Then they appointed another man in his place. I never saw anyone who prayed (1) whom I deemed more virtuous, more indifferent to this world, more desirous of the Hereafter, or more constant in worship night and day than he. I came to love him with an affection (2) I had never felt for anything before. I stayed with him for a while; then, when death approached him, I said, “O so-and-so, I have been with you and have loved you with a love I never had for anyone before, and now the decree of Allah (3) that you see has come upon you. To whom do you commend me, and what do you instruct me to do?”

He replied, “My son, by Allah, I know of no one who still adheres to what I have been upon. People have perished, altered matters, and abandoned most of what they used to practise—except for a man in Mosul, so-and-so; he is upon what I have been upon. Join him if you wish.”

When he died and was laid to rest, I went to the man in Mosul and said, “O so-and-so, so-and-so advised me at the time of his death to come to you, informing me that you follow his way.” He said, “Stay with me,” so I stayed with him and found him the best of men, firmly upon his companion’s path.

When death came upon him, I said, “O so-and-so, so-and-so commended me to you and directed me to join you; now the decree of Allah you see has reached you. To whom do you commend me, and what do you order me?” He answered, “My son, by Allah, I know of no one who remains upon what we have been upon except a man in Nisibis; he is so-and-so, so go to him.”

When he died and was buried, I went to the man in Nisibis, told him my story and conveyed what my companion had instructed me. He said, “Stay with me,” so I stayed with him and found him to be following his companion’s way. I lived with the best of men, and by Allah it was not long before death overtook him. When he lay dying I said, “O so-and-so, so-and-so commended me to so-and-so, and then so-and-so commended me to you; to whom…"