The Khalif Haroun er Reshid had a sonwhofrom the time he attained the age of sixteenrenounced the world and walked in the way of ascetics and devotees. He was wont to go out to the tombs and say'Beholdye that lie here once possessed the worldbut that was no deliverer for you [from death]and now are ye come to your graves！ Would God I knew what ye say and what is said to you！' And he weptas one weeps that is troubled and fearfuland repeated the words of the poet：
Whene'er the funerals passmy heart with fear is tornAnd the wailing of the mourners maketh me to mourn.
One dayas he sat among the tombsaccording to his wonthis father passed byin all his statesurrounded by his viziers and grandees and the officers of his householdwho saw the Khalif's sonwith a gown of woollen stuff on his body and a cowl of the same on his headand said to one another'This youth dishonours the Commander of the Faithful among Kings：
butif he reproved himhe would leave his present way of life.' The Khalif heard what they said；so he bespoke his son of thissaying'O my sonthou puttest me to shame by thy present way of life.' The young man looked at him and made no reply： then he beckoned to a birdthat was perched on the battlements of the palaceand said to it'O birdI conjure theeby Him who created theealight upon my hand.' And straightway it flew down and perched on his hand. Quoth he，'Return to thy place；' and it did so. Then he said'Alight on the hand of the Commander of the Faithful；' but it refusedand he said to his father'It is thou that puttest me to shame，amongst the friends of Godby thy love of the world；and now I am resolved to depart from theenever to return to theesave in the world to come.' Then he went down to Bassorawhere he fell to working with those that wrought in mudtaking，as his day's hirebut a dirhem and a danic. With the danic he fed himself and gave alms of the dirhem.
（Quoth Abou Aamir of Bassora）There fell down a wall in my house： so I went out to the station of the artisansto find one who should set it up for meand my eyes fell on a handsome youth of a radiant countenance. So I accosted him and said to him'O my frienddost thou seek work？'Yes，' answered he；and I said'Come with me and build a wall.'On two conditions，'replied he. Quoth I'What are theyO my friend？'First，'said he'that my hire be a dirhem and a danicand secondly，thatwhen the Muezzin calls to prayerthou shalt let me go pray with the congregation.'It is well，' answered I and carried him to my housewhere he fell to worksuch work as I never saw the like of. PresentlyI named to him the morning meal；but he said'No；' and I knew that he was fasting. When he heard the call to prayerhe said to me'Thou knowest the condition？'Yes，' answered I. So he loosed his girdle and applying himself to the ablutionmade it after a fashion than which I never saw a goodlier；then went to the mosque and prayed with the congregation and returned to his work. He did the like upon the call to afternoon-prayerand when I saw him fall to work again thereafterwardI said to him'O my friendthe hours of labour are over for to-day；a workman's day is but till the time of afternoon-prayer.'Glory be to God，' answered he'my service is till the night.' And he ceased not to work till nightfallwhen I gave him two dirhems.
Quoth he'What is this？'By Allah，' answered I'this is[but] part of thy wagebecause of thy diligence in my service.'
But he threw me back the two piecessaying'I will have no more than was agreed upon between us.' I pressed him to take thembut could not prevail upon him；so I gave him the dirhem and the danicand he went away.
Next morning earlyI went to the stationbut found him not；so I enquired for him and was told that he came thither only on Saturdays. Sowhen Saturday cameI betook me to the market and finding him theresaid to him'In the name of Goddo me the favour to come and work for me.' ['Willingly，'] said he，'upon the conditions thou wottest of.'It is well，' answered I and carrying him to my housestood watching himunseen of himand saw him take a handful of mud and lay it on the wall，whenbeholdthe stones ranged themselves one upon another；and I said'On this wise are the friends of God.' He worked out his day and did even more than before；and when it was nightI gave him his hireand he took it and went away.
