While he was in that state, he came upon a huge beast that had blocked the people’s way. He said, “Today I shall learn whether the sorcerer is superior or the monk is superior.” He picked up a stone and prayed, “O Allah, if the monk’s cause is dearer to You than the sorcerer’s cause, kill this beast so the people may pass.” He threw the stone, killed the beast, and the people went on their way.
He then went to the monk and told him what had happened. The monk said, “My son, today you have surpassed me. Your affair has reached what I can see, and you will certainly be tested. If you are tested, do not reveal me.”
The boy went on to cure those born blind and the lepers, and he treated people for every illness. A courtier of the king who had gone blind heard of him. He came with many gifts and said, “All that you see here is yours if you restore my sight.” The boy answered, “I cure no one; it is Allah alone who cures. If you believe in Allah, I will supplicate Him and He will restore your sight.” So the man believed in Allah, and Allah restored his sight.
The courtier then went to the king and took his usual seat. The king asked, “Who restored your sight?” He replied, “My Lord.” The king said, “Do you have a lord other than me?” He answered, “My Lord and your Lord is Allah.” The king seized him and kept torturing him until he revealed the boy’s identity.
The boy was brought, and the king said, “My son, your sorcery has reached the point where you cure the congenitally blind and the leper and do such-and-such.” The boy replied, “I cure no one; it is Allah alone who cures.” The king seized him and kept torturing him until he informed on the monk.
The monk was brought and told, “Renounce your religion.” He refused, so a saw was brought, placed on the middle of his head, and he was sawn in two until the halves fell apart. Then the courtier was brought and told, “Renounce your religion.” He refused, so the saw was placed on the middle of his head and he was sawn in two until the halves fell apart.
Finally the boy was brought and told, “Renounce your religion,” but he refused. The king handed him over to a group of his men and said, “Take him to such-and-such a mountain. Climb to its peak with him, and if he recants his religion, let him be; otherwise, throw him from the height.”