Junaid and His Way of Humility

I heard that on the plain of Sana, Junaid saw a dog whose hunting teeth had been pulled out. That strength in its lion-catching claws was gone; it lay helpless as an old fox. Once it had chased down wild goats and gazelles; now it took kicks from the sheep of the herd. When Junaid saw it, wretched, worn out, and wounded, he gave it half of his own provisions. I heard that he spoke, weeping gently: 'Who can say which of us two is the better?' 'On the surface, today I stand above it; but who knows what fate has yet in store for me?' 'If my faith's footing does not slip away, I will wear the crown of God's forgiveness on my head.' 'But if the garment of true knowledge falls from me, I am far lower than this creature.' 'For a dog, with all its bad name, when it dies, is not dragged off to hell.' This is the way, Saadi: the true travelers on the path never looked upon themselves with pride. They rose in honor above the angels because they never thought themselves better than a dog.