197 – Abū Saʿīd al-Madinī ʿAbd Allāh ibn Shabīb narrated to us; he said: Muḥammad ibn ʿUmar ibn Saʿīd the perfumer related to me; he said: Zakariyyā ibn Manẓūr told me, on the authority of his uncle, from ʿUmar ibn ʿAbd al-ʿAzīz, that he wrote to one of his brothers:

“My brother, you have already covered the greater part of the journey, and only a little remains. So remember, my brother, the points of departure and the points of arrival. Revelation came to your Prophet Muḥammad—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—in the Quran that you are among those who will be brought to it, yet you were not informed that you are among those who will cross safely and emerge from it. Beware lest this worldly life beguile you, for the world is the dwelling of one who has no dwelling and the wealth of one who has no wealth.

Indeed, my brother, your appointed term is close at hand, so act as the executor of your own soul and do not leave other men to settle your affairs.”