Points to Ponder — Page 19
— 19 The seed of piety always grows and bears fruit. After he had passed by a dozen or so homes, the news spread through the town like fire that the governor, who was known to be cruel, was going door to door today, and was asking for forgiveness. Spiritual fountains erupted out of people’s hearts. They said, “Our Lord is so great that He provides opportunities for piety and repentance and righteousness even to such an ag gressor. ” So it passed, that Shiblī , following the instructions of Junaid, knocked door to door, bare-foot, but rather than having the doors opening with complaints and disenchantments, people came out weeping, saying, “Do not embarrass us, you are an honorable person to us. You are our spiritual leader. Do not embarrass us like this. ” In short, Shiblī asked the whole town for forgiveness, and then he returned to Junaid. Junaid accepted his repentance and included him among his students. Now, Shiblī is considered among the greatest saints of Islam.