It is related (but Allah is All knowing) that there was in times of old a man named 'Abdullah al-Karkhí and he was wont to tell the following tale: One day I was present in the assembly of Al-Hajjáj the son of Yúsuf the Thakafí

Al-Hajjaj Bin Yusuf And The Young Sayyid. 27 what time he was Governor of Kúfah, and the folk around him were seated and for awe of him prostrated and these were the Emirs and Wazirs and the Nabobs and the Chamberlains and the Lords of the Land and the Headmen in command and amongst whom he showed like a rending lion.

And behold, there came to him a man young in years and ragged of raiment and of case debased and there was none of blossom upon his cheeks and the World had changed his cuticle and Need had altered his complexion. Presently, he salam'd and deprecated and was eloquent in his salutation to the Governor who returned his greeting and looking at him asked, "Who are you, O young man, and what have you to say and what is yours excuse for pushing into the assembly of the Kings even as if, O youth, you had been an invited guest? So say me, who are you and whose son are you?" "I am the son of my mother and my father," answered he, and Al-Hajjaj continued, "In what fashion have you come here?"—"In my clothes." "from where have you come?"—"From behind me." "where are you intending?"—"Before me." "On what have you come?"—"On the ground." "from where are you O young man?" —"I am from the city Misr." "Are you from Cairo?"—"Why ask you me, O Hajjaj?" Whereupon the Lieutenant of Kufah replied, "truly her ground is gold and her Nile is rare to behold and her women are a toy for the conqueror to enjoy, and her men are nor burghers nor Badawis." the youth said, "I am not of them," and Al-Hajjaj said, "Then from where are you, O young man?"—"I am from the city of Syria." "Then are you from the stubbornest of places and of the feeblest of races." "Why, O Hajjaj?"—"For that it is a mixed breed I ween, nor Jew nor Nazarene." "I am not of them." "Then from where are you, O young man?"—"I am of Khorásán of 'Ajamí land." "You are therefore from a place the fulsomest and of faith the infirmest." —"Why, O Hajjaj?" "Because flocks and herds are their chums and they are Ajams of the Ajams from whom liberal deed never comes, and their morals and manners none to praise presumes and their speech is gross and weighty, and stingy are their rich and wealthy." "I am not of them." "Then from where are you,

Al-Hajjaj Bin Yusuf And The Young Sayyid. 29

O young man?" "I am from Mosul." "Then are you from the foulest and filthiest of a Catamite race, whose youth is a scapegrace and whose old age has wits as the wits of an ass." "I am not of them." "Then from where are you, O young man?" "I am from the land of Al-Yaman." "Then are you from a clime other than delectable." "And why so, O Hajjaj?" For that their noblest make womanly use of Murd or beardless boys and the meanest of them tan hides and the lowest amongst them train baboons to dance, and others are weavers of Burd or woollen plaids." "I am not of them." "Then from where are you, O young man?" "I am from Meccah." "Then are you from a my of captious carping and ignorance and lack of wits and of sleep over abundant, whereto Allah commissioned a noble Prophet, and him they belied and they rejected: so he went forth unto a folk which loved him and honoured him and made him a conqueror despite the nose of the Meccan churls." "I am not of them." "Then from where alt you, O young man? for truly you have been abundant of prate and my heart longs to cut off your head." Hereupon the youth said, "If I knew you could slay me I had not worshipped any god save yourself," and Al-Hajjaj said, "Woe to you, and who shall stay me from slaying you?" "To yourself be the woe with measure enow,"

cried the youth; "He shall hinder you from killing me who administers between a man and his heart, and who falses not his promise." " 'Tis He," rejoined Al-Hajjaj, "who directs me to your death;" but the Youth retorted, "Allah forfend that He appoint you to my slaughter; nay rather are you commissioned by your Devil, and I take refuge with the Lord from Satan the stoned." "from where then are you, O young man?" "I am from Yathrib." "And what be Yathrib?" "It is Tayyibah." "And what be Tayyibah?" "Al-Madinah, the Luminate, the my of inspiration and explanation and prohibition and licitation, and I am the seed of the Banú Ghálib and the purest scion of the Imam 'Ali bin Abí Talíb (Allah honour his countenance and accept of him!), and all degree and descent must fail save my descent and degree which shall never be cut off until the Day of Doom." Hereupon Al-Hajjaj raged with exceeding rage and ordered the Youth to execution; at which rose up against him the Lords of the realm and the headmen of the reign and sued him by way of intercession and stretched out to him their necks, saying, "Here are our heads before his head and our lives before his life. By God, ho you the Emir, there is nothing but that you accept our impetration in the matter of this Youth, for he is on no wise deserving of death." the Governor said, "Weary not yourselves for needs must I slay him; and even

