He associated with Abú Bakr Wásiṭí and derived instruction from many Shaykhs. He was the most accomplished (_aẕraf_) of the Ṣúfís in companionship (_ṣuḥbat_) and the most sparing (_azhad_) of them in friendship (_ulfat_). He is the author of lofty sayings and praiseworthy compositions. It is related that he said: “Unification (_al-tawḥíd_) is this: that nothing should occur to your mind except God.” He belonged to a learned and influential family of Merv. Having inherited a large fortune from his father, he gave the whole of it in return for two of the Apostle’s hairs. Through the blessing of those hairs God bestowed on him a sincere repentance. He fell into the company of Abú Bakr Wásiṭí, and attained such a high degree that he became the leader of a Ṣúfí sect. When he was on the point of death, he gave directions that those hairs should be placed in his mouth. His tomb is still to be seen at Merv, and people come thither to seek what they desire; and their prayers are granted. Footnote 98: _Nafaḥát_, No. 167, has “Qásim b. al-Qásim al-Mahdí”. 61. ABÚ `ABDALLÁH MUḤAMMAD B. KHAFÍF. He was the Imám of his age in diverse sciences. He was renowned for his mortifications and for his convincing elucidation of mystical truths. His spiritual attainments are clearly shown by his compositions. He was acquainted with Ibn `Aṭá and Shiblí and Ḥusayn b. Manṣúr and Jurayrí, and associated at Mecca with Abú Ya`qúb Nahrajúrí. He made excellent journeys in detachment from the world (_tajríd_). He was of royal descent, but God bestowed on him repentance, so that he turned his back on the glories of this world. He is held in high esteem by spiritualists. It is related that he said: “Unification consists in turning away from nature,” because the natures of mankind are all veiled from the bounties and blind to the beneficence of God. Hence no one can turn to God until he has turned away from nature, and the “natural” man (_ṣáḥib ṭab`_) is unable to apprehend the reality of Unification, which is revealed to you only when you see the corruption of your own nature. 62. ABÚ `UTHMÁN SA`ÍD B. SALLÁM AL-MAGHRIBÍ.