453 – ʿAbd Allah narrated to us; my father informed me; ʿAbd al-Ṣamad told us; Thābit—meaning Abū Yazīd—narrated to us; ʿĀṣim reported:

Abū Zayd—whom I take to be Fuḍayl ibn Zayd—related on the authority of Qays ibn ʿAbbād:

“David used to pray, saying: ‘yā mārāhu—that is, yā rabbāhu (O my Lord), I ask You for a companion who, whenever I remember You, helps me, and whenever I forget You, reminds me.

Yā mārāhu, I seek refuge in You from a companion who, when I remember You, does not assist me, and when I forget You, does not remind me.

Yā mārāhu, if I pass by a people who are remembering You and I wish to move on, then break the leg that is nearest to them, so that I am forced to sit and remember You together with them.’”