511. ʿAbdullāh narrated to us; my father narrated to us; Abu al-Mughīra narrated to us; and one of the senior shaykhs informed us that Sulaymān ibn ʿAbd al-Malik once entered the Great Mosque of Damascus. He noticed an inscription engraved on a stone and asked, “What is this?” They answered, “We have no idea.” Someone suggested, “Commander of the Believers, summon Wahb ibn Munabbih, for he is familiar with all the earlier scriptures.” Sulaymān sent for him, and when Wahb arrived he recognized the script and read:

“Child of Adam, if you truly saw how little of your lifespan remains, you would lose interest in the long hopes you cherish. In the end you will meet only regret after your foot has slipped; the beloved will abandon you and the close relative will bid you farewell. You will neither return to your family nor add anything more to your deeds. So work for the Day of Resurrection before sorrow and remorse overtake you.”