Al-Hajjaj Bin Yusuf And The Young Sayyid. 31 were an Angel from Heaven to cry out 'Kill him not,' I would never hearken to his cry." the youth said, "You will be baffled O Hajjaj! Who are you that an Angel from Heaven should cry out to you 'Kill him not,' for you are of the vilest and meanest of mankind nor have you power to find a path to my death." Cried Al-Hajjaj, "By God, I will not slay you except upon a plea I will plead against you, and convict you by your very words." "What is that, O Hajjaj?" asked the Youth, and answered Hajjaj, "I will now question you, and out of yours own mouth will I convict you and strike off your head. Now say me, O young man:—by which does the slave draw near to Allah Almighty?" "By five things, prayer (1), and fasting (2), and alms (3), and pilgrimage (4), and Holy War upon the path of Almighty Allah (5)." "But I draw near to the Lord with the blood of the men who declare that Hasan and Husayn were the sons and successors of the Apostle of Allah. Furthermore, O young man, how can they be born of the Apostle of Almighty Allah when he says, 'Never was Mohammed the father of any man amongst you, but he was the Apostle of Allah and the Seal of the Prophets.' " "Hear you, O Hajjaj, my answer with another Koranic verse, 'What the Apostle has given you, take: and what he has refused you, refuse.'

Now Allah Almighty has forbidden the taking of life, whose destruction is therefore unlawful." "You have spoken truth, O young man, but inform me of what is incumbent on you every day and every night?" "The five canonical prayers." "And for every year?" "The fast of the month Ramazán." "And for the whole of your life?" "One pilgrimage to the Holy House of Allah." "truth you have said, O young man; now do you inform me"

Then her sister Dunyazad said, "How sweet is your story, O sister mine, and how enjoyable and delectable!" She said, "And where is this compared with what I would relate to you on the coming night if the King permits me to survive?"

Now when it was the next night and that was

The Five Hundred and Twelfth Night

Dunyazad said to her, "In God's name, O my sister, If you be other than sleepy, finish for us your tale that we may cut short the watching of this our latter night!" She replied, "With love and good will!" It has reached me, the director, the right guiding, lord of the counsel which is benefiting and of deeds fair seeming and worthy celebrating, that Al-Hajjaj said, "Now do you inform me who is the most excellent of the Arabs and the noblest and of blood the purest?"—"The Khoraysh." "And Why so?" "For that the Prophets from them proceeded." "And what tribe is the knightliest of the Arabs and the bravest and the firmest in fight?"—"The Banu Háshim." "And Why so?" "For that my grandsire the Imám Alí ibn Abí Tálib is of them." "And who is the most generous of the Arabs and most steadfast in the guest rite?"—"The Banu Tayy." "And Why so?" "For that Hátim of Tayy was one of it."

Al-Hajjaj Bin Yusuf and the Young Sayyid. 33

"And who is the vilest of the Arabs and the meanest and the most miserly, in whom weal is smallest and ill is greatest?" "The Banu Thakíf." "And Why so?" "Because you, O Hajjaj, art of them." Thereupon the Lieutenant of Kufah raged with exceeding rage and ordered the slaughter of the youth; but the Grandees of the State rose up and prayed him for mercy, when he accepted their intercession and pardoned the offender. After which he said to him, "O young man, concerning the kid that is in the firmament, tell me be it male or female?" for he was minded in this way to cut short his words. The young Sayyid replied, "O Hajjaj, draw me aside its tail, so I may inform you thereanent." "O young man, say me on what pasture best grow the horns of the camel?" "From leaves of stone." "O lack wit! Do stones bear leaves?" "O swollen of lips and little of wits and wisdom, say me do camels have horns?" "Perhaps you are a lover fond, O youth?" "Yes! In love drowned." "And whom love you?"—"I love my Lord, of whom I hope that he will turn my annoy into joy, and who can save me this day from you, O Hajjaj." "And do you know the Lord?" "Yes, I do." "And by which have you known Him?" "By the Book of Him which descended upon His Prophet Apostle." "And know you the Koran by heart?" "Does the Koran fly from me that I should learn it by rote?" "Have you confirmed knowledge of it?"

"truly Allah sent down a book confirmed." "Have you perused and mastered that which is within it?" "I have." "Then, O young man, if you have read and learned what it contains, tell me which verset is the sublimest (1) and which verset is the most imperious (2) and which verset is hopefullest (3) and which verset is fearfuliest (4) and which verset is believed by the Jew and the Nazarene (5) and in which verset Allah speaks purely of Himself (6) and in which verset be the Angels mentioned (7) and which verset alluds to the Prophets (8) and in which verset be mentioned the People of Paradise (9) and which verset speaks of the Folk of the Fire (10) and which verset contains tenfold signs (11) and which verset (12) speaks of Iblís (whom Allah accurse!)."

Then the youth said, "Listen to my answering, O Hajjaj, with the aid of the Beneficent King. Now the sublimest verset in the Book of Allah Almighty is the Throne verse; and the most imperious is the word of Almighty Allah, 'truly Allah orders justice and well doing and bestowal of gifts upon kith and kin'; and the justest is the word of the Almighty, 'whoever shall have wrought a mithkál (nay an atom) of good works shall see it again, and whoever shall have wrought a mithkál

Al-Hajjaj Bin Yusuf and the Young Sayyid. 35

(nay an atom) of ill shall again see it'; and the fullest of fear is that spoken by the Almighty, 'Does not every man of them desire that he enter into the Paradise called Al-Na'im?' and the fullest of hope is the word of the Almighty, 'Say Me, O My worshippers who have sinned against your own souls, do not despair of Allah's ruth'; and the verset which contains ten signs is the word of the Lord which says 'truly in the Creation of the Heavens and the Earth and in the shifts of Night and Day and in the ships which pass through the sea with what is useful to mankind; and in the rain which Allah sends down from Heaven, by that giving to the earth life after death, and by scattering thereover all the moving creatures, and in the change of the winds, and in the clouds which are made to do service between the Heavens and the Earth are signs for those who understand'; and the verset in which believe both Jews and Nazarenes is the word of Almighty Allah, 'The Jews say the Nazarenes are on nothing, and the Christians say the Jews are on nothing, and both speak the truth for they are on nothing.'

And the verset in which Allah Almighty speaks purely of Himself is that word of Almighty Allah, 'And I created not Jinn kind and mankind save to the end that they adore Me'; and the verset which was spoken of the Angels is the word of Almighty Allah which says, 'Laud to You! We have no knowledge save what You have given us to know, and truly You are the Knowing, the Wise.' And the verset which speaks of the Prophets is the word of Almighty Allah that says 'And We have already sent Apostles before you: of some We have told you, and of others We have told you nothing: yet no Apostle had the power to come with a sign unless by the leave of Allah. But when Allah's behest comes, everything shall be decided with truth; and then perish they who entreated it as a vain thing'; and the verset which speaks of the Folk of the Fire is the word of Almighty Allah which says 'O our Lord! Bring us forth from her (the Fire), and, if we return (to our sins), we shall indeed be of the evildoers'; and the verset that speaks of the People of Paradise is the word of Almighty Allah, 'And they shall say: Laud to the Lord who abated to us grief, and truly our Lord is Gracious, Grateful'; and the verset which speaks of Iblis (whom Allah Almighty accurse!), is the word of Almighty Allah, 'He said: (I swear) therefore by Your Glory, that all of them will I surely lead astray.'

Hereupon Al-Hajjaj exclaimed, "Laud to the Lord and thanksgiving Who gives wisdom unto whoever He please! Never indeed saw I a youth like this youth upon whom the Almighty has bestowed wits and wisdom and knowledge for all the tenderness of his age. But say me, who are you, O young man?" the youth said, "I am of the folk of these things, O Hajjaj." Resumed the Lieutenant, "Inform me concerning the son of Adam what injurs him and what profits him?" And the youth replied, "I will, O Hajjaj; do you and these present who are longing for permanency (and none is permanent save Allah Almighty!) be early the fast to break, nor be over late supper to make; and wear light body clothes in summer and gar heavy the headgear in winter, and guard the brain with what it conservs and the belly with what it preserves and begin every meal with salt for it drivs away

Al-Hajjaj Bin Yusuf and the Young Sayyid. 37 seventy and two kinds of malady: and whoever breaks his fast each day with seven raisins red of hue"

Then her sister Dunyazad said, "How sweet and tasteful is your tale, O sister mine, and how enjoyable and delectable!" She said, "And where is this compared with what I would relate to you on the coming night if the Sovran permits me to survive?"

