The gangplank was raised, and I sat with him in the ship. I saw such merit from him that it overwhelmed me, and such knowledge that it dazzled me. I remained with him in this state until we entered Baghdad. When we reached the landing place, he said: "O Fadwayh, this is your place to disembark; seek God’s guidance and convey my greetings of peace to my lord." I said: "Rather, you shall disembark with me, my lord, and stay with my lord [Umar ibn al-Furat], for he longs for you and loves you and meeting you."

He replied: "In that case, tomorrow, God willing." I disembarked and came to my lord¹, who asked me for my news and my affairs regarding what I had fulfilled. I explained that to him until the point I reached him, then I told him the story of my lord Abu Ja'far Muhammad ibn Nusayr al-Numayri—peace be upon him. He looked at me smiling and began asking me to repeat the story, saying: "O Fadwayh, you have reached a degree you had not reached before. Know that this description is what some of the established Proofs of God and His standing banners have described. Sit, for sitting has become your right." I had never sat in his presence for even an hour, so I refrained. He said: "By the right of Him who is my Master, you must sit, for sitting has become your right." So I sat that day before him, and he began asking me to repeat the story while I related it to him and he smiled. Then I rose, and on the next day, I came early to him, and there was my lord Abu Ja'far al-Numayri—peace be upon him—at the door. He said: "O Fadwayh, will you inform my lord that I am at the door?" I entered upon him, and my lord had with him al-Hasan and Wahb, the two sons of Qaran, Khalid ibn Abi al-Ash'ath, Nasr ibn Salam, and Mukram ibn Umar al-Kannasi—peace be upon them—along with the sons of Qawtamah and the sons of Daiq. He was mentioning to them my lord Abu Ja'far and his affair. I said: "O my lord, the man is at the door."