an idolater, whose benevolence entirely overcame him in his zeal for the good of idolaters; whilst thou art a true believer in God and His messenger, and art cousin to the messenger of Allâh. O Commander of the Faithful! there can be but three reasons for which thou dost accumulate money. If thou sayest, 'I amass wealth solely for the good of the kingdom,' verily Allâh will set before thee the example of kings in ages preceding thee. All that they had heaped up of wealth and men and provisions, availed not what time Allâh willed upon them that He willed. And if thou sayest, 'I only collect it for my son,' verily Allâh will show thee an example amongst those who have been before thee, that whoso accumulated riches for his child, did not in any way increase his wealth; but, contrariwise, he sometimes died poor and wretched and despised. And dost thou say, 'I only gather treasure together to raise my position,' that is the highest position in which thou art already, and by Allâh! there is but one station above thy station, and to this thou canst attain solely through practising holiness."
Then el-Mansûr wept bitterly, and cried, "But what can I do, when of a truth the pious flee me,
