And one fresh date remained with me in the edge of my cloak. So I began to roam al-Hir, entering and exiting, but I did not find anyone to hand that fresh date to."

"So I said: 'He commanded me to return to him so that he might enjoin me.' So I approached, and when I became near him, I saw Ishaq ibn Muhammad al-Nakha'i standing. So I said: 'I will hand the fresh date to him.' So I intended to go to him and hand the fresh date to him."

So my Master said to me: "O Ali ibn Ahmad, keep what remains with you of the fresh dates." I said: "Yes, O my Master."

Then Ishaq approached me and said to me: "O Ali ibn Ahmad, which fresh dates are with you that he commanded you to keep?" I said: "Fresh dates that were before him; he commanded me, so I ate from them. And he scooped for me a scoop after I ate, so I distributed it among the people of Tarabay, and what he commanded me to keep remains from it." He said: "Give me one of them." I said: "It is one, no other."

So I was in that state, and he was conversing with me and debating with me, until a man approached from the direction of Nineveh. He came until he stood before my Master and said: "My Master, your promise which you promised me."