271 – ʿAbbās ibn Hishām ibn Muḥammad narrated to us, from his father, who said: Rawḥ ibn Ḥātim related:

“I was once standing at the gate of one of Basra’s governors when Khālid ibn Ṣafwān approached on his mule. He said to me, ‘Nephew, whenever I set out early or appear at a governor’s door I find you there as well. Is all this because you are infatuated with the world and greedy for its share?’

“I hesitated out of respect for him, then thought, ‘He is like an uncle, and perhaps he expects an answer from me.’ So I replied, ‘By Allah, uncle, it should be enough that you see me here—for your very sight of me shows that you yourself are seeking the same thing.’

“He laughed and said, ‘If that is how you see it, nephew, then the bloom of the face has faded, the heart’s mettle has ebbed, the backbone has lost its edge, the brightness of the eye, the reach of the voice, and the vitality of youth⦗132⦘ have all slipped away, and the season of ailments draws near. By Allah, not an hour of our lives passes without our preferring this world over what lies beyond it; yet it only grows more distant from us and turns its back on us all the more.’ Then he struck his mount and rode off.”