He expelled me from his house and cut me off from his wealth, until a messenger came to me one day saying: 'Indeed, your father has died.' I rushed to him, and behold, he was blacker than the pitch-dark night. I said to myself: 'This is but a small portion of his due recompense.' I feared Allah, then I rose to prepare his burial, finished interring him, and returned to my home.

When a certain night came and I was reflecting upon him and what he had become, suddenly a caller (Hatif) hailed from behind me: 'O so-and-so! If you wish to look upon your father and see what he has become, go out tomorrow morning and sit upon the seashore; for your father shall speak to you, Allah the Almighty willing.'

He said: 'My night felt long until morning broke. I prayed the dawn prayer, then went early to Najaf and sat upon the shore of the sea , reflecting upon that. Suddenly, I looked upon a seashell (Sadafah) turned upon its face, crawling upon the ground until it drew near me and stood before me. While I was still reflecting, I heard a voice but saw no person, saying: 'O so-and-so, this is your father before you, so speak to him.' I called out to him: 'O so-and-so!'—and I did not say to him: 'O my father.'

The caller (Hatif) then said: 'Know that Allah brings forth the pure from the wicked, and the wicked from the pure.'