I and some of the brethren were once gathered in his village at the residence of one of the brethren, may God the Exalted protect them—in the house of Ahmad ibn Mas‘ud, may God the Exalted grant him success. Accompanying us was a group of his neighbors and most cherished brothers. The Sultan's governor (wali) over the village at that time was a man kunya-named Zayn al-Din Qaraja. Out of his envy toward us, Rabiah reported our affair to him, saying: "There is a man among us around whom the community has gathered; they have abandoned your service, preferred him over you, and they have vessels of wine with them, honoring him to your exclusion."
Thereupon, the governor ordered that we be brought before him. However, a man from among his guards, who happened to be one of [our brethren] 1 , rushed to us and ordered us to conceal the books, saying to us: "Disperse and attend to your business, for the governor has ordered your arrest, and he seeks to harm you."
So we dispersed into the night, not a single one of us knowing the whereabouts of his companion, taking refuge in secret throughout the villages.