3. A number of our people have narrated from Sahl ibn Ziyad from ‘Abd Allah al-Dihqan from Durust from ‘Abd al-A’la’, Mawla’ Ale Sam who has said the following:

“I once came face to face with abu ‘Abd Allah , in one of the streets of al-Madinah on a very hot summer day. I said, ‘I pray to Allah to keep my soul in service for your cause, you have a prominent position before Allah, most Majestic, most Glorious, and you are of very close relatives of the Messenger of Allah and you are (not to be) striving in a day like this.’ He (the Imam) said, ‘O ‘Abd al-‘A‘la’, I came out in search for my sustenance so that I would not need to spread my hands before you (your fellow) humankind for help.’”