Abī al-Ḥawārī, and said, “Because of him the people of Syria are given rain (1).”

Ibn Abī Ḥātim said: “I heard my father commend him and speak of him at length (2).”

Fayyāḍ ibn Zuhayr reported: “I heard Yaḥyā ibn Maʿīn, and when Aḥmad ibn Abī al-Ḥawārī was mentioned, he remarked, ‘I think Allah sends the rain to the Syrians on his account.’”

Maḥmūd ibn Khālid, when speaking of Aḥmad ibn Abī al-Ḥawārī, said, “I do not think anyone like him remains on the face of the earth.”

It is transmitted from al-Junayd that he said, “Aḥmad ibn Abī al-Ḥawārī is the sweet basil of Syria.”

Abū Zurʿah of Damascus said: “Aḥmad ibn Abī al-Ḥawārī narrated to me, saying:

‘I said to a shaykh who had entered the Prophet’s Mosque ﷺ, “Direct me to the circle of Ibrāhīm ibn Abī Yahyā.” He did not reply to me; then I realized that he was ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz ibn Muḥammad ad-Darāwardī.’”

Aḥmad ibn ʿAtāʾ said: “I heard ʿAbdullāh, the son of Aḥmad ibn Abī al-Ḥawārī, say:

‘We used to hear my father weeping in the night until we would say, “He has died,” and then we would hear him laugh until we would say, “He has lost his mind.”’”

Muḥammad ibn ʿAwf al-Ḥimṣī said: “I saw Aḥmad ibn Abī al-Ḥawārī with us in Antarsus (3). After he had performed al-ʿatama, the late-evening prayer (4), he stood to pray. He began the Opening Chapter, reciting, ‘All praise belongs to Allah…’ until he reached, ‘It is You we worship and You we seek for help.’ I then walked round the entire enclosure wall and returned,