THE REASON FOR THE LACK OF FEAR OF THE BEASTS TOWARD THE GNOSTICS

Then this valley and the abundance of beasts within it were described to him. He distributed weapons among the men and went out intending to fight the beasts. He wandered away from the valley for an hour of the day until he saw an estate from afar; he headed toward it and summoned one of its sheikhs. He came and greeted him, and the youth asked him about the valley. He informed him that he knew it. He said to him: "Walk until you guide us to it." The sheikh asked: "And what do you intend to do if you reach the valley?" He replied: "I want to kill the beasts in the valley, annihilate them, and relieve the people of them." The sheikh said to him: "Indeed, the beasts in the valley do not harm anyone. Our shepherds graze near the valley, and our livestock—our sheep, cattle, and horses—are with them, and we have never heard that a single beast ever attacked anything of ours. Furthermore, they gather with worshipers in the valley; even if you and everyone on earth gathered, you would not be able to overcome them. So do not listen to the word of the one who deluded you." The youth said to the sheikh: "Guide me to it, and you are free of all consequences." So, the sheikh walked with him until he guided him to the spot, stopped him at the edge of the valley, and showed it to him.

It was of our discourse that this day was Friday, after the Dhuhr prayer. This is because we visit all the brothers and gather at this sheikh's place; we stay on Thursday and Friday night until morning in discussion, prayer, and worship. We pray Dhuhr after the sheikh gives the Adhan, delivers the sermon, and leads us in prayer. Then we bid farewell to one another while he stands watching us, and the beasts around us move aside to the right and left. When we dispersed and reached the head of the valley to return to our places, he [the Persian youth] moved his horse and followed us. I was with a noble, handsome man, one of the virtuous people, most abundant in science and widest in understanding, and we were worshiping in the place he intended. He followed us and adjured