removed what remained of our food in a dish. I intended to rise, but he said to me: "Sit." I sat. He said: "O Abu al-Tahir, indeed Allah — Exalted Glory — has provided me with much wealth and I have vast estates. I would love for you not to leave me until you have completed your Hajj. If you then desire to return to your country, I have what will transport your luggage and what you will spend on your return. But if you wish to gladden my heart by looking at your auspicious face, and to be my neighbor, meeting the pious men and seeking the sciences of our masters, the People of the House, then I hope your answer will be to stay, if Allah the Almighty wills."

I said to him: "O my master, since you have given me the choice, I have no desire but to stay in your presence and seek blessing by serving you." He said to me: "Since you have answered me in that, the servant and the maidservant are both a gift from me to you." He summoned the maidservant and said to her: "I have gifted you to this youth; do not deny him any state he desires, and do not withhold from him anything of wealth or otherwise, for his command over my wealth is as my command." He summoned the servant and said the same to him. Then he vacated a place for me and I stayed there for the rest of my night.

When morning came, we went out with the servant, and our path led us to the house where I had been staying. I said: "O my master, in this house I was tested by the taking of my luggage." He ordered the servant to open the door and we entered. I showed him the spot where I had buried the money. He ordered the servant to dig up the spot; he dug, and behold, I saw the money in its state, not taken. I was delighted with that with the utmost joy. He ordered the servant to carry the money to the [other] house. I said to him: "This money has already left my hand; so, distribute it among the poor of the believers." He said to me: "You have been granted success."

We walked, and while we were walking, a youth met us with a note and gave it to him. When he read it, he said to me: "Return to the house and give this youth twenty dinars." I said to him: "O my master, from your