BOOSTER ROLE

Abu’l-Qasim Ferdowsi Tusi (c. 940–1020 CE) was one of the greatest Persian poets. Ferdowsi’s “Shahnameh” is a well-known Persian epic that proudly tells the stories of Iranian heroes like Rostam. Regarding Rostam, Ferdowsi said, ‘It is I who have made Rostam the champion, otherwise, he would have been just an ordinary wrestler from a village in Iran’:

Manesh kardeh-am Rustam-e Pahlavan

Va gar na liyeh boud dar Sistan

What Ferdowsi considered as personal pride in his poetry is actually a natural law. Just like in volleyball, where there’s a setter and a hitter—the setter’s job is to set the ball up, and the hitter’s role is to hit the ball forward to keep the game going. Similarly, in the system of life, according to God’s plan of creation, one person lifts another and helps push them forward.

This principle is so universal that even prophets are not exempt from it. For example, Prophet Joseph (Yusuf) entered Egypt as a slave and was later imprisoned. Eventually, he rose to the highest position in the Egyptian government. This rise was part of God’s plan, but on the surface, it was the King of Egypt who acted as a supporter for him.

The same observation applies to anyone who has achieved a significant position in any field. From this perspective, you can see a supporter behind every notable individual. It is rare to find a person in history who rose without the help of a supporter.

In this situation, the booster should avoid falling into the trap of self-importance. He should not believe that he is the sole reason for someone’s advancement. The truth is that if the booster looks at it honestly, he will also see that another booster’s help was involved in his own progress. The booster should realize that what he achieved was not solely his own, but it was God who used him to carry out His will.