doors were locked, and the King stood by until a wall was built over the doors to seal them, so that no light could enter the place. He assigned guards to the spot.

A long time passed without the King mentioning him or paying him any heed. One day, the man crossed his mind, and he ordered the door to be opened. It was opened, and the cave was found to have expanded; in it was a running spring of water and a garden containing all kinds of trees. The man was found sitting upon a throne of gold, his face shimmering with light. When they saw him in that state, what they saw of him terrified them. They returned to the King and informed him of the news. The King ordered the two doors to be locked upon him again and that no one be allowed to approach the place.

Then he ordered that the ministers and sages be brought, and he ordered the arrival of the righteous sage who had advised entering under his command and prohibition. They arrived, and he informed them of what he had seen of the man’s affair and sought their counsel. The righteous man said: "I have seen an opinion, may Allah support the King: it is that you bring this man, inform him of the matter of your daughter’s children, describe to him their state, and demand that he heal them. Then travel with him to the lands of India for their sake. Thus we shall divert his affair from ourselves and be spared his evil by others. If he heals them and returns them to a sound creation, then the King of India will be yours and in your hand, and our desire will have been fulfilled. If he does that, we shall answer him in what he desires and return from Sun worship. If he is unable to do so and does not fulfill it, we shall have proof against him and be spared his affair."

The King said: "You have hit upon the right opinion." He ordered him to be brought. He was brought and informed of what occurred and told of the matter of the children. He said to them: "If I heal them of their maladies and return them to a sound creation, what will you do?" They said: "We shall enter under your obedience and return to your command and prohibition." He said to them: "And if you do not do so?" They said: