18. Abu Ali al-Ash‘ariy has narrated from Muhammad ibn ‘Abd al-Jabbar from ibn Faddal from Tha’labah ibn Maymun from ‘Ammar al-Sabatiy who has said the following:

“I once was with abu ‘Abd Allah , when fresh dates were brought. He (the Imam) began to eat, drink water and gave to me the bowl of water and I disliked to decline. Therefore, I drank until he (the Imam) did it several times. I then said, ‘I experience increased phlegm, and I complained about it before Ahran, the physician of al-Hajjaj and he asked me, “Do you have palm trees in the garden?” I replied, “Yes, there are.” He asked me to name them and I named until I mentioned al- Hirun (a certain tree) and he said, “Eat seven dates thereof when going to bed and do not drink water.” I followed his instruction and I did not have any moisture in my mouth to spit. I complained before him and he said drink a small amount of water and hold back from drinking more until your condition is balanced.’ Abu ‘Abd Allah , said, ‘I without water do not even mind if I did not taste it.’”