to her and delivered her dowry to me. I entered upon her, and he stayed for a few days, then wrote a testament for me, bid us farewell, and walked away on foot without a servant, mount, or money. We stayed for thirty years without hearing any news of him or finding any trace of him until we despaired of him. I did not doubt that he had passed away. By Allah, my life became distressed and clouded; I did not know that I enjoyed anything of what I had attained of his blessing. His testament was with me; I looked at it every day and wept. He had mentioned in his testament that I should bring out the fifth (khums) of his money and spend it on my brothers. He had decreed for me not to settle accounts with any of the workers, nor to approach them for an account, nor to dispute with any of them, nor to supervise a division, nor to demand an accounting. I did that and complied with what he decreed and enjoined upon me.

One day, while I was in one of my estates alone by myself, his memory crossed my mind. I wept and sobbed, and asked Allah — Exalted Glory — not to hasten my departure until He gathered me with him. By Allah, I had not completed my prayer when he entered through the door. I fell on my face unconscious, and did not wake from my faint except with my head in his lap, while he was kissing my eyes, thanking Allah and praising Him for the grace of being gathered with me. I opened my eyes and saw his tears had wet his beard while he was weeping.

I said: 'O my master, I have many times the longing that you have, and I am sorrowful over our separation.' I multiplied my thanks for what Allah granted me of meeting with you; to Him be praise and then thanks. He sat and I sat, and we conversed for a long time. I sent word to inform his sons and brothers, and no one remained but came. By Allah, no one of his brothers came to greet him except that he stood up and received him from the spot where his eyes fell upon him, pressed him to his chest, and kissed him with the kiss of a yearning, wandering lover. He did not cease thus until no one of his brothers remained. Then we rose and entered his house, his sons being with him. When they