started crying; to the extent that his beard and chest got soaked with tears and tears started falling on the ground. My neighbour anxiously said to me: ‘It is just the start of the journey and this is his state. Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ knows what’s going to happen later on.’ While persuading him, I said: ‘Do not get worried. It’s a matter of travelling. It is possible that he may be crying due to the separation from his household, and later on, he would settle down afterwards.’       

Sayyiduna Buhaym ‘Ijlee رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه  heard this and said: ‘وَاللّٰہ! It’s nothing like this. Due to this journey, I remembered the “journey of the Hereafter”.’ Having said this, he started crying bitterly. My neighbour once again said to me in a state of anxiousness: ‘How would I be able to stay with him? He should travel with Sayyiduna Dawood Taa`ee and Sayyiduna Salam Abul Ahwas رَحِمَهُمَا الـلّٰـهُ تَـعَالٰی because they two also weep a lot. He will adjust with them very well and they would cry a lot together.’ I encouraged my neighbour again. Eventually, he embarked on the journey of Hajj with him.

Sayyiduna Mukhawwal رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه  states: When they returned from Hajj, I went to see my Haji neighbour. He told me: ‘May Allah Almighty reward you immensely. I have not seen a person like him anywhere. Although I was rich, but he would spend abundantly on me despite being poor; despite being old, he would observe Siyam; he would cook food for a non-Sawm observing young man like me and would serve me a lot.’ I said: ‘But you used to get worried due to his act of crying. What are your thoughts now?’ He said: ‘Initially, I as well as the other people of the caravan would get worried due to the abundance of his crying; but gradually, this state also overcame us due to the blessings of his company and we would also cry along with him.’

Sayyiduna Mukhawwal رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه  says: After this, I went to Sayyiduna Buhaym ‘Ijlee رَحْمَةُ اللهِ تَعَالٰی عَلَيْه  and inquired about my Haji neighbour. Upon this, he said: ‘He was an extremely good companion. He would perform the Zikr of Allah عَزَّوَجَلَّ and recite the Holy Quran in abundance. Moreover, he