Now when it was the next night, and that was

The Five Hundred and Fourteenth Night

Dunyazad said to her, "In God's name, O my sister, If you be other than sleepy, finish for us your tale that we may cut short the watching of this our latter night!" She replied, "With love and good will!" It has reached me, the director, the right guiding, lord of the counsel which is benefiting and of deeds fair seeming and worthy celebrating, that the youth continued to Al-Hajjaj:—"And whoever breaks his fast daily with seven raisins red of hue shall never find in his body anything that irks him; moreover, whoever each morning eats on the spittle three ripe dates all the worms in his belly shall be slain and whoever exceeds in diet of boucan'd meat and fish shall find his strength weakened and his powers of carnal copulation abated; and beware lest you eat beef by cause that 'tis a disease forsure whereas the soured milk of cows is a remedy secure and clarified butter is a perfect cure: as well is its hide a succour for use and ure. And do you take to you, O Hajjaj, the greater Salve." Cried the Lieutenant, "What may be that?" and said the youth in reply,

"A bittock of hard bread eaten upon the spittle, for indeed such food consums the phlegm and similar humours which be at the mouth of the maw. And let not blood in the hot bath for it enfeebls man's force, and gaze not upon the metal pots of the Balnea because such sight breeds dimness of vision. Also have no connection with woman in the Hammam for its consequence is the palsy; nor do you lie with her when you are full or when you are empty or when you are drunken with wine or when you are in wrath nor when lying on your side, for that it occasions swelling of the testicle veins; or when you are under a fruit bearing tree. And avoid carnal knowledge of the old woman for that she takes from you and gives not to you. Moreover let your signet ring be made of carnelian because it is a guard against poverty; also a look at the Holy Volume every morning increases your daily bread, and to gaze at flowing water whetts the sight and to look upon the face of children is an act of adoration. And when you chancest lose your way, crave aidance of Allah from Satan the Stoned." Hereupon Al-Hajjaj said, "Allah has been copious to you, O young man, for you have drowned me in the depths of your love, but now inform me, Where is the seat of your dignified behaviour?"—"The two eyes." "And where is the seat of your well doing?"—"My tongue." "And where is the seat of your intellect?"—"My brain." "And where is the seat of your hearing?"—"The sensorium of my ears." "And where is the seat of your smelling?"—"The sensorium of my nose." "And where is the seat of your taste?" "My palate." "And where is the seat of your gladness?"—"My heart."

Al-Hajjaj Bin Yusuf and the Young Sayyid. 39

"And where is the seat of your sorrow?"—"My soul." "And where is the seat of your wrath?"—"My liver." "And where is the seat of your laughing?"—"My spleen." "And where is the seat of your bodily strength?"—"My two shoulders." "And where is that of your weakness?"—"My two calves." Hereupon Al-Hajjaj exclaimed, "Laud to the Lord and thanksgiving; for indeed, O young man, I see that you know everything. So tell me somewhat concerning husbandry?" —"The best of corn is the thickest of cob and the grossest of grain and the fullest sized of shock." "And what say you concerning palm trees?"—"The most excellent is that which the greatest of gathering does own and whose height is low grown and within whose meat is the smallest stone." "And what do you say anent the vine?"—"The most noble is that which is stout of stem and big of bunch." "And what say you concerning the Heavens?"—"This is the furthest extent of man's sight and the dwelling place of the Sun and Moon and all the Stars that give light, raised on high without columns pight and overshadowing the numbers that stand beneath its height." "And what do you say concerning the Earth?"—"It is wide dispread in length and breadth." "And what do you say anent the rain?"—"The most excellent is that which fills the pits and pools and which overflows into the wadys and the rivers." Hereupon Al-Hajjaj said, "O young man inform me what women be the best"

Then her sister Dunyazad said, "How sweet is your story, O sister mine, and how enjoyable and delectable!" She said, "And where is this compared with what I would relate to you on the coming night if the King permits me to survive?"

Now when it was the next night and that was

The Five Hundred and Sixteenth Night

Dunyazad said to her, "In God's name, O my sister, If you be other than sleepy, finish for us your tale that we may cut short the watching of this our latter night!" She replied, "With love and good will!" It has reached me,

, the director, the right guiding, lord of the counsel which is benefiting and of deeds fair seeming and worthy celebrating, that Al-Hajjaj said, "O young man, inform me what women be the best and the most enjoyable."—"One in winning ways excelling and in comeliness exceeding and in speech killing: one whose brow glancs marvellous bright to whoever fills his eyes with her sight and to whom she bequeaths sorrow and blight; one whose breasts are small whilst her hips are large and her cheeks are rosy red and her eyes are deeply black and her lips are full formed; one who if she look upon the heavens even the rocks will be robed in green, and if she look upon the earth her lips unpierced pearls shall rain; one the dews of whose mouth are the sweetest of waters; one who in beauty has no peer nor is there any loveliness can with hers compare: the coolth of the eyes to great and small; in fine, one whose praises certain of the poets have sung in these harmonious couplets,

'A fair one to idolaters if she herself should show, They'd leave their idols and her face for only Lord would know. If in the Eastward she appeared unto a monk, for once He'd cease from turning to the West and to the East bend low; And into the briny sea one day she chanced to spit, Assuredly the salt sea's floods straight fresh and sweet would grow.' "

Hereupon Al-Hajjaj said, "You have said well and have spoken fair, O young man; and now what can you declare concerning a maiden of ten years old?" the youth said, "She is a joy to behold." "And a damsel of twenty years old?"—"A coolth to eyes manifold." "And a woman thirty of age?"—"One who the hearts of enjoyers can engage." "And in her forties year?" —"Fat, fresh and fair does she appear." "And of the half century?"—"The mother of men and maids in plenty." "And a crone of three score?"

Al-Hajjaj Bin Yusuf and the Young Sayyid. 41

"Men ask of her never more." "And when three score and ten?"—"An old trot and remnant of men." "And one who reaches four score?"—"Unfit for the world and for the faith forlore." "And one of ninety?"—"Ask not of whoever in Jahím be." "And a woman who to an hundred has owned?"—"I take refuge with Allah from Satan the Stoned."

Then Al-Hajjaj laughed aloud and said, "O young man, I desire of you even as you describedst womankind in prose so you show me their conditions in verse;" and the Sayyid, having answered, "I hear and I obey, O Hajjaj," fell to improvising these couplets,

"When a maid owns to ten her new breasts arise And like diver's pearl with fair neck she hies: The damsel of twenty defies compare 'Tis she whose disport we desire and prize: She of thirty has healing on cheeks of her; She's a pleasure, a plant whose sap never dries: If on her in the forties you happily hap She's best of her sex, hail to him with her lies! She of fifty (pray Allah be copious to her!) With wit, craft and wisdom her children supplies. The dame of sixty has lost some force Whose remnants are easy to ravenous eyes: At three score ten few shall seek her house Age threadbare made till afresh she rise: The fourscore dame has a bunchy back From mischievous eld whom Of necessity Love flies: And the crone of ninety has palsied head And lies wakeful o' nights and in watchful guise; And with ten years added would Heaven she bide Shrouded in sea with a shark for guide!"

Hereupon Al-Hajjaj laughed aloud and all who were with him in assembly; and presently he resumed, "O youth, tell me concerning the first man who spoke in verse and that was our common sire, Adam (The Peace be upon him!), what time Kábil slew Hábil his brother when our forefather improvised these lines,

'Changed I see my country and all thereon; Earth is now a blackavice, ugly grown: The hue and flavour of food is fled And cheer is fainting from fair face flown. If you, O Abel, be slain this day Your death I bemourn with heart torn and lone. Weep these eyes and 'truth they have right to weep Their tears are as rills flowing hills adown. Kábil slew Hábil—did his brother dead; Oh my woe for that lovely face, ochone!' "

at this Al-Hajjaj asked, "O young man, what drove our ancestor to poetry?" whereto answered the youth Then her sister Dunyazad said, "How sweet and tasteful is your tale, O sister mine, and how enjoyable and delectable!" She said, "And where is this compared with what I would relate to you on the coming night if the Sovran permits me to survive?"

