238 – Muhammad ibn al-Ḥusayn narrated to me; Bishr ibn Muhammad ibn Abān al-Sukkarī narrated to us; al-Ḥusayn ibn ʿAbd Allāh al-Qurashī, on the authority of a man from the Anṣār, said:

“When David, upon him be peace, fell into sin, he devoted himself wholly to worship. He went to a monk who lived on the summit of a mountain and called out to him in a loud voice, but the monk did not answer. When David persisted, the monk said, ‘Who is this calling me so loudly—untamed by those who came before him and unrestrained by worship?’

David replied, ‘I am David, possessor of fortified palaces, well-bred horses, women, and worldly desires.’

The monk said, ‘If you attain Paradise with all that, then you are truly remarkable!’

David asked, ‘And who are you?’

He answered, ‘I am one who longs, fears, and abstains.’

David then asked, ‘Who is your companion, your confidant?’

The monk said, ‘Climb up and you will see, if you wish.’

So David made his way up the mountain until he reached its peak, where he found a corpse laid out in its shroud.

David said, ‘Is this your companion and confidant?’

‘Yes,’ the monk replied.

David asked, ‘Who is he?’

The monk said, ‘A king; his story is written on a copper tablet at his head.’

David, upon him be peace, drew near and read the inscription:

‘I am So-and-so son of So-and-so, one of the kings. I lived a thousand years, built a thousand cities ⦗183⦘, routed a thousand armies, embraced a thousand women, and deflowered a thousand virgins. While I reveled in my sovereignty, the Angel of Death came to me and snatched me from it. Now the soil is my bed and worms are my neighbors.’

Thereupon David, upon him be peace, collapsed unconscious.”