He purchased a hand-mill and busied himself with grinding wheat into flour...

He purchased a hand-mill and busied himself with grinding wheat into flour, the intention being to emancipate himself from vanity and self-importance.[^7] ‘Isa and the Washing of his Disciples’ Feet ‘Isa Ibn Maryam (as) once told his disciples that he sought a favour from them. “What do you want us to do?” they asked. ‘Isa (as) moved from his place and washed the feet of all the disciples! “O’ Spirit of Allah! It is more befitting that we should wash your feet!” they exclaimed.

“The person who is the most deserving to serve is one who is a scholar. I have acted thus in order that I may have demonstrated humbleness. You too should develop the quality of humbleness and after I have gone you should behave with the people with humility and modesty just as I have behaved with you,” ‘Isa (as) said.

“It is by means of humbleness and not arrogance that wisdom flourishes, just as it is on soft ground that plants grow, not on hard mountainous terrain.”[^8] [^1]: Noble Qur’an, Suratul Furqan (25), Verse 63 [^2]: Jame’ al-Sa’adat, Volume 1, Page 359 [^3]: Tadhkeratul Haqaiq, Page 55 [^4]: Jawame’ al-Hikayat, Page 178 [^5]: Hikayat-ha-e-Shanidani, Volume 4, Page 173; Tabaqat Ibn Sa’d, Volume 3, Page 238 [^6]: Dars-hai Az Zindagi-e-Payambar, Page 162; Biharul Anwar, Volume 76, Page 63 [^7]: Riwayat-ha Wa Hikayat-ha, Page 103; Dastan-ha-e-Parakandeh, Volume 3, Page 18 [^8]: Namunah-e-Ma’arif, Volume 3, Page 223; Al-Wafi, Volume 1, Page 4 Previous…