and he raised his head, completed the rest of his prayer, and concluded with the taslīm. They said, “We are envoys from al-Ḥajjāj to you; you must answer his summons.”

He asked, “Is a response obligatory?”
They replied, “It is.”

He praised Allah and extolled Him, then rose and walked with them until they reached the monk’s monastery. The monk called out, “Horsemen, have you caught your man?”
They answered, “Yes.”
He said, “Then climb up, for a lioness and a lion prowl around the monastery.”

They did so, but Saʿīd refused to enter. They said, “It looks as though you are trying to escape from us.”
He replied, “No, but I will never enter the dwelling of a polytheist.”
They said, “We shall not leave you; the wild beasts will kill you.”
He answered, “No harm. My Lord is with me; He will turn them away from me and make them a guard to protect me.”
They asked, “Are you one of the prophets?”
He said, “I am not one of the prophets—only a sinful servant among the servants of Allah.”

The monk said, “Give me some assurance.”
They suggested that Saʿīd provide the monk what he wished, but he said, “I pledge before the Almighty who has no partner that I shall not leave this spot until morning, if Allah wills.”

The monk accepted this and said to them, “Climb up and string your bows so you can scare the beasts away from this righteous servant; he disliked entering the hermitage because of your presence.”

They climbed up and strung their bows. Suddenly a lioness approached; when she drew near Saʿīd she rubbed herself against him and nuzzled him, then lay down close by. A lion came and did the same.

When the monk witnessed this and dawn broke, he came down to Saʿīd and asked about the ordinances of his religion and the practices of his Messenger. Saʿīd explained everything, whereupon the monk embraced Islam. The men then crowded around Saʿīd apologizing to him, kissing his hands and feet, and even scooping up the dust he had trodden, saying, “O Saʿīd, al-Ḥajjāj made us swear by divorce and by the manumission of slaves that if we saw you we would not leave you until we brought you to him. Give us whatever instructions you wish.”

He replied, “Go ahead with your orders; I seek refuge with my Creator⦗1⦘, and no one can repel His decree.”

They travelled until they reached Wāsiṭ. Saʿīd said, “I have eaten your food and accompanied you, and I am certain that my appointed time has arrived. Allow me tonight to prepare for death, to ready myself for Munkar and Nakīr, and to reflect on the torment of the grave. Then, when morning comes…"