He said to me: 'Know that when I reflect upon my stay in this abode, while knowing of the delay of the term [of life] that has been appointed for the believer therein, there appears from me what you see of distress.¹ But when I look at what Allah has granted me of His gnosis and what He has distinguished me with of His science, my color returns to what you see.' I said: 'O my master, for what cause do you travel while you—may Allah support you—are the one to whom people travel and from whom science is sought?' He said: 'I only intend by this to meet the believers, for among them are those for whom travel to me is not possible. I have interpreted a report I heard:

From my master Abu 'Abd Allah Ja'far ibn Muhammad al-Sadiq — Exalted Glory — that he said: "Whosoever meets in his time forty believers, and they are safe from his tongue, his hearing, his eye, his hand, his foot, and his heart, Allah will suffice him of forty shirts from the shirts of humanity."

And I only intend by my travel to meet the believers.' I said: 'O my master, you have vast blessing, mounts, and servants, so why do you travel on foot without a companion?'

He said: 'A narration from al-Baqir al-'Ilm — Exalted Glory — that he said: "Whosoever strives toward his believer brother on his own two feet without a need from him [the brother] to him, Allah shall lodge him in the Highest Paradise."'

I said: 'O my master, you used to visit me while I was in Kufa; did you have anyone among your brothers you would visit and find intimacy with?' He said to me: 'You have reminded me of a people who were the cause of my salvation.' I said: 'Who are these people and how was the acquaintance with them?' He said: 'A story whose explanation is long.' I said: 'If you see fit to favor me with the explanation of that, and clarify