Humility Is Never Outlived
Al-Maʾmūn (d. 218 AH, leader of the abbasid caliphate) once entrusted al-Farrāʾ with teaching Arabic naḥw (grammar) to his two sons. One day, al-Farrāʾ had to leave to attend to some personal matters. The two sons rushed to give his sandals to him, both of them insisting on the honour of doing so. The two sons disputed over who would give them to him, and eventually agreed that each would present one sandal. They did so, and this incident was reported to al-Maʾmūn by one of his attendants. Al-Maʿmun summoned Al-Farraʾ and, when he entered, asked him:
“Who is the most honoured of people?”
Al-Farraʾ replied: “I know none more honoured than the Commander of the Faithful.”
Al-Maımun responded: “No, it is he whose sandals the heirs to the caliphate compete to present, such that each is content with offering one.”
Al-Farra’ replied: “O Commander of the Faithful, I wanted to stop them from doing so, but I feared discouraging them from a virtuous act they initiated or diminishing their spirits for striving toward such noble conduct. It is narrated that Ibn ʿAbbās once held the stirrups for Ḥasan and Ḥuṣayn as they mounted their horses after leaving his presence. Someone who witnessed this said to him, ‘Do you hold the stirrups for these two young men, even though you are older than them?’ Ibn ʿAbbṣs replied, ‘Be silent, ignorant one! Only a person of virtue recognizes the virtue of others.'”
Al-Maʿmun said: “If you had prevented them, I would have reprimanded you harshly, burdened you with blame, and deemed it a fault on your part. Their act did not diminish their honour but instead elevated their status and revealed the purity of their character. Their actions have confirmed my perception of their noble nature. A man, regardless of his greatness, should not consider himself above three things: humility before his ruler, his father, and his teacher.”
Al-Maʿmun then rewarded his sons with twenty thousand dinars each and Al-Farraʾ with ten thousand dirhams in recognition of his excellent guidance of the princes.
Compiled and translated by: Munīb al-Ṣumālī
