one whose religion is complete, whose virtue is manifest, whose contentment is apparent, whose fatherhood is sound, and whose brotherhood is pure."

So, I remembered a man who used to visit me once every year, and I thought he was among the people of nobility. I saw in him such excellence, knowledge, and religion that exceeded the limit. I had a strong love for him, so I awaited his arrival. When he arrived, I was delighted with the utmost joy. I stayed with him, not leaving him until the time he wanted to bid me farewell and depart. I brought out to him my money and treasures, and brought out the documents and said to him: 'O my master, I have resolved to travel, and I have no one in whose religion I trust and rely upon like you. Here are my properties I present to you, and this is all my money and what I have thésaurized; I deliver it to you so you may judge it as you judge your own money. If I return from my journey, you shall be my partner in what remains, and if it be the other case, you are in lawfulness and ease regarding it.'

He said: 'What is the reason that necessitated travel for you?' I told him my story and revealed the reality of my situation. He said to me: 'Where does your journey end?' I said: 'It ends at Talqan.' He said: 'And what state calls you to Talqan?'

I said to him: 'I have a master there, between whom and me there is correspondence. I yearn for him and he yearns for me. I have known that this man possesses such excellence, knowledge, religion, goodness, and asceticism that is great and exceeds the limit. Moreover, he has a great blessing, and he has returned his blessing to his brothers. I know that if he saw me, he would treat me as his equal and would not withhold anything from me because of what I realize in him and what he holds in my heart. I do not doubt that the state which befell me was only because of the scarcity of my meetings with him. So, I wish that you do not oppose me.'

He said to me: 'It is hard for me to oppose you in a matter you desire. As for me, I am in great goodness from Allah and have a high status; I