I broke open the note, and in it was written: 'Your note has arrived, and I have understood from it what you mentioned regarding the disarray of your condition and your lack of means (the tightness of your hand). That grieved and distressed me. I have sent to you what was possible at the time, and I shall follow it with what is sufficient God Almighty. So seek aid through this for your conditions and set right your affairs, and proceed to us so that we may determine our view regarding you, God Almighty willing.'When I read the note, I was amazed at that and said: 'I never delivered a note to him! The note that I wrote and intended to present to my Master returned with me when I left his presence, and here it is beneath my pillow which is under my head.'

Then I said to some of the maidservants: 'Bring the note from under the pillow.' She went to fetch it but did not find it. She said: 'O my master, there is no note here.' I said: 'Yes, there is.' She said: 'No, by God, O my master, there is nothing here.'

I rose myself to the spot and sought the note—and I had placed it with my own hand—but I did not find it, nor did I know what became of it. I rose immediately to go to my Master, carrying with me everything the scribe had brought to me. I entered into his presence, placed it before him, and recounted my story to him. He said: 'Do not recount [it], O Ibn Ayyub. I know what you recount. So rise; may God bless it for you.'