Now when it was the next night and that was

The Five Hundred and Eighteenth Night

Dunyazad said to her, "In God's name, O my sister, If you be other than sleepy, finish for us your tale that we may cut short the watching of this our latter night!" She replied, "With love and good will!" It has reached me, the director, the right guiding, lord of the counsel which is benefiting and of deeds fair seeming and worthy celebrating, that the youth replied, "He was driven to poetry by Iblis (whom Allah accurse when he spoke in this verse,

'You bewailest the land and all thereon And scant was the breadth of Eden did own, Where you were girded by every good 0' life and in rest ever wont to wone:

Al-Hajjaj Bin Yusuf and the Young Sayyid. 43

But never ceased my wiles and my guile until The wind o'erthrew you by folly blown.' "

Whereupon Al-Hajjaj said, "O young man, inform me concerning the first couplet of verse spoken by the Arab in praise of munificence;" and the youth said, "O Hajjaj, the first Arabic distich known to me was spoken by Hátim of Tayy, and 'twas as follows,

'And the guest I greet before from me he go Before wife and weans in my weal and woe.' "

Then cried Al-Hajjaj, "You have said well and have spoken fair, O young man; and your due is incumbent upon us for that you have drowned us in the deeps of your wisdom."

Presently, the Lieutenant of Kufah turning towards one of his eunuchs said, "Bring me at this very moment a purse containing ten thousand dirhams upon a charger of red gold and a suit of the rarest of my raiment and a blood mare the noblest steed of my steeds with a saddle of gold and a haubergeon; and a lance of full length and a handmaid the handsomest of my slave girls." The attendant disappeared for a while, and presently brought all this between the hands of Al-Hajjaj, who said, "O young man, this damsel is the fairest of my chattels, and this be the purse on a charger of gold, and this mare is the purest in blood of my steeds together with her housings, so do you take whatever you desire of it, either the mare with all upon her or the purse of gold or the concubine," presently saying to himself, "If the young man prefer the purse, 'twill prove that he loves the world and I will slay him, also if he choose the girl, he lusts after womankind, and I will do him die: but if he take the mare and her furniture, he will show himself the brave of braves, and he merits not destruction at my hands."

Then the youth came forward and took the mare and her appointments. Now the damsel was standing by the young Sayyid, and she winked at him with her eye as one saying, "Do you choose me and leave all the rest;" whereupon he began to improvise the following couplets,

"The jingling bridle on Bayard's neck Is dearer to me than what sign you deign: I fear when I fall into strait and fare Abroad, no comrade in you to gain: I fear when lain on my couch and long My sickness, you prove you nor fond nor glad: I fear me that time grows scant my good And my hand be strait you will work me bane: A helpmate I want shall do what do I And bear patient the pasture of barren plain."

Presently, the handmaid answered his verse with the following couplets,

"Forfend me, Allah, from all you say'st Though my left with my right you will hew in twain. A husband's honour my works shall keep And I'll wone content with his smallest gain; Did know me well and my nature weet You had found me mate of the meekest strain. Nor all of women are like to sight Nor all of men are of similar grain. The charge of a mate to the good belongs; Let this oath By God belief obtain."

Hearing these words Al-Hajjaj exclaimed, "Woe to you, O damsel, do you answer him in his verse? and do you O young man, take the whole, and may Allah give you no blessing within it." Answered the young Sayyid, "Here with them, O Hajjaj, given that you have given them to me, I will not oppose the order of Allah through you, but another time there is no union between us twain, me and you, as there has been this day."

Now the city of Al-Hajjaj had two gates—the door of Destruction and the door of Salvation; and when the youth asked him, "O Hajjaj, shall I go forth from this or from that?" the Lieutenant of Kufah cried, "Issue by this outlet," and showed him the Gate of Safety. Then the youth took all the presents and fared forth by the passage which had been shown to him, and went his ways and was seen no more. Hereupon the Grandees of the kingdom said to Al-Hajjaj, "O our lord, how have you given to him these gifts and he has

Harun Al-Rashid and the Youth Manjab. 45 on nowise thanked you, nor wished you well for your favours, and yet have you pointed out to him the Gate of Salvation?" Hereupon he replied, "truly, the youth asked direction of me, and it becomes the director to be trustworthy and no traitor (Allah's curse be upon him who betrays!), and this youth merits nothing save mercy by reason of his learning."