One day he went riding with a few of his companions while the sun was at their backs and their shadows (1) stretched out in front of them, always just beyond their reach. When they turned back, the shadows fell behind them, whereupon King Nur al-Din urged (2) his horse on at a sharp gallop (3), repeatedly looking behind him as his shadow followed close. He then said (4) to his companion, “Do you know what this scene reminds me of? It reminds me of this world: it flees from the one who pursues it and pursues the one who flees from it.

Someone has versified this idea:
[from the ramal metre] (5)
The provision you pursue—
is the shadow that walks with you;
You will never seize it by following, (6)
but turn your back, and it follows you.

He was a jurist of the school of Abū Ḥanīfah; he studied hadith and transmitted them. He would often stand in prayer at night (7), from the time of suḥūr until he mounted to ride. [Thus it was said:] (8)
[from the kāmil metre] (9)
He combined courage with humble devotion to his Lord (10) …
How splendid are the brave (11) in the prayer-niche!

His wife as well, ‘Iṣmat al-Dīn Khātūn, daughter of the atabeg Muʿīn al-Dīn Unur, was constant in the night vigil. One night she overslept and missed her regular portion of worship; she awoke in the morning distressed. When Nur al-Din asked the reason, she explained that sleep had prevented her from completing her litany (13). He therefore ordered a tablkhāna drum to be beaten in the Citadel at suḥūr time, so that she and others like her would be roused from sleep (14) for the night prayer, and he granted the drummer a handsome wage and ample provisions.

[from the basīṭ metre] (15)
May Allah robe those bones—though worn beneath the earth—
with clemency and forgiveness ever new;
May He water the soil that holds them with a mercy
that fills their resting-place with spirit and sweet scent.