1, h 2 A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn...

1, h 2 A number of our people have narrated from Ahmad ibn Muhammad ibn Khalid from Muhammad ibn Ali from 'Abd al-Rahman ibn Muhammad ibn abu Hashim from Ahmad ibn Muhsin al-Maythami who said that I was with abu Mansur al-Mutatbbib who said the following.

"One of my friends has said that he was with ibn abu al-'Awja' and 'Abdallah ibn al- Muqaffa' in the holy Mosque of Makkah and ibn al-Muqaffa' said, "Do you see these creatures, pointing towards the location where people walk seven times around the Kabah'? Of all these no one deserves to be called a human being accept that Shaikh sitting there, meaning thereby Imam abu 'Abdallah (a.s.).

The rest is garble and beasts." Upon this ibn abu al-'Awja' said, "For what reason do you call him a human being and not the rest?" Ibn alMuqaffa' then replied, "Because I saw with him what I did not see with the others." Ibn abu al-"Awja' then said, "We must test your claim." Ibn al-Muqaffa' then said, "I advise you not to do so lest you will lose whatever faith you have. Ibn abu al-'Awja' then said, "I do not think that is what you mean.

I think you are afraid of failing to substantiate what you have just said about this man." Ibn al-Muqaffa' then said, "If that is what you think then go to him and protect yourself as much as you can. Be strong as much as you can so you are not harnnessed and note all points against and in your favor. Ibn abu al-'Awja' then left and ibn al-Muqaffa' and I remained there. When ibn abu al-'Awja' returned he said, "Woe is you, O ibn al- Muqaffa'.

This is not a human being even though he lives in this world. He is a spiritual being but appears in the form of man whenever he wants the out world and turns into a spiritual being whenever he wants the inner world.

That is the way he is." Ibn al-Muqaffa' then asked, "How does that happen?" Ibn abu al-'Awja' then said, "I sat near him and when everyone had gone he turned to me and said, "If it is the way they (people walking around the Ka'bah) say, which is true then they are saved and you are destroyed. If it is the way you say it is, which is not so then you and they are all equal." I then asked, "May Allah be kind to you. What is it that we say and what is it that they say?

We all say the same thing." He said, "How can what you say be equal to what they say? They say that they will have a return, a day of receiving their rewards and penalties.