and has treated them as his early, expedited gift to his companions and fellow seekers of knowledge. I call Allah to witness—and Allah is sufficient as a witness—that if these pages were to reach any one (1) of them, he would welcome them with full acceptance, hasten to understand and ponder them, and regard them as among the very best presents one comrade can give another. As for the other items that pass through the caravan as mere tidings—however much souls (3) may crave them—their benefit is slight and they are dirt-cheap because so many people peddle them. The useful gift is nothing but a word of wisdom (4) that a man offers to his Muslim brother.

Whoever wishes to embark upon this journey must keep company with the dead who, in this world, are alive; through their companionship he will reach his destination. Let him, however, beware of accompanying the living who, among the people, are dead, for they will block (5) his path. No companionship is more helpful to this traveller than that former company, and none more fitting for him than this separation. One of the early predecessors (6) said: “How far apart are people who are dead yet hearts revive at the mention of them, and people who are alive yet hearts die by associating with them.”

Nothing harms the servant more than his close intimates (7) and those of his own ilk, for his gaze (8)