The true guide outweighs the wealth of the world

“For anyone who leads you to this world has deceived you, and anyone who leads you to works alone makes you weary, and anyone who leads you to God has befriended you,” said Hazrat Ibn Abbād al‑Rundī (1333–1390), a Sufi mystic. The world, al-dunya, with all its trappings of beauty, may seem tempting, but pursuit of the world leaves the soul fragmented and restless. To be engaged in constructive activities is good for the body and mind. But “works alone” cannot anchor a man’s soul in peace. One must guard against an obsessive focus on rituals or activities which may be detached from genuine intention.

If the heart is not filled with love for the Divine, then everyday efforts and actions may bring exhaustion and spiritual burnout.

Sufi saints have cautioned against spiritual arrogance, wherein one may feel pompous in pursuing grand efforts to please God. Such efforts are empty if one does not humbly believe in the benevolent grace of the Almighty. The danger of relying on “works alone” without an inward turning toward the Divine is powerfully illustrated in a Sufi story.

There was once a deeply pious ascetic who lived alone on a remote island. For seventy years, he spent every single day in rigorous prayer, fasting, and performing thousands of prostrations. He relied entirely on his own unblemished record of devotion, certain that his spiritual works would guarantee his proximity to God.

When he finally passed away, God’s voice welcomed him into paradise, saying, “Enter My paradise by My mercy.”
The ascetic, feeling his lifelong labour was being overlooked, protested: “O Lord, why by Your mercy? Why not by virtue of my seventy years of tireless work and devotion?”

God then commanded that the ascetic’s seventy years of prayer be placed on one side of a cosmic scale, and the single blessing from the Almighty be placed on the other. The weight of the Almighty’s blessing instantly outweighed all seven decades of the ascetic’s intense ritual works. The ascetic realized, with deep weariness and humility, that relying on human effort alone is an exhausting illusion. True spiritual security lies not in the tally of one’s deeds, but in trusting the Divine Grace that makes these deeds possible.

The seeker must strive to dissolve his ego’s illusion of control. A true friend and guide weans us away from illusions and self-deceptions and leads us to God. By making the soul aware of the Divine, a true spiritual companion frees us from the exhausting weight of worldly anxieties and mechanical rituals. Then the heart and mind feel calm and at peace, and one feels a sense of unconditional belonging with the Divine Beloved.

The true friend and guide on this glorious path is one’s Pir or Murshid, the spiritual guide or master who mentors disciples on their mystical journey toward divine enlightenment. A true master looks past outward wealth and ritualistic works to lead the soul directly to Divine Love.

It is said that a poor peasant from a distant village had fallen into severe debt. Hearing of the immense generosity of Khwaja Nizamuddin Auliya, the peasant travelled for days on foot, hoping the master would grant him enough money to save his family from ruin. By the time the peasant arrived at the khanqah (Sufi hospice), it was late in the evening. Khwaja Nizamuddin had distributed everything from the treasury to the poor and needy.

He gently told the peasant, “My friend, I have no gold or silver left to give you today. But a seeker must never leave empty-handed.” Khwaja Nizamuddin took off his old, worn-out leather shoes and handed them to the man.

The peasant could not understand how a pair of tattered, dusty shoes could solve his crushing debts, but he lovingly accepted them and set off for home.

Hazrat Amir Khusrau was returning to Delhi from a royal expedition in a distant province. His grand caravan was laden with wealth, jewels, and horses bestowed upon him by the Sultan. Suddenly he stopped his horse and told his companions, “I smell the distinct fragrance of my Master nearby. Someone here carries the essence of Nizamuddin.”

Hazrat Khusrau saw the peasant resting by the wayside, holding a bundle. He approached the man and asked, “Brother, have you come from the presence of Khwaja Nizamuddin?” The peasant replied, “Yes, I went to him in great need, but he had no money. He gave me nothing but these old shoes.”

The moment Hazrat Khusrau saw his master’s shoes, tears welled up in his eyes. He placed the shoes upon his head with reverence and said to the peasant. “I will give you everything I have with me right now in exchange for these shoes.”

The peasant watched in disbelief as Hazrat Khusrau handed over his bags of gold coins, precious jewels, horses, and fine textiles. Hazrat Khusrau carefully wrapped the master’s shoes, placed them on his head, and walked the remaining distance to the khanqah on foot. When he finally entered the presence of Khwaja Nizamuddin, the master looked at his disciple, smiled knowingly, and asked, “Khusrau, what news do you bring from your journey? What have you brought back for me?”

Hazrat Khusrau placed the dusty shoes at his master’s feet, bowed deeply, and replied with a joyful smile, “Master, I have bought your shoes.”

Khwaja Nizamuddin looked at him with immense tenderness and remarked, “And what did you pay for them, Khusrau?”
“Everything I possessed, Hazoor,” Hazrat Khusrau replied. “My entire wealth, my horses, and all my rewards from the Sultan.” Khwaja Nizamuddin blessed him and softly said, “Arzaan kharidi” —“My dear Khusrau, you bought them incredibly cheap.”

This story is a timeless reminder of the Sufi path. The material wealth of the entire world, which so easily deceives man, is worth less than the dust on the shoes of the guide who connects the heart to God. Blessed is the seeker who finds a friend or guide who shall lead him to the Divine Beloved.

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