This is a well-known historical incident.
Shibli was a great saint. He came from an affluent family and was a governor under the king of Baghdad. He came to the capital for consultation concerning some issue. During the same days, a commander-in-chief had been sent to face an enemy who had defeated many armies previously. The commander defeated the enemy and won the lost lands back for the country.
On his return, the commander was given a grand reception in Baghdad. The king summoned a special court to reward the commander. The king proposed that a robe of honor be given to the commander to recognize his services. Unfortunately, on his way back from the journey, he had developed a runny nose, and he had also forgotten to bring his handkerchief with him. After the bestowal of the robe, according to the tradition, he was to respond saying, “I am grateful to you that you have been gracious to me, and my generations will be your servant because of these four yards of cloth.” While the commander was getting ready for the speech, suddenly he sneezed, and had a nasal drip. If he had spoken with a runny nose, he might have been killed. He searched in confusion, and not finding the handkerchief, he sneakily cleaned his nose with a portion of the robe. Unfortunately, the king saw the incident.
The king roared, “Take away his robe. He has disgraced our robe. He cleaned his nose with our gift.”
As the king said this, Shibli let out a shriek and started crying. As there was piety in the heart, there was righteousness in him; God had kept an opportunity for his guidance. When Shibli let out a shriek, the king said, “I am angry with the commander. Why are you crying?”
Shibli stood up and said, “O King, I present my resignation.”
The king said, “What is this untimely request? What has come over you, and why are you resigning?”
Shibli said, “Oh King, I cannot carry out my responsibility.”
The king said, “What is the matter?”
While weeping, Shibli submitted, “This commander left this place two years ago. He was sent to a war which many great generals had lost. He was sent to an area which could not be retaken. He stayed away for two years. He went to the forests, mountains, and continuously fought with the enemy. He died every day, every morning, every evening. Every night his wife thought that she would wake up as a widow in the morning. Every morning, as she woke up, she thought that the evening will come and she will be a widow. Every evening as his children went to sleep, they thought that they would wake up orphans. Every morning when they woke up, they imagined that they would be orphans by the evening. He conquered that country after a persistent sacrifice, and brought it back under your rule. In return you gave him a few yards of cloth, which did not have much value. Just because he was compelled to wipe off his nose with the robe, you became so angry with him. Then, how will I respond to that God who gave me a body which cannot be built by any king? Who has given me this robe and I am dirtying it for your sake. What answer will I give to my Lord?”
Shibli said this and left the court. But he was such a cruel and merciless person that when he went to a mosque and wanted to repent, everyone responded the same: “Get out of here. Can the repentance of a Devil be accepted?” He started visiting all of the places nearby but no one had the courage to accept his repentance. Finally he visited Junaid Baghdadi and told him of his improprieties and that he wanted to repent. “Can my repentance be accepted?” he asked. Junaid said, “Yes, but with a condition. First you will have to accept that condition.”
Shibli said, “Tell me what it is, for I am ready to accept any condition.”
Junaid said, “Go back to the city where you were the governor. Knock at every door and ask for their forgiveness. Ask for the forgiveness of the excesses you have committed.”
Shibli said, “I accept.”
So, he went to the city. He knocked at every door. When the people responded, he said, “I am Shibli who was the governor here. I have made mistakes, and I have committed excesses against you. I ask for your forgiveness.” The people said, “We forgive you.”
The seed of piety always grows and bears fruit. After he had passed by a dozen or so homes, the news spread through the town like fire that the governor, who was known to be cruel, was going door to door today, and was asking for forgiveness. Spiritual fountains erupted out of people’s hearts. They said, “Our Lord is so great that He provides opportunities for piety and repentance and righteousness even to such an aggressor.”
So it passed, that Shibli, following the instructions of Junaid, knocked door to door, bare-foot, but rather than having the doors opening with complaints and disenchantments, people came out weeping, saying, “Do not embarrass us, you are an honorable person to us. You are our spiritual leader. Do not embarrass us like this.”
In short, Shibli asked the whole town for forgiveness, and then he returned to Junaid. Junaid accepted his repentance and included him among his students.
Now, Shibli is considered among the greatest saints of Islam.