Points to Ponder — Page 16
— 16 The Robe of Honor This is a well-known historical incident. Shibl ī was a great saint. He came from an affluent family and was a governor under the king of Baghdad. He came to the capital for consultation concerning some issue. During the same days, a commander-in-chief had been sent to face an enemy who had defeated many armies previously. The commander defeated the enemy and won the lost lands back for the country. On his return, the commander was given a grand reception in Baghdad. The king summoned a special court to reward the commander. The king proposed that a robe of honor be given to the commander to recognize his services. Unfortunately, on his way back from the journey, he had developed a runny nose, and he had also forgotten to bring his handkerchief with him. After the bestowal of the robe, according to the tradition, he was to respond saying, “I am grateful to you that you have been gracious to me, and my generations will be your servant because of these four yards of cloth. ” While the commander was getting ready for the speech, suddenly he sneezed, and had a nasal drip. If he had spoken with a runny nose, he might have been killed. He searched in confusion, and not finding the handkerchief, he sneakily