Hassan from Basra says:
I was convinced that I was a person of humility and was more than modest in my thoughts and behavior towards others.
One day, standing on the bank of the river, I saw a man sitting there. Next to him was a woman, in front of him was a wine bottle. I thought: “If only I could correct this man and, from the corrupt creature that he is, make him like me!” At that moment I noticed a boat on the river that was beginning to sink. This man immediately rushed into the water, where seven people were exhausted, and safely pulled six of them ashore. Then he came up to me and said:
- Hasan, if you are a better person than me, in the name of God, save the last one left!
I realized that I could not save even one person, and he drowned. Then this man said to me:
- This woman is my mother. The wine bottle contains only water. This is how you judge, and this is what you are like.
I threw myself at his feet and exclaimed:
“Save me from drowning in pride disguised as virtue, just as you saved six of these seven from death!”
The stranger replied:
“I will pray that the Lord will fulfill your desire.”
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru