believing man and a brother among your brothers. Poverty has touched me, and loneliness and being a stranger have harmed me. I am not one who squanders his dignity in begging, nor one who commits obscenity or comes to an ugly deed out of fear of Allah. It has been related that whoever complains to his brother of his condition has complained to Allah. You have recognized my state from what you heard; if you are able to change my state and bring me relief, then do so.'"

Dawud said: "I had a sister favored with beauty and grace, and she was in good standing. I said to him at that moment: 'I have a sister whose husband died two years ago and I have not found a match for her. You have affiliated yourself with us through faith and complained of your lack and poor state. I wish to go to her now and seek her permission regarding your matter, and I shall assist you with my wealth and share¹ my blessings with you.'"

He said: "Then he stood and hastened to his sister. It was but a short while before he arrived with a bag containing dirhams and fine clothes. He emptied the bag before the man and said to him: 'O my brother, I have sought her permission to marry you and she has permitted me, on the condition that I hasten her dowry and take charge of her affair. Here are four hundred dirhams—take them; and these clothes—wear them.' Then he wrote her dowry and took charge of her affair, took four hundred dirhams from the bag, and returned to his sister, giving her the dirhams and ordering her to prepare herself so that he might enter upon her that night."

"He returned to the people and found them gathered with Hubabah present. He said to the youth: 'Tonight you shall enter upon your wife, so take the clothes and the rest of the money, put your affairs in order as you wish, and return here when you are finished with all your matters.' The youth departed, and we did not see him until the evening."