What regard has he who has acted dishonourably for the honour of another?
Being informed of his words, the pious man smiled and said: “It is well; this man has enumerated only a few of my bad qualities—only one out of a hundred that are known to me. The evil that he has supposed in me I know for certain that I possess. Only one year has he been acquainted with me; how can he know the faults of seventy years? None but the Omniscient knows my faults better than myself. Never have I known one who has attributed to me so few defects. If he bear witness against me in the Day of Judgment, I shall have no fear. If he who thinks ill of me seek to reveal my faults, tell him to come and take the record from me.”
Be humble when the veil is torn from off thy character. If a pitcher were made of the dust of men, the calumnious would shatter it with stones.
Story of One who had a Little Knowledge
A certain man knew something of astronomy and his head, in consequence, was filled with pride. Journeying far, he visited Kūshyār,[23] the sage, who turned his eyes from him and would teach him nothing. When the disappointed traveller was on the point of leaving, Kūshyār addressed him with these words:
“Thou imaginest that thou art full of knowledge. How can a vessel that is full receive of more? Rid thyself of thy pretensions, so that thou mayest be filled. Being full of vanity, thou goest empty.”
Story illustrating the Humility of the Pious
Some one heard the barking of a dog in the ruined hut of a pious man. Reflecting upon the strangeness of the fact, he went and searched, but found no traces of a dog. In truth, the devotee alone was in the house.