- Al-Ḥusayn narrated to us; he said: ʿAbd Allāh narrated to us; he said: Muḥammad ibn al-Ḥusayn narrated to me; he said: ʿAmmār ibn ʿUthmān narrated to me; he said: Bishr ibn Bashshār al-Mujāshiʿī—who was among the devoted worshippers—told me:
“I met three ascetics in Jerusalem. I said to one of them, ‘Give me some counsel.’ He replied, ‘Surrender yourself to the divine decree wherever it may cast you; that is more likely to empty your heart (of distraction) and lessen your worries. Beware of resenting that decree, for displeasure may then befall you while you remain heedless, unaware of its source.’
“I then said to the second, ‘Give me some counsel.’ He said, ‘I am not one who is qualified to seek advice, let alone give it.’ I said, ‘I accept whatever you say; perhaps Allah will let me benefit from your words.’ He said, ‘Since you insist on advice, then remember this from me: seek His good pleasure by abstaining from what He has forbidden, for that will bring you nearer to Him more surely and swiftly.’
“I said to the third, ‘Give me some counsel.’ He wept until his tears flowed in torrents and then said, ‘My brother, do not look for any planning in your affairs other than His planning, lest you perish with those who perished and go astray with those who went astray.’”