in Shems Friedlander, SUBMISSION (New York: Harper Colophon, 1977), 3-4.
Many years ago in Medina, there was an argument between a shopkeeper and his customer. In those days, all the shops were open to the street. So when the shopkeeper, in a moment of uncontrolled anger, slapped the customer it was in front of witnesses. One slap in the face and when the man hit the ground he was dead. A crowd formed. In those days, justice was immediate. If you killed someone then your life was taken.
The man said, "I only slapped him. I did not intend to kill him, but I know the law and I also must die. Before I am put to death, I have one request. There are two orphans in my care and I would like the time to arrange for them to be taken care of and to inherit my property." "This is impossible," said the judge, "you have killed a man, you can't leave this place."
Finally, after some of the gathering was heard from, the judge agreed to a postponement if the man could find someone to vouch for him. He looked out into the crowd which now numbered hundreds, and stopped at the face of a man. "He will vouch for me," the shopkeeper said, extending his finger toward the man. "Will you vouch for this man?," asked the Judge. The man glanced around until he was certain the question was for him, then replied, "Yes."
The man was taken into custody and the shopkeeper rode off on his horse. "Do you know the shopkeeper?," the judge asked. "No." "Then you must have known the man who was killed." "No," answered the man. "But I don't understand. Do you realize that you have vouched for this man and if he does not return it is you who will die?" "I understand this clearly," replied the man. "Then what made you risk your life like this?" "The shopkeeper was in great difficulty. He looked out into this vast crowd and chose me. Out of these hundreds of people, he chose me to help him. It was not possible for me to refuse."
Hours passed. The gathering was filled with anxiety. The shopkeeper had not returned. Finally, the dust from his horse was seen and soon after he rode into the marketplace. "Forgive me for being late," he panted, "but it took this long for me to find someone who would agree to care for the orphans."
The judge and the crowd were so moved by the honesty of these two men that they called the family of the man who died, and asked if the shopkeeper could be forgiven. The family agreed. This is submission.