“…You and I are already counted among the dead, if only you would understand, O Hirm. Your father has died, and he is now either in Paradise or in the Fire.
I said to him, ‘May Allah have mercy on you—tell us what you heard from the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him.’
He replied, ‘I did not hear anything from him directly, but I heard from those who had heard from him.’
I said, ‘Narrate to me, may Allah have mercy on you.’
He answered, ‘I dislike opening this door for myself, lest I become a judge, a mufti, or a transmitter of hadith; the soul has worries enough as it is.’
I said, ‘Then recite to me, may Allah have mercy on you, some verses from the Quran.’
He said, ‘My Lord—exalted is He—has spoken; the truest speech is His speech, the finest words are His words, and the most truthful narration is His narration.’ Then he recited: ‘I seek refuge in Allah, the All-Hearing, the All-Knowing, from Satan the accursed. In the name of Allah, the All-Merciful, the Compassionate: Ḥā Mīm. By the clear Book; indeed, We sent it down on a blessed night—for We are ever warning—on that night every matter of wisdom is made distinct…’ [Q 44:1-3].
He continued until he reached the verse: ‘…except those upon whom Allah has mercy; surely He is the Mighty, the Merciful.’ [Q 44:42].
Then he let out a great sigh and collapsed unconscious. I exclaimed, ‘Uways has died!’ He remained in his swoon for as long as Allah willed, then he regained consciousness and said, ‘Brother, I have been in anguish for as long as I have lived among these people; solitude is dearer to me. After this day, do not ask about me. You are always in my thoughts, and if circumstances bring us together again, remember me, for I shall remember you.’
I said, ‘Pray for me.’
He said, ‘O Allah, my brother here claims that he visited me for Your sake and loved me for Your sake; so set his affairs aright and admit him into Your abode, the Abode of Peace.’
After that he set off on his way, weeping, and I wept as well. We never saw one another again—save in dreams.”