I was the companion to Abdullah al-Razi as he was going into the
desert. He said, "Either you or I must act as leader." So I said, "I
would rather that you be the leader."
"Then you must obey me," he said.
"Very well," I agreed.
Then he took a bag, filled it with provisions, and carried it on
his back. When I said, "Hand it over to me." He replied, "Did you not
say, 'You are the leader'? Well then, you must obey me."
That night we were caught by the rain. He stood at my head until
morning, shielding me from the rain with a cloak he wore, while I sat
there, saying to myself, "If only I had died sooner than said, 'You be
leader!'"
Abu Ali al-Ribati
as collected by James Fadiman & Robert Frager
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