Master Dhun-Nun wrote a small book and ordered one of his students to take it to the imam as a gift.
While admonishing the student, he asked him to carefully observe how the imam would react.
- Keep in mind that the book may be offensive to the orthodox mind, it may provoke emotions. You must remain calm and convey to me exactly all the events,” said Dhun-Nun.
The student handed the book to the imam as he sat in the garden. It was a winter morning, and he was enjoying the sun. His wife was sitting nearby. The Imam asked:
—Who wrote this book?
The student pronounced the name of the Master. The Imam suddenly became angry, threw the book and said:
“Such a meaningless, offensive, irreligious book cannot come into my house!” Leave immediately, your Master is dangerous to society. He is creating chaos and destroying our religion!
Instantly the student lost his detachment, strong anger arose in him, but, remembering the Master’s parting words, he pulled himself together. As he was leaving, he heard the imam’s wife, calming him down, saying:
“You could throw it away a little later, when this person leaves.” There was no need for such rage. This is not befitting of your position. You have such a big library with different books, you could put this book there too if you don’t want to read it.
Again the student felt an emotion arise, for the woman turned out to be more compassionate, more loving, more humane. But then he realized that he should not bring his attitude to this event, he should simply observe.
Returning, he reported everything to the Master, but at the end he forgot and added:
“It seems to me that the imam’s wife is a wonderful woman, and she even seems to understand you.” Perhaps one day she will be able to perceive...
The master interrupted him:
- Wait! Who asked you to comment? Your job is simply to convey what you see. My job is to draw conclusions. And I'll tell you that you're wrong. Perhaps the imam will come to me after some time. Now he hates me, but hatred can very easily transform into love. Soon he will feel that he was wrong, he will take the book and read it. As for the woman, I assure you that she will never show interest in us because she is indifferent. Now go and see what happened to the book. Perhaps the imam is reading it!
The student went again. And - lo and behold! The master was right: the imam was reading a book.
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru