249 – He went on to relate: “Once a friend of mine invited me to a meal. I addressed my stomach and said, ‘Keep your dog away from me this time,’ and it obeyed. ⦗152⦘

“On another occasion the same friend invited me again, and my nafs (lower self) urged me to go. I said to it, ‘Make this visit like the last one—would you really taste any pleasure from it if you went?’ I kept persuading it until it calmed down and became quiet.

“Then a brother of mine invited me. My soul argued, ‘This is your brother, and he has two rights over you: the right of brotherhood and the right that you answer his invitation. Go to him; that will bring you nearer to Allah and will better preserve your bond with him.’ I replied, ‘Woe to you! Stop pressing me so you can cling to what you love. By Allah, when the Day of Resurrection comes you will, God willing, rejoice at having eaten sparingly and abandoned your cravings.’

“But, by Allah, she bolted against me and refused, saying, ‘If this is your habit, I fear you will end up killing me—get up and go to your brother!’ So I rose—by Allah, as though I were being dragged by my face—and went to the gathering, only to find that they had finished their food. The host said, ‘Sit down, may Allah have mercy on you,’ and stood to prepare something for me. I said, ‘Sit yourself down; by Allah, I will not taste anything here today.’ I then invoked blessings for them and left.

“When I was outside I said to my soul, ‘May Allah rub your nose in the dust! Praise be to Allah who did not grant you what you wanted.’ She replied, ‘Indeed, by Allah—while you sit and reflect, the people eat and depart.’ ⦗153⦘

“I said, ‘Woe to you! How else should a believer be but reflective, fearful, and wary of his enemies—of you and of those who aid you? No enemy, not even a vicious dog, can reach you with the harm that your own soul can, O son of Adam.’”