When the young traveller got off the boat, they saw
that he looked so wise, devout and humble that there
was only one place at which he could possibly stay.
They deposited his luggage at the monastery. There
the youth was made welcome by the pious community.
One day the head of the community said to the youth:
'Would you please sweep the rubbish away from the
mosque?'
That was the last they saw of him. All were puzzled,
but decided that he had no aptitude for work.
But next day, one of the servants of the community
happened to catch sight of the youth and stopped him.
'It was foolish of you to go off like that,' he remarked.
'Don't you know that it is only by service that you climb
the ladder?'
At this the youth wept.
'Oh my friend,' he cried, 'what could I do? I looked around
and the place was spotless. I therefore concluded that the
head of the community was referring to me! I removed myself
so that the place should remain pure and spotless.'
SA'ADI
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