and Muʿādh said to him, “What is it that makes you weep, Hārith?”

He replied, “Why should I not weep? Your death is imminent. I know that the Hereafter is better for you than this life, but who will be the teacher after you?” (In another wording: “but where will knowledge be found after you?”) Muʿādh said, “Calm down, and hold fast to ʿAbd Allah ibn Masʿūd.”

Hārith then said, “Give me your counsel.” So Muʿādh counseled him with whatever Allah willed and finally said, “Beware the slip of a scholar.”

After Muʿādh died, Hārith travelled to Kūfa to meet the companions of ʿAbd Allah ibn Masʿūd. When the call to prayer was given, Hārith said, “Rise to this summons; it is the right of every believer who hears it to respond.” They looked at him and said, “You are indeed a believer.” He answered, “Yes, I am certainly a believer.”

They began winking at one another about him. When ʿAbd Allah came out, they told him what had happened, and he said to Hārith the same as they had said. Hārith lowered his head, wept, and said, “May Allah have mercy on Muʿādh.” Ibn Masʿūd was informed of this and said to him, “You are indeed a believer.” Hārith replied, “Yes.” Ibn Masʿūd asked, “Then do you claim that you are among the people of Paradise?” He answered, “May Allah have mercy on Muʿādh, for he advised me to beware the slip of the scholar and to avoid adopting the ruling of the hypocrite.” He said—