When the third Saturday came roundI went to the standingbut found him not；so I enquired for him and was told that he lay sick in the hut of such a woman. Now this was an old woman，renowned for pietywho had a hut of reeds in the burial-ground. So I went thither and found him lying on the naked earthwith a brick for a pillow and his face beaming with light. I saluted him and he returned my salute；and I sat down at his headweeping over his tenderness of years and strangerhood and submission to the will of his Lord. Then said I to him'Hast thou any need？'Yes，' answered he；and I said，'What is it？' He replied'Come hither tomorrow in the forenoon and thou wilt find me dead. Wash me and dig my grave and tell none thereof： but shroud me in this my gownafter thou hast unsewn it and taken out what thou shalt find in the bosom，which keep with thee. Thenwhen thou hast prayed over me and laid me in the dustgo to Baghdad and watch for the Khalif Haroun er Reshidtill he come forthwhen do thou bear him my salutation and give him what thou shalt find in the breast of my gown.' Then he made the profession of the Faith and glorified his Lord in the most eloquent of wordsreciting the following verses：
Carry the trust of him on whom the wished-for death hath come To Er Reshidand thy reward with thy Creator stand！
'An exile greets thee，' say'who longed full sorely for thy sight；With long desire he yearned for theefar in a foreign strand.
Nor hate nor weariness from thee estranged himforindeedTo God Most High he was brought near by kissing thy right hand.
ButO my father'twas his heartshunning the vain delights Of this thy worldthat drove him forth to seek a distant land！'
Then he betook himself to prayerasking pardon of God and blessing the Lord of the Just and repeating verses of the Koran；after which he recited the following：
Let not prosperity delude theefather mine；For fortune wastes and life itself must pass away.
Whenas thou com'st to know of folk in evil plightThink thou must answer it upon the Judgment Day；And when thou bearest forth the dead unto the tombsThink that thoutoomust pass upon the self-same way！