1350. ʿAbd Allah narrated to us; my father narrated to us; Ismaʿil ibn Salih ibn Rustum narrated to us; from Humayd ibn Hilal, who said: Mutarrif ibn al-Shikhkheer stated:

“You marvel at those who have perished, whereas I am amazed at those who have been spared. The son of Adam—at the very first zakma (sniffle)—shows the weakness from which he was created. This world has been fashioned as cravings; the souls have been imbued with greed; and he is tried by ease and hardship alike: if ease comes, it is a test, and if hardship comes, it is a test. Moreover, an enemy has been set over him who sees him from where he cannot see that enemy.”

He would then turn to the people and say, “By Allah, if one of you were stalking game and kept it in view while remaining unseen by it, he would almost certainly capture it.”