He was an eminent spiritualist of the class who have attained “fixity” (_ahl-i tamkín_), and was profoundly versed in various departments of knowledge. He practised austerities, and is the author of many notable sayings and excellent proofs concerning the observation of spiritual blemishes (_ru´yat-i áfát_). It is related that he said: “Whenever anyone prefers association with the rich to sitting with the poor God afflicts him with spiritual death.” The terms “association” (_ṣuḥbat_) and “sitting with” (_mujálasat_) are employed, because a man turns away from the poor only when he has sat with them, not when he has associated with them; for there is no turning away in association. When he leaves off sitting with the poor in order to associate with the rich, his heart becomes dead to supplication (_niyáz_) and his body is caught in the toils of covetousness (_áz_). Since the result of turning away from _mujálasat_ is spiritual death, how should there be any turning away from _ṣuḥbat_? The two terms are clearly distinguished from each other in this saying. 63.ABU ´L-QÁSIM IBRÁHÍM B. MUḤAMMAD B. MAḤMÚD AL-NAṢRÁBÁDÍ. He was like a king in Níshápúr, save that the glory of kings is in this world, while his was in the next world. Original sayings and exalted signs were vouchsafed to him. Himself a pupil of Shiblí, he was the master of the later Shaykhs of Khurásán. He was the most learned and devout man of his age. It is recorded that he said: “Thou art between two relationships: one to Adam, the other to God. If thou claim relationship to Adam, thou wilt enter the arenas of lust and the places of corruption and error; for by this claim thou seekest to realize thy humanity (_bashariyyat_). God hath said: ‘_Verily, he was unjust and foolish_’ (Kor. xxxiii, 72). If, however, thou claim relationship to God, thou wilt enter the stations of revelation and evidence and protection (from sin) and saintship; for by this claim thou seekest to realize thy servantship (_`ubúdiyyat_). God hath said: ‘_The servants of the Merciful are those who walk on the earth meekly_’ (Kor. xxv, 64).“ Relationship to Adam ends at the Resurrection, whereas the relationship of being a servant of God subsists always and is unalterable. When a man refers himself to himself or to Adam, the utmost that he can reach is to say: ”_Verily, I have injured myself_“ (Kor. xxviii, 15); but when he refers himself to God, the son of Adam is in the same case as those of whom God hath said: ”_O My servants, there is no fear for you this day_” (Kor. xliii, 68). 64. ABU ´L-ḤASAN `ALÍ B. IBRÁHÍM AL-ḤUṢRÍ.