cotton, from which he fashioned his own clothing, and he never ate so much as a mouthful paid for by anyone else.

He had periods during which he disappeared from sight, wholly absorbed in keeping up his awrād (daily litanies). I travelled with him for several days through the countryside of Mosul: he would pray the night prayer with us, and then we would not see him again until dawn.

I observed that whenever he approached a village its people came out to greet him before even hearing him speak, already repentant—men and women alike—save whomever Allah willed.

On one occasion we passed with him by a monastery. Two monks came out to meet us, uncovered their heads, kissed his feet, and said, “Pray for us, for we live only by your blessing.” They then produced a tray on which were bread and honey, and the party ate.

I went to visit the shaykh for the first time. He began conversing with us, asking the gathering questions and putting them at ease. He said, “Last night I saw in my sleep that we were in Paradise, and something like hail was falling upon us.” Then he said, “It was mercy.” I looked above my head and saw people, so I asked, “Who are these?”

I was told, “They are the people of the Sunnah, and the renown belongs to the Hanbalis.”

I heard someone say to him, “Shaykh, is it acceptable to show indulgence toward an open sinner?” He replied, “No, my brother! A religion kept hidden is a religion disgraced.”

He was known to fast for many consecutive days, so much so that some people believed he never ate at all. When this reached him, he deliberately took some food and ate it in the presence of the people. Accounts of his disciplines, states, miracles, and the benefit people derived from him became so widespread that, had he lived in ancient times, he would have been the talk of the age.

I also saw him arrive in Mosul the very year he died. He lodged in a shrine outside the city. The sultan, provincial officials, shaykhs, and common folk all came out to him, crowding him with their eagerness to kiss his hand until they caused him pain. A lattice was therefore set up between him and the people so that no one could reach him except by sight; they would offer greetings and withdraw. After that he returned to his retreat.

Ibn Khallikān (1) said: “His origin was from the village of Bayt Fār in the region of Baalbek, and he set out for…"