For a long time, I have not written anything. Although I have read many things and taken notes, I have not had enough time to sit a quiet place and to write down the stories I have had in my mind. When I tried to find a book to order yesterday, I came across an interesting story on the internet. The story stunned me, made me be deep into thought about the future of the world and the Islamic societies in the face of existing threats mainly coming from their own faults.

The story is about an old, wise man isolated himself from the society. When he had difficulty to worship Allah among the crowds, the very man decided to move to the desert to dedicate his soul entirely to Allah.

For days, weeks, months, years, he was fed with a sip of water and spent all his time in prayer. He became a wise person by observing his own soul and the life in desert.

He learned to talk to the wolf and the bird; he listened to the sound of the wind, the movement of the sand, and observed the growth of the tree in the oasis.

He thought of this world and the world beyond our knowledge and surprised about God’s creation. The creation not only limited with human beings or earthly beings, but also covered all universe.

He was wise. Free from greed, passion, and weakness.

Visitors began to come to get inspiration from him. Visitors came to get his advice to solve their problems, to overcome their difficulties. He told them what he knew.

His fame spread over time.

Visitors and fans have increased.

They invited him to the capital on a Ramadan day. He came to town on the back of a donkey. Crowds welcomed him. They never failed to show respect. They kissed his hand and bowed him to show their deep respect.

The next day, as he was preparing to leave the city to return to the desert, he saw all the people gathered at the city gate to bid him farewell.

They were throwing flowers, they attempted to see him, touch him, and show their respect again to him.

The great old man put his hand in his saddlebag and took out a slice of bread. He bit the bread in front of everyone on that Ramadan day and broke his fasting.

There was a deep silence. Then the crowd started to boo him, shouting, “Get out, old pervert, the crook doing big sin forbidden by Allah.”

They stoned the old man. They insulted him and went away.

The old man took the road to the desert alone. Only a man was after him. He insistently asked, “I know you, old man, I know you. You are a God-fearing person, why did you break your fast in front of everyone?”

The old man did not answer. But the man did not give up, he wanted to know the answer to the question he asked.

Finally, the old man could not stand it and explained:

-They were sending me off with such love and respect that for a moment I felt that I was a chosen one… If they had continued a little longer, I would have boasted, considered myself superior to them and wanted to stay there… I bit the bread so that they would stone me. Let me get rid of unwarranted pride and arrogance… Now I know who I am again, that I am nothing but a helpless, ordinary servant… I can return to the desert.

The story ends here. Comparing the philosophy behind it and what people in the societies in our geography experience made me think of our future. Taking into consideration that the pretentiousness and pomposity are dominant in the societies, what if all the people adapted the sincerity of the old man in this story? Could it be an escape for humanity currently struggling with existential problems?