138 – Muḥammad ibn al-Ḥusayn related to me; ʿUthmān ibn Zufar al-Taymī narrated to me; Abū ʿUmar Yaḥyā ibn ʿĀmir al-Taymī narrated to me: A man from the clan set out on Hajj. During part of the night he came upon a woman, her hair hanging loose, standing by a pool of water. He said, “I turned away from her, but she called out, ‘Come here! Why do you turn away from me?’ I replied, ‘I fear Allah, Lord of all creation.’ I then withdrew. She said, ‘You have shown awe to the One who is truly awe-inspiring; the person who ought to share that awe with you is the very one who tried to share sin with you.’ She then walked off, and I followed her until she entered one of the Bedouins’ tents.

“When dawn broke I went to the people’s encampment, described her, and said, ‘A maiden of such-and-such beauty and eloquence.’ An elder among them said, ‘By Allah, she is my daughter.’ I asked, ‘Will you marry her to me?’ He replied, ‘To someone who is her equal.’ I said, ‘A man from Banū Taym Allah—an honorable equal.’ He continued, ‘I did not stir from my place until I had married her and consummated the marriage ⦗292⦘. Then I said, “Prepare her for my return from the pilgrimage.” When I came back I brought her with me to Kūfa, and here she is with me; I have sons and daughters from her.’

“I later said to her, ‘Woe to you! What made you approach me in that way back then?’ She replied, ‘Good man, do not deny it: there is nothing better for women than a suitable match. And do not be impressed by a woman who says, “I have fallen in love.” By Allah, if any black slave had hastened to give her the desire she seeks, that would at once become her passion rather than the passion she claimed.”