It happened once upon a time that a certain shaikh of many long years of study went on a pilgrimage, accompanied by a pair of devoted students. They visited shrines and holy sites as they journeyed, and then one day they came into the vicinity of the tomb of a particularly revered saint of their tradition.

“Without question we must go there and make our greetings,” the shaikh said, and the students were very happy to agree.

Soon, the tomb came into view, and all three began to murmur words of prayer while they approached. But as they came closer, the steps of the shaikh slowed, until when they were perhaps twenty steps from the entrance to the shrine he came to a complete stop.

The students waited patiently for their teacher to go forward, but when he did not move, they said, “Master, should we not enter and say our greetings?”

“I wish to,” said the shaikh, “but who are we, ignorant sinners as we are, to show our worthless faces before such a great saint? His radiance is impeccable. I am ashamed to come before him with my shortcomings.”

The students protested. “Master, we, your students are certainly unworthy, but you without question deserve the audience of the saint.”

“No, no,” the shaikh said, “how could I presume to enter?”

But as they talked in this way, a young poorly dressed young peasant woman came, bringing a small child with her. In humility, the woman kissed the threshold, and instructed the child to do the same. Then they went inside, and the mother taught the child what to do to. They made their greeting with complete sincerity, said a prayer together, and then left the shrine, their faces radiant.

As they left, they walked past the shaikh and his students, and tears rolled down the face of the shaikh. Then wordlessly he went and humbly knelt before the tomb.