'It is narrated that hearts are soil, sciences are its planting, and discussion (Mudhakarah) is its water. So revive the fertilizer of your hearts with good discussion.' He said: So we arose, all of us together, and we said to him: 'O our master, you have disciplined us by what you have done, so sit wherever knowledge and proper etiquette seat you.' He said: So he entered the forefront of the gathering place (Sadr al-Majlis), and there was no ample space in it. He glanced, and I raised my head to the wood that was in the house, and I saw it lengthening, extending, and expanding. And I saw a chair that had appeared, and above it a cushion that had elevated above the chair, and the chair had elevated above the ground. Then he sat, and between him and the cushion and the chair was the likes of what was between the cushion and the chair. He said: So we fell on our faces, prostrating. He said to us: 'Raise your heads and return to what you were engaged in, and bring it forth.' So we brought it. Then he took the cup in his hand and filled it to the brim until the cup ascended. Then he ascended upon his ascension, and the cup ascended similarly. Then he tossed it upwards, so it disappeared from us and returned empty.

He did the likes of that three times, then he leaned towards us and said to us: 'Indeed, the best of my companions to me, the highest of them in degree, and the closest of them to me in status, is the one who seeks deep understanding (Mutafaqqih) in his religion and is sincere in his certainty. And indeed, the most hateful of my companions to me and the furthest of them from me is the one who, when he hears a narration