who follow a true religion, and we want to meet them, so you stay here.”

I replied, “I am not leaving you.”

They set out and I went with them. By dawn we were deep in the mountains, where we found abundant water and plenty of bread, and beside a large rock we sat down.

When the sun rose, people began to emerge from among the mountains—one man after another, as though their very spirits had been drawn out of them—until they were many. They welcomed my companions, gathered around them, and asked, “Where have you been?”

They answered, “We were in a land whose people worship fire.”

The hosts then asked, “Who is this young man?”

My companions started praising me and said, “He travelled with us from that land.”

By Allah, while they were still speaking, a man appeared from a cave, came forward and gave the greeting of peace. They surrounded him, and my companions showed him great respect. He asked, “Where have you been?”

They informed him, and he in turn asked, “Who is this youth?”

They spoke well of me. He praised Allah, extolled Him, mentioned His messengers, and recounted the birth of Jesus son of Mary—how he was born without a father, how Allah sent him as a messenger, revived the dead at his hands, and how he would fashion a bird from clay, breathe into it and it would become a living bird by Allah’s permission. He spoke of the Gospel that was revealed to him, that he was taught the Torah, and that he was sent to the Children of Israel—some of whom disbelieved in him while others believed—until he concluded:

“Hold fast to what Jesus brought and do not oppose it, lest you be opposed.”

He then said, “Whoever wishes to take something from this food and water, let him take it.”

So a man would rise, take a jug of water, some food, and whatever else was there.

My companions who had come with me approached him, greeted him, and revered him. He said to them, “Adhere to this religion, beware of division, and treat this youth well.”

Then he said to me, “Young man, this is the religion of Allah that you hear me proclaim; anything else is unbelief.”

I declared, “I will not leave you.”

He said, “You will not be able to stay with me, for I come out of this cave only on Sundays.”

I repeated, “I will not leave you.”

His companions said to him, “Abu So-and-so, he is just a youth and we fear for him.”

He turned to me and said, “You know best about yourself.”

I said, “Then I will not part from you.”

My companions wept at our separation. He said, “Young man, take from this food enough to last you until next Sunday, and take of the water what will suffice you.”

I did so, and I never saw him asleep or eating—only bowing in prayer.