534 — Al-Firyābī informed us, saying: Qutayba ibn Saʿīd narrated to us, saying: Jaʿfar ibn Sulaymān narrated to us, from Abū ʿImrān al-Jawnī, from Nawf, who said: “Ezra said while privately communing with his Lord: ‘O Lord, You create creatures, then lead astray whomever You will and guide whomever You will.’ He said: It was said to him, ‘O Ezra, turn away from this.’ He returned to it and said, ‘O Lord, You create creatures, then lead astray whomever You will and guide whomever You will.’ He said: It was said to him, ‘O Ezra, turn away from this. “Yet ⦗940⦘ man is ever the most contentious of all beings” [al-Kahf: 54].’ He returned to it, whereupon [his Lord] said, ‘O Ezra, you must surely turn away from this, or I shall erase you from prophethood. I am not questioned about what I do, but they will be questioned.’”