so that the man who had voiced such a claim would turn away from it—even were he one of the wicked rabbis(1) or cloistered monks.

He burned with jealousy for Islam against every innovation, never ceasing to pull down all the structures they erected.

For the sake of Allah he was unmoved by the reproach of any critic, and he feared no creature—human or jinn.

Not once in his life(2) did he avenge a personal wrong; when harmed, he simply forgave the offender.

As for the generosity of his hand, the sea itself falls short of it, and in his giving(3) he never reminded anyone of his favor.

Were all the brave weighed against him, he would outweigh the valiant on every scale.

Who fought the enemies of the faith as he did? Who drew the sword of resolve against Ghazan?

Who called out to the people on the day of Shaqhab, “Stand firm, for the enemy is already in flight and humiliation”?

Because he feared the Most Merciful in secret and remained mindful of the Lord of creation, every ruler stood in awe of him.

Nor did it harm him that his stay in prison was long, so long as he was engaged in worship and obedience to the Compassionate.

Constantly turning to his Master, he spent his hours transmitting hadith and interpreting the Quran.

He was never infatuated with authority, nor with breeding mules, nor with the beauty of youthful servants;

Nor(4) was he absorbed in rank and position, or in raising lofty buildings and planting orchards.

Rather, he devoted himself to beneficial knowledge and worship, to abstinence, sincerity, patience, and faith.

Even in his death there was a lesson for the people, in what they witnessed—free of any falsehood or fabrication.