He was sitting by himself.

He was sitting by himself. I said to myself: ‘This young man must be a Sufi. Surely, he will be a burden on people. By God, I will go and reproach him.’ When I approached him, he said: ‘O Shaqeeq! Avoid most of suspicion, for surely suspicion in some cases is a sin.’ He said this and walked away. I said to myself: ‘This is not a normal thing! How was he aware of my feeling? How did he know my name? He is but a righteous servant of God!

I should go and ask for forgiveness.’ Therefore, I went after him but could not find him. I did not do anything until we reached another station where I found him praying. He was anxious and tears were flowing from his eyes. I said to myself: ‘This is the same person I am looking for.’ I waited until he completed his prayer. I went to him to ask forgiveness when he said: ‘O Shaqeeq!

Recite this verse: “And most surely I am Forgiving to him who repents and believes and does good, and then continues to follow the right path.” [^5] He said this and walked away. I said to myself: ‘This young man must be a saint, for he read my mind twice.’ I saw him no more until we reached Zubalah. I saw the young man with a pail in his hand and standing near a well to draw some water when suddenly the pail fell into the well from his hand.

The young man raised his head towards the sky, saying: ‘You are my Lord! You make me satiate whenever I get thirsty, and you provide me with food whenever I feel hungry.’ Then he said: ‘My Lord, my Master! I have no pail other than this. Do not take it from me!’ By God, I saw that the water of the well gushed up.

The young man took the pail, filled it with water, performed ablution, offered a four-rak’a prayer, went towards a hill of pebble, took some pebbles, put some in the pail, shook it, and drank from it. I went to him, greeted him, and he answered my greeting. I said: ‘Bless me with what God has blessed you with!’ He said: ‘O Shaqeeq! The manifest and hidden blessing of God has always been with us.

Therefore, have a good opinion of your Lord!’ He gave me the pail, and when I drank from it, it was so sweet that I had never drunk such a good-smelling and wholesome drink in all my life. I was satiated in a way that I did not feel any need for food or water for days. I did not see him until we arrived in Mecca. At midnight, I saw him performing prayers near the Zamzam Well with weeping and in a humble state until it was dawn.