He also said: “In this vein, they say: ‘A sick man who is not visited; a seeker who is not sought.’ I heard the teacher Abū ‘Alī say: ‘I heard al-‘Abbās al-Marwazī say: “I had a good beginning, and I knew how far I still had to go before reaching my goal and attaining what I desired. One night, I dreamed that I was tumbling down from a lofty mountain, though I wished to reach its summit. I grew sorrowful, and sleep overtook me. Then I saw someone saying: ‘O ‘Abbās, the True One did not intend for you to attain what you sought, but He has enabled your tongue to utter wisdom.’ When morning came, I had been inspired with words of wisdom.”’”

He also said: “I heard the teacher Abū ‘Alī say: ‘There was a shaykh who enjoyed a spiritual state and a time of communion with Allah. He disappeared for a while and was not seen among the spiritually poor. Then he reappeared, but no longer enjoyed his former time of communion. He was asked about this.