noOne has a beautiful Sunday

[Guest guest]

A young man named Shibli came to Junaid and wished to become his student,

Shibli had been the governor of an important region of Persia and had renounced

his position to become a student of Sufism. He said to Junaid, " You have been

recommended as an expert on pearls (of wisdom). Please give me one or sell it

to me. " Juaid replied, " You could not afford the price if I sold it, and if I

gave you

one for nothing, you would not realize its value. You must do as I have done.

Dive into the sea and wait patiently until you obtain your pearl. "

 

Shibli asked Junaid what he must do to become his student, and Junaid told him

to go and sell sulphur for a year. When Shibli returned Junaid told him that

his work

brought him only notoriety and commerce, and that now he should go and beg for

a year. Shibli returned a year later, and Junaid said, " now you realize your

own worth.

You have found that you count for nothing in the eyes of others. Return to your

former

province and seek the forgiveness of those you ruled as governor. "

 

Shibli went from house to house until only one man he had wronged remained. He

kept trying but he could not trace the man. Finally, Shibli distributed one

hundred

thousand dirhams in chariety, but still his heart could not find rest. After

four years,

Shibli returned to Junaid. The sheikh pointed out that a trace of pomp and

pride

still lingered in him, and so Junaid told Shibli to beg for another year.

 

Every day Shibli brought Junaid all he received from begging and Junaid gave it

to

the poor. After another year, Junaid finally accepted Shibli as a dervish*. He

then told

Shibli to serve all the other dervishes. After a year of this service, Junaid

asked

Shibli what he now thought of himself. Shibli replied, " I regard myself as the

least of

God's creatures. " " Now, " said Junaid, " your faith is complete "

 

 

 

*a seeker of truth.