When the cobbler saw him approaching, he stopped his work and stood up in reverence, devoutly kissing the worshipper's hand. Then he asked, “What caused you to leave your place of worship?”

The worshipper replied, “I have come here because of you. I was told that your rank in the court of Allah Almighty is greater than mine. So, I wished to visit you. Tell me, what deed has earned you such a high status before Allah?”

The cobbler remained silent for a moment, hesitant to reveal his deed. Then he said, “I have no special deed, but I spend my days earning lawful sustenance and abstaining from unlawful wealth. Then, whatever sustenance Allah Almighty grants me throughout the day, I give half of it as charity in His path, and I spend the remaining half on my family. My second deed is that I fast frequently. Other than this, I possess nothing exceptional that could be considered a virtue.”

Hearing this, the worshipper left the pious cobbler and resumed his worship. After some time, he was told in a dream: “Ask the cobbler what fear has made his face pale.”

So, the worshipper returned to the cobbler and asked, “Why is your face pale? What fear grips your heart?”

The cobbler answered, “Whenever I see a person, I assume they are better than me, that they are destined for Paradise, while I am deserving of Hell. I consider myself the most insignificant and sinful of people, and the fear of Hell consumes me constantly. This is the reason my face has turned pale.” The worshipper then returned to his place of worship.

Sayyidunā Khuld b. Ayyūb رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَـلَيْه states: “The cobbler was given superiority over the worshipper because he regarded himself insignificant compared to others, and thought everyone besides himself to be destined for Paradise.”^[1]