It happened once upon a time that the ruler of a certain region came to visit a Murshid, hoping to improve himself. In the course of their conversation, the ruler asked the Sufi, “What is most essential in order to pursue the spiritual path?”

The Murshid responded, “Submission. Without that, it is impossible to advance, although one may be deluded into thinking one has accomplished something. And when submission is complete, it becomes humility. That is the gold with which the jeweller may adorn the robe of the Beloved.”

The ruler thought for a minute. “But just as there is false gold and real, there is false and real humility. How can one distinguish between them?”

“Let us see,” said the Murshid, and he called two of his students who were working outside in the garden. When the two stood before them, the Master said to them, “What is humility?”

One student responded immediately, saying, “Master, I have been in your service for many years, and in the course of that time I have been privileged to learn that I am nothing! Less than nothing! I am no more than the dust that lies beneath the dust beneath your sandals, may God preserve your sanctity. I am eternally grateful for this lesson, and may God grant me many more years in your service.”

The Master nodded, and looked at the other student. “And you?”

The other student bowed his head, and said, “Master, you will know best, but I do not feel able to answer this question. I hope some day to know humility.”

The Murshid sent the two back to their tasks, and then said to the ruler, “Do you see? False humility proclaims itself, but the real will make no claim.”