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In a lush village nestled amidst towering mountains, there lived a man named Khalid, known far and wide for his intellect and eloquence. A scholar by trade, his words carried the weight of wisdom, but his heart bore the chains of pride. To Khalid, his learning set him apart, elevating him above the farmers who tilled the earth, the artisans who sculpted beauty, and the merchants who breathed life into the marketplace.

One day, a wandering sage arrived in the village. His presence was humble, his robes worn and patched, yet his eyes sparkled with a light that seemed to pierce the veil of pretension. The villagers flocked to him, seeking counsel. Khalid, curious and perhaps slightly envious, approached the sage.

“Tell me,” Khalid began, “what is the most treacherous force in the human heart?”

The sage smiled gently and replied, “It is pride, for it blinds the eyes, hardens the heart, and deafens the ears to truth. It is the vine that tightens its grip with every passing moment, choking the tree it clings to.”

Khalid, his pride stung, retorted, “Pride, you say? But without pride, would a man strive to excel, to master his craft, to be great?”

The sage paused before answering. “True greatness lies not in mastery alone but in service to others and humility before the Creator. Let me share a tale, and perhaps it will illuminate what words cannot.”

Long ago, before the earth bore life, God created Adam from clay and commanded the angels and Shatan to bow before him. The angels, though aware of their celestial origins and higher essence, obeyed without hesitation. They saw in Adam not his clay exterior but the spark of the divine breathed into him by their Creator. Their bow was not to Adam, but to the divine wisdom manifest in him.

Shatan, however, refused. “I am of fire,” he argued, “and he is of clay. How can I, a being of superior essence, lower myself to him?”

In his refusal, Shatan revealed his blindness. He failed to see that the act was not about Adam but about obedience to God, the source of all essence. By exalting his ego, Shatan chained himself to his arrogance, sealing his fate in the inferno.

The sage finished his tale and turned to Khalid. “Do you not see? Pride blinded Shatan to the essence of the command, just as it blinds many to the value in others. It is not the intellect, wealth, or status that defines greatness, but the willingness to bow before truth, no matter where it resides.”

Khalid, unsettled but still resistant, dismissed the sage’s words. “Your story is compelling,” he said, “but I see no vine gripping me. My pride is not a shackle; it is my strength.”

The sage only smiled. “Very well. Let life be your teacher, then.”

Months passed, and Khalid’s renown grew, as did his ego. One evening, a terrible storm swept through the village, toppling trees and washing away homes. Among the devastated villagers was a farmer named Ibrahim, whose fields were destroyed. Khalid, safe in his sturdy home, ignored Ibrahim’s plight, reasoning that the man’s misfortune was not his concern.

But one day, Khalid fell gravely ill. None of his knowledge, nor his wealth, could heal him. Desperate, he sent for help, but the villagers, weary of his arrogance, turned away—except Ibrahim. Despite Khalid’s past indifference, Ibrahim tended to him, bringing food and medicine.

As Khalid recovered, he asked, “Why did you help me, when I showed you none?”

Ibrahim replied, “Because I saw a man in need, not the man who once ignored me. Pride blinds, Khalid, but compassion sees.”

Khalid’s heart softened, and he finally understood the sage’s words. Like the angels, Ibrahim had bowed to essence, not appearance, valuing the humanity in Khalid despite his flaws.

Khalid emerged from his illness a changed man. He began to use his knowledge not to elevate himself but to serve others. The vine of pride loosened its grip, and Khalid felt free for the first time.

The sage’s tale echoed in his mind, a constant reminder that true greatness lies in humility, and the only way to escape the grip of egotism is to recognize the divine spark in all creation.