1363. ʿAbd Allah narrated to us; Ahmad ibn Mansur—Abu Salih of Marw—related to me, saying: Salamah ibn Sulayman informed me, from ʿAbd Allah, meaning Ibn al-Mubarak, who said:

Al-Hasan ibn Abi al-Hasan and Mutarrif ibn ʿAbd Allah wrote to ʿUmar ibn ʿAbd al-ʿAziz. One of them wrote:

“ammā baʿd (to proceed): It is as though you had never been in this world, and as though you have always belonged to the Hereafter. Peace be upon you.”

The other wrote:

“ammā baʿd: Even the last person upon whom death has been decreed is, in reality, already dead. Peace be upon you.”

Mutarrif and a companion of his once attended the mawqif (the standing). One of them said to the other, “What an excellent station this is—were it not that I am among them.” The other responded, “O Allah, do not send them back on my account.”