Ibrahim al-Kazzaz said that in his youth he really wanted to join the teaching master. He found the sage and asked to be his student.
“You’re not ready yet,” said the teacher. But the young man insisted.
“Well, okay,” the sage agreed, “I’ll teach you something.” Now I am going on a pilgrimage to Mecca. If you want, we'll go together.
The student was delighted. So, they got ready to go. But before setting off, the sage said:
“From now on, you and I are companions, and therefore one of us must lead, and the other must obey.” What role do you like?
“Lead me,” answered the young man.
- Let it be your way, if you know how to obey.
Their path lay through the Khijan desert. As darkness fell, they settled down for the night. Suddenly it began to rain heavily. The master got up, took out a piece of fabric and, stretching it in his hands, began to cover the young man from the rain with it.
“But this is part of my duties,” Ibrahim protested.
“I order you to let me cover you,” the sage interrupted him.
In the morning the student said:
“If you don’t mind, I’ll be in charge today.” The master agreed.
“I’ll go and collect some brushwood for the fire,” said the young man.
- You shouldn't do this. “I’ll bring the brushwood myself,” said the sage.
“I order you to stay here while I collect firewood.”
But the sage objected:
- Such activities are not for you, because the principles of apprenticeship are not consistent with a subordinate allowing himself to be served by a leader.
This is how each time the master demonstrated to the young man what apprenticeship was. They parted at the gates of the Holy City. Having met the sage later, the young man lowered his gaze in shame.
“What you learned then,” said the elder, “revealed to you to some extent the essence of apprenticeship.”
Translated from Russian · original on wisdomlib.ru