I encountered Asad ibn al-Haytham, and he said to me: "By God, the believer is never a liar. His capital is his religion; he does not entrust it to men, nor does he leave it behind in luggage. Truthfulness is his state, Loyalty is his pillar, Contentment is his provision, Affability is his adornment, Tranquility is his outward, Hunger is his seasoning, ** Piety** is his craft, the Truthful ones are his brothers, the Prophets are his lovers, and the Lord of lords and Possessor of necks, the Prince of Bees, is his God, his support, and his aid in his hardship."

I encountered Abu al-Faraj al-Balisi, who used to say in his prostration: "O He who is God in the heaven and an Imam on the earth," and at the rising of the sun: "O Security of the fearful, O Master of the worlds, You are the Prince of Bees, the Amir Almuminin." He said to me: "Whoever says this at the rising of the sun every day and at its setting, his reward from God shall be nothing less than that He enables him to look upon Him."

I encountered Abu al-Dunya al-Mu’ammar al-Ashbah al-Maghribi, who is Ali ibn Uthman ibn al-Khattab al-Yamani. He had arrived from the West to Mecca in the year three hundred and twenty, and I met with him in Mosul. I related from him three traditions:

(650) al-Mu’ammar said: My Master Amir Almuminin—exalted be his glory—said: The Messenger of God—exalted be his glory—said to me: "O Ali, love your beloved moderately, for perhaps he will be your enemy one day; and hate your enemy moderately, for perhaps he will be your beloved one day."

(651) al-Mu’ammar said: My Master Amir Almuminin—exalted be his glory—said: The Messenger of God—exalted be his glory—said to me: "O Ali, I and You are the two fathers of this creation; whoever is undutiful to us, upon him be the curse of God. Say 'Amen', O Ali." So I said: "Amen."

(652) al-Mu’ammar said: My Master the Prince of Bees—exalted be his glory—said: The Messenger of God—exalted be his glory—said to me: "O Ali, I and You are the two masters (mawlayya) of this creation; whoever denies our Walaya and rejects our right, upon him be the curse of God. Say 'Amen', O Ali." So I said: "Amen."