Knowledge of Sincerity III

THE SUFI AND THE TALE OF HALAKU
(taken from Idries Shah's book, 'Wisdom of the Idiots',)

A sufi teacher was visited by a number of people of various faiths who said to him:
'Accept us as your disciple, for we see that there is no remaining truth in our religions, and we are certain that your are teaching is the one true path.'
The Sufi said:
'Have you not heard of the Mongol Halaku Khan and his invasion of Syria? Let me tell you. The Vizier Ahmad of the Caliph Mustasim of Baghdad invited the Mongol to invade his master's domains. When Halaku had won the battle for Baghdad, Ahmad went out to meet him, to be rewarded. Halaku said: "Do you seek your recompense?" and the Vizier answered, "Yess".
'Halaku told him:
' "You have betrayed your own master to me, and yet you expect me to believe that you will be faithful to me."
He ordered that Ahmad should be hanged.
'Before you ask any one to accept you, ask yourself whether it is not simply because you have not followed the path of your own teacher. If you are satisfied about this, then come and ask to become disciple.'