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It was a wintry morning with much snow
falling coupled with the blowing of a strong cold wind. It was
not easy to come out in the open air. Yet one could see people
rushing to their work and students with books in their hands
hastening to their schools.
In one of the mosques in Hamadan - Iran, religious students
were assembling in order to attend a morning class. It was an
important school of Islamic theology and the tutor was also a
very great learned one. His discourses were indeed very
thought-provoking and so were his students quite intelligent.
The tutor was none else but the world famous and a great
Persian thinker and philosopher 'lbn Sina', popularly known in
Europe as Avicenna. His lectures and writings on various
science subjects had become the standard text books for
hundreds of years in the universities of Europe. Students
admired his deep philosophical thinking. They felt honoured to
sit in his class and hear his inspiring lectures.
That cold morning, students had already assembled in the
mosque and were still anxiously awaiting the arrival of their
learned tutor. They were wondering if the intense cold weather
that day had delayed his coming.
A few minutes had passed when suddenly the students witnessed
the graceful arrival of 'lbn Sina', their great learned tutor.
They felt very happy and stood up as a mark of reverence and
respect for him. He sat down at his usual place and exchanged
greetings with his students. He commenced his discourse in his
usual lucid manner that held his students spellbound. He also
gave satisfactory answers to their questions.
Among the students was one very young and enthusiastic by name
'Bahman Yar'. He was much more close and attached to 'lbn Sina'
the learned tutor. He was also the foremost among the clever
and advanced students of the class. Every time he listened to
the lectures of his tutor, he became more and more fascinated
with his deep philosophy and knowledge on every subject. He
would say to his class-mates: "I wonder why our tutor 'lbn
Sina' does not claim to be a prophet despite his supreme
intelligence and magic personality"
It is said that one day by chance 'lbn Sina' was standing at a
baker and loaf-seller shop. His attention was drawn to a very
smart young boy who was displaying signs of much intelligence.
The boy was saying to the baker: "My mother is requesting
for a little fire." The baker responded: "Have you
brought any pot to carry the fire?" "No! But I know
how to carry it", replied the boy instantly. So saying he
applied some ash over his palm and stretched his hand to the
baker who placed a piece of burning firewood over his palm.
Without any hesitation, the boy took it and went home.
'lbn Sina' was rather amazed to see the intelligence and
courage of this boy. He thought of having him for special
training and education under his personal care. The proposal
was communicated to the parents who agreed and entrusted the
boy to his full care. Thus 'Bahman Yar' since then was staying
at no other place except at the house of his tutor and
care-taker, 'lbn Sina'. They were all the time to be seen
together. The boy being highly intelligent derived the best of
the knowledge that his tutor could impart.
Years passed and 'Bahman Yar' grew up not only in age but also
in knowledge and understanding under the patronage of his
tutor. The learned tutor was also very proud of this most
capable student.
It was one of the coldest nights of the wintry season.
Midnight had passed and the snow-falling was very heavy. Both
'lbn Sina' and 'Bahman Yar' were sleeping in one room under
warm thick blankets. The light in the room was already
extinguished but the student was still asking intricate
questions on some deep subjects. The tutor was replying in his
usual impressive manner. Fascinated by the supreme knowledge
and deep philosophy of his tutor, he again made the suggestion
which he had made before:
"Oh my learned tutor!" he pleaded, "with all
this high status of knowledge that you enjoy and being master
of all the sciences, why not declare yourself a prophet? Sir!
Don't you think that you even excel some of the previous
prophets in knowledge and your status today is unparalleled in
the world! Should you decide to claim prophethood, no one
would dare challenge you. Let me assure you that I shall be
the first to offer my allegiance and would serve you with full
faith."
Since 'Bahman Yar' was still young and immature, his above
proposal to his tutor was rather emotional than logical. 'lbn
Sina' smiled but did not give any reply.
That night the cold weather had become extreme and there was
heavy snow-falling. Both were already fast asleep. It was past
midnight and suddenly 'lbn Sina' woke up and raised his head
out of the warm blanket. Incidentally he was very thirsty and
the water-mug in the room was empty. So he decided to wake up
his student to go out and bring him some water.
"Oh 'Bahman Yar'! My son 'Bahman Yar'! Please wake up and
bring me some drinking water from outside", he said
repeatedly.
"Why is there no water in the water-mug near your
goodself, Sir?" asked 'Bahman Yar.'
"No!" replied 'lbn Sina.'
'Bahman Yar' raised his head and saw heavy snowfall outside.
The thrilling sound of the strong cold wind also made him
nervous to go out. Again 'lbn Sina' grumbled:
"Oh 'Bahman Yar'! Why the delay? Bring me some water, I
am too thristy."
'Bahman Yar' dared not come out of the warm blankets to face
the cold weather outside the room. He was, therefore, putting
forward lame excuses to his tutor.
"Oh my respected tutor! It is harmful for you to drink
water now that you have just come out of the warmth of thick
blankets. It is better you go to sleep again till the early
morning which is not far off", said 'Bahman Yar'.
"My son! Bring me water, I am too thirsty. I myself am a
medical expert and know better what is harmful than you do. I
am unable to sleep, please bring me some water from
outside", again appealed 'Ibn Sina'
In response 'Bahman Yar' again put forward excuses and argued
that he would catch cold and fall sick if he were to go out in
that extreme cold weather. So saying he went back to sleep.
There was dead silence everywhere and no sound of anything was
to be heard. Outside it was still pitch dark except the first
light of Subhe Sadiq (true dawn) in the eastern horizon had
commenced to appear. Suddenly the silence broke with a
melodious voice of a muezzin - caller to prayer from the top
of a minaret at the nearby mosque. After reciting some verses
of the, Holy Qur'an, the muezzin in a loud voice said, "Allaho
Akber" - Allah is the Greatest. "Ash-hado an la
ilaha illallah" - I bear witness that there is no god
except Allah.
Both the tutor and his student quietly listened to the
melodious voice of the muezzin. The call to prayers then
proceeded to the words "Ash-hado anna Muhammadan
Rasoolullah" - I bear witness that Muhammed is the
Messenger of Allah. On hearing this, 'Ibn Sina' thought of
taking the opportunity of responding to the repeated proposal
made to him by 'Bahman Yar'. He said:
"Listen to me, oh my son 'Bahman Yar'. Now I wish to
reply to your repeated suggestion". The student sat up to
hear attentively of what his learned tutor abruptly wanted to
say. 'Ibn Sina' then proceeded:
"You have been suggesting to me several times to claim
prophethood, that people would put full faith in me and that
you would be the first one to do so. Now look, you have been
my close student for several years and benefited from me a
great deal, yet you did not think it prudent to obey me by
coming out of your warm bed for a moment and bring me water
that I badly needed to quench my thirst. Instead you chose to
put forward lame excuses."
"But think of this man who is now calling to prayers at
the top of the minaret after coming out in the coldest weather
and making ablution with cold water in the early hour of this
morning. It is for no other purpose but in obedience to and
respect for the command of Allah as conveyed by His apostle
Prophet Muhammad Mustafa (s) some four hundred years ago.
"What a great difference there is between me and that
Prophet sent by Allah!"
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