Flowers for the Women Wearing Veils - Volume I — Page 331
! ! 331 Rustam saved his life. So , without courage and strength, one remains unsuccessful. Then there is humility and t awazu ‘ [hospitality and respect due to one’s humility ]. In our country, tawazu ‘ is a very common word, but few people know its meaning. If somebody serves his guest with good food, it is said he was served with great tawazu ‘. If a police officer visits a village, entertaining him is viewed as tawazu ‘. However, they do not understand the true meaning behind tawazu ‘. It is said that once there was a K ing who would walk the streets in disguise. One day , he turned up at a point where a policeman was on guard. Out of arrogance and haughtiness, the policeman would not let the K ing pass , for h e assumed the disguised K ing was an ordinary man. The policeman said, “Do you know who I am?” The K ing asked , “Sir, what is your rank? Are you a corporal ?” The polic eman replied, “Go higher”. T he K ing said, “ A S a rgent ?” He replied, “Yes”. Now, the policeman asked, “Who are you? A police inspector!” The King also replied , “G uess a little higher , ” to which the policeman asked , “A deputy?” The K ing once again replied, “Go higher. ” Further questions and answers ultimately resulted in him revealing that he was the K ing. The policeman was greatly embarrassed and apologized. Thus, s ome people do not understand what it is to show tawazu‘ and humility. Let someone acquire even the slightest worldly status and he swells with pride and arrogance. In their pride, they forget to keep their feet on the ground, and yet they do not realize that when great people show humility , they are respected and honored more so. Consider the Russian Cz ar’s destruction and the German Kaiser ’s defeat, all the result of arrogance and conceit and lack of humility. However, [King] George the Fifth is highly respected. If one approaches the public with humility and tawazu‘ , they will gain a great deal more respect. The subjects of the Emperor value him for his actions of humility. If people in aut hority show humility , they are greatly admired by the people who will wholeheartedly serve them with their lives. The nation’s leader is their servant. While discussing the implementation of the foundations of Islam , t he Promised Messiah as quoted the following Persian couplet: