Ibn Jahdam related: Abu Bakr al-Jallāʾ told me:

“Whenever al-Nūrī witnessed a wrongdoing he would rectify it, even if that meant placing himself in danger. One day he came to the riverbank and noticed a boat carrying thirty barrels. He asked the ferryman, ‘What are these?’

‘What concern is that of yours?’ the man retorted.

Al-Nūrī persisted, whereupon the ferryman burst out, ‘By Allah, you Sufis are far too inquisitive. This is wine for al-Muʿtaḍid.’

Al-Nūrī said, ‘Hand me that crowbar.’ The ferryman, angered, told his servant, ‘Give it to him—let us see what he does.’ Al-Nūrī took it, boarded the vessel, and smashed every barrel except one. He was seized and brought before al-Muʿtaḍid.

The caliph exclaimed, ‘Woe to you—who are you?’

‘I am a muḥtasib, an enforcer of public morality,’ he replied.

‘And who appointed you to the office of ḥisba?’ asked the caliph.

‘The One who appointed you to the caliphate, O Commander of the Believers!’

The caliph lowered his gaze and asked, ‘What moved you to act as you did?’

‘My compassion for you,’ he answered.

‘Then how did this one barrel escape?’

Al-Nūrī explained, ‘As I was breaking the barrels my heart was sincere and humbled, but when I reached this last one I felt self-admiration arise, so I distrusted myself and left it.’

Abu Ahmad al-Maghāzilī said, ‘I have never seen anyone more devoted in worship than al-Nūrī.’

He was asked, ‘Not even Junayd?’

‘Not even Junayd,’ he replied.

It is also said that Junayd once fell ill; al-Nūrī visited him, placed his hand upon him, and Junayd recovered immediately.

Al-Nūrī died before Junayd, in 295 AH, having reached old age, may Allah have mercy on him. Junayd’s death has already been noted under the year 298 AH (1).

Abu Bakr al-ʿAṭawī said, ‘I was with Junayd in his final moments. He completed a full recitation of the Quran, then began Sūrat al-Baqarah, recited seventy verses, and passed away.’

Al-Khuldī said, ‘I saw him in a dream and asked, “What did Allah do with you?” He replied, “They were swept away….”’