"Once when I was in Musjidun Nabawi, a man handed me a letter, the contents of which were as follows:

‘Brother! May Allah Ta`ala bestow to you the wealth of fikr (reflection) and the affection of ibrat (i.e. to take lesson). May He bestow success to you in the love of khalwat (solitude) and keep you ever alert against ghaflat (indifference, obliviousness).

O Abu Amir! I am o­ne of your Brethren of Tariqat. I have been informed of your blessed arrival. This has delighted me. I am extremely delighted. If my eagerness could be transformed into physical shape it will form an umbrella above me. If it had to form under me, it would lift me. I implore you in the Name of Allah! Do not deprive me of the honour of kissing your noble feet. Was-salaam.’

After reading the letter, I accompanied the man. We walked o­n until we reached a very large dilapidated house in Quba. He requested me to wait outside while he entered to announce my arrival. He came back and told me to enter. The inside of the house was in a greater state of dilapidation than the exterior. Doors made of date-branches were fitted o­n the entrances.

I soon saw a very old man sitting in the direction of the Qiblah. Age and weakness had reduced him to a stalk. Fear and bewilderment permeated his being. Sorrow and grief were written o­n his blessed face. I went close to him and made Salaam. Observing him carefully, I discerned that he was blind and lame. Furthermore, he was the victim of a number of illnesses. Perceiving my presence, he said: ‘Abu Amir! May Allah Ta`ala maintain your heart pure from the pollution of sins. The flames of eagerness to meet you and listen to your blessed words of love have been consuming me. My heart suffers from an ailment. All physicians (spiritual doctors) have failed to cure it. I have heard that you have a life-saving balm. For the sake of Allah give me that elixir of life. I shall be patient regardless of its bitterness.’"

‘The talk of the aged man cast a fearful and shocking concern in me. After reflecting for a long while, the subtleties of his words dawned o­n me. I then said: ‘O Sheikh! Turn the vision of your heart for a while to the Angelic realm as well as your ears of Ma`rifat. Incline the Haqeeqat (Reality) of your Imaan towards Jannatul Ma`waa. The bounties and treasures which The True Benefactor has prepared for His Auliyaa will then be in front of you (i.e. their forms will be made manifest).

Thereafter turn your attention momentarily towards Jahannum. You will then observe the punishment and calamities Allah Ta`ala has in store for the evil o­nes.’

The Sheikh was shedding tears in profusion. He said: ‘Abu Amir! By Allah! Your medicine has benefitted me. I believe with conviction that your medicine will cure me. May Allah Ta`ala shroud you in the clouds of His Mercy.’

I said: ‘O Sheikh! Allah Ta`ala is aware of your secrets. He sees you in privacy and in public.’

The Sheikh let out a cry and explained: ‘Who can remove my poverty? Who can eliminate my starvation? Who can forgive my errors. O My Maula! o­nly You fulfill needs and o­nly You are The Abode of Safety.’

The Sheikh then fell over. When I examined him, I discovered that he had departed from this world. May Allah have mercy o­n him.

A young girl donning a woollen dress and orni (head-scarf) approached. Her forehead glittered with the impression of Sujood (prostration). Fear of Allah had made her complexion exceedingly pale. She said: ‘O Balm of the hearts of the Aarifeen! O Igniter of the flames of Divine Passion! Congratulations! You have truly achieved a wonderful accomplishment. Your effort is acceptable by Allah Ta`ala. This Sheikh is my father. He has become lame performing Salaat for the past twenty years in this state (of Divine Love), and he lost his vision as a result of his abundant crying. He always supplicated to Allah Ta`ala to fulfill his yearning to meet you. He had said that o­nce he had attended your gathering and you had instilled life in his dead heart. You had banished his ghaflat. He had also said: ‘If I should again listen to his talk, it would kill me.’ May Allah Ta`ala reward you wonderfully.’

Then she kissed her father’s forehead and shed tears in abundance. I said to her: ‘Why are you crying so much? Your father has journeyed to the Abode of Reward. He has seen the rewards of his righteous deeds.’

The girl screamed like her father and perspired profusely. Within a few moments, she too had traversed beyond the frontiers of this earthly abode. I performed the Janaaza Salaat for both."