to you, bid you farewell, and traveled toward my master. We completed our Hajj, performed the visitation, and supplicated that the affairs be eased. Then we traveled toward the lands of India. When our journey ended at the first city of the lands of India, a man came out to us and gathered all the travelers and merchants in one place. I presented the belongings and carried goods to him just as the people presented theirs. He began to ask man by man about his goods, belongings, and the gear he carried, and asked him about his name, his kunya, his town, his place, and his homeland, until no one remained but us. When he reached us, we stood up for him and greeted him; he returned the greeting and ordered us to sit, so we sat. He asked us about our names, our kunyas, and our homelands; we named ourselves to him, gave our kunyas, and informed him of our countries and homelands.

He said: "Tell me: are you two from the Shia of 'Ali, or from the Shia of Abu Bakr and Umar?" We said: "Nay, rather from the Shia of 'Ali." He asked: "From the Shia of the gnostics, or from the denier Shia who believe in part of the Book and disbelieve in another part?" We said to him: "Nay, rather from the Shia of 'Ali, the fulfillers of the truth, the gnostics." He asked: "Among those who praise the fulfillers, commend them, follow the religion of Allah through their religion and piety, and speak their word?" We said: "Among those who heard the call in the beginning without opposition, doubt, or hypocrisy." At that, he rose toward us and we rose toward him; he pressed each of us to his chest, kissed us between our eyes, and ordered the agents to take the people's belongings and goods and to guard them and all their means. Then he walked to his house and ordered us to walk with him. When he entered his house and sat, he ordered us to enter; we entered, and he seated us in his place. Then he conversed with us for an hour and lodged us in the most private place. He brought us all that we needed of bedding and all gear, and honored us with true honor. We remained in that state for three days.