Abu Bakr Mohammed ibn said,Al-Anbári: "I once left Anbar on a journey to 'Amúríyah, where there came out to me the prior of the monastery and superior of the monkery, Abd al-Masíh called, and brought me into the building. There I found forty religious, who entertained me that night with fair guest rite, and I left then after seeing among them such diligence in adoration and devotion as I never beheld the like of in any others. Next day I farewelled them and fared forth and, after doing my business at 'Amuriyah, I returned to my home at Anbar. And next year I, made pilgrimage to Meccah and as I was circumambulating the Holy House I saw Abd al-Masih the monk also compassing the Ka'abah, and with him five of his fellows, the shavelings. Now when I was sure that it was indeed he, I accosted him, saying, 'Are you not Abd al-Masih, the Religious?' and he replied, 'Nay, I am Abdallah, the Desirous.' Therewith I fell to kissing his grey hairs and shedding tears; then, taking him by the hand, I led him aside into a corner of the Temple and said to him, 'Tell me the cause of your conversion to Al-Islam;' and he made reply, "truly, 'twas a wonder of wonders, and befell thus. A company of Moslem devotees came to the village in which is our convent, and sent a youth to buy them food. He saw, in the market, a Christian damsel selling bread, who was of the fairest of women; and he was struck at first sight with such love of her, that his senses failed him and he fell on his face in a fainting fit.

When he revived, he returned to his companions and told them what had befallen him, saying, 'Go you about your business; I may not go with you.' They chided him and exhorted him, but he paid no heed to them; so they left him whilst he entered the village and seated himself at the door of the woman's booth. She asked him what he wanted, and he told her that he was in love with her, whereupon she turned from him; but he abode in his place three days without tasting food, keeping his eyes fixed on her face. Now whenas she saw that he departed not from her, she went to her people and acquainted them with his case, and they set on him the village boys, who stoned him and bruised his ribs and broke his head; but, for all this, he would not budge. Then the villagers took counsel together to slay him; but a man of them came to me and told me of his case, and I went out to him and found him lying prostrate on the ground. So I wiped the blood from his face and carried him to the convent, and dressed his wounds; and there he abode with me fourteen days. But as soon as he could walk, he left the monastery"—

When it was the Four Hundred and Thirteenth night

When it was the Four Hundred and Fourteenth night

And they also tell a tale of