fine robe of honor and dressed me in it, and ordered the money that was taken from me to be placed before me. He ordered the man who had denounced me to be brought; when he appeared, he was someone I trusted for his piety and relied upon, and he used to pretend to be one of my brothers. The Sultan showed me the letter which was in his handwriting and said to me: 'Take this man, for I have made his blood lawful to you; he is the one who incited me against your blood and desired your destruction. Go, for all that is in his hands is surrendered to you.'

I carried the money before me and brought the man to my house. When I entered the house, I brought him in and did not reproach him for what had happened. Instead, I gave him a robe of honor, gifted him a thousand dirhams, mounted him on a fine mule, and set him free. I distributed the rest of the money among my brothers. When morning came, I rode to the Sultan's house; he brought me near, honored me, treated me with the best treatment, and asked me about the man who had denounced me. I informed him of how I had treated him. He said: 'Know that you have a station with Allah, and I wished I could be in it, even if I had to wear a woollen cloak. I ask you to pray for me, for I know your prayer is not veiled. Furthermore, all your needs are fulfilled by me, so do not deprive me of them.' I said to him: 'I have resolved to travel, so I ask the Sultan to excuse me from the duties I used to manage.' He said to me: 'The matter is yours; if you wish to appoint in your place whomever you love, then do so, for no command is above yours. And if you choose to travel, you shall not be opposed.' I thanked him for that and returned to my house, packed my belongings, and settled my affairs for travel. I sought someone to whom I could entrust my testament, and I remembered a report I heard:

From the master Muhammad ibn al-Mufaddal — from him is Peace — that he said: I was with my master Ja'far — Exalted Glory — when a man came to him and said: "O my master, I think my departure is near; to whom should I entrust my testament?" He said to him: "To