so, obeying him and not opposing him. He ordered me to do as he ordered my Master, and I did so until we had drunk three cups. Then he returned to his niche, and we sat for discourse (mudhākarah). We remained así until we had performed the ‘Aṣr prayer, the first evening prayer, and the second evening prayer.

We talked for an hour of the night, then he ordered them to bring him amber-scented candles. They brought them, and he continued to burn the amber while we prayed, until we had performed twelve units (rak‘ahs). Then he faced the East and prayed two units. Upon finishing the prayer, he recited a supplication we did not understand. When he finished, he said to us: "What prevented you two from praying toward the direction I prayed toward?"

My Master said: "O King, we have obeyed you in all you commanded us, yet regarding this, we do not know for what Meaning (Ma‘nā) the King prayed. If he has knowledge that he can reveal to us and make us know—we saw him face the East in his prayer. If the King—may Allah prolong his life—points in his prayer toward the Sun, we do not desire that and we oppose him. If he pointed in his prayer toward the Full Moon, we are not obedient to him and oppose his command."

He said: "My pointing in this prayer of mine was not thus; I have not worshiped or called upon anything except the One (al-Aḥad) upon whose worship I and you two are gathered and to whose obedience we submit." My Master said to him: "O King, whoever is ignorant of a thing becomes its enemy. It is necessary for the King—may Allah prolong his life—to make known to us that hidden knowledge so that we may be upon insight and certainty." He said: "With love and honor. Tomorrow morning, I shall make known to you my excuse for my action and acquaint you with my path, my school of thought (madhhab), and what I am upon."

We spent the night upon his promise. The next morning, he ordered us to ride and did not order any of his companions to follow us. He traveled with us to the House of Wisdom (Bayt al-Ḥikmah). When he