Limitation imposed by dogma


The great Sultan Mahmud was in the streets of Ghazna, his capital.
he saw a poor porter struggling under the weight of a heavy stone which he was carrying on his back. Moved with sympathy, Muhmud called out to him, in royal command:
"Drop that stone, porter."
Immediately he was obeyed. The stone lay there on the middle of road for years to come creating obstacle to all passers by. Number of citizen interceded with the king to give a command for the stone to be taken away.
Mahmud thought and replied:
"That which has been done by command cannot be rescinded by an equal command, lest the people think imperial orders are motivated by whims. Let the stones remain there."
The stone remained there for rest of Mahmud's life. Even when he is dead, from respect of royal commands, the stones were never removed.
....
Mahmud was telling those who could understand to obey temporal authority, but to realize that those who rule by inflexible dogma can't be of complete use to humankind.

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