ibrahim ibn alsindi told me there was a sheikh of ours from khurasan on the outskirts of alshadhrawan. he was a righteous man far removed from corruption bribery and ruling by whims. he was very prudent and so was his abstinence miserliness and modesty in his spending. he would only eat what was necessary and he would only drink what was apparent. however when it was the morning of every friday he would carry with him a handkerchief containing two squashes pieces of refrigerated sakbaj meat pieces of cheese olives a bag of salt another containing lichen and four eggs which were essential and he would have some leftovers with him. he would go alone until he entered some of the orchards of alkarkh and would look for a place under a tree in the middle of greenery and near running water. when he found that he would sit down spread the handkerchief out in front of him and eat from this once and from…
وحدثني إبراهيم بن السندي ١ قال كان على ربض الشاذروان ٢ شيخ لنا، من أهل خراسان. وكان مصححا بعيدا من الفساد، ومن الرشا ٣ ، ومن الحكم بالهوى، وكان حفيا ٤ جدا، وكذلك كان في إمساكه، وفي بخله، وتدنيقه ٥ في نفقاته؛ وكان لا يأكل إلا ما لا بد منه، ولا يشرب إلا ما بدا منه. غير أنه إذا كان في غداة كل جمعة حمل معه منديلا فيه جردقتان ٦ ، وقطع لحم سكباج ٧ مبرد، وقطع جبن، وزيتونات، وصرة فيها ملح، وأخرى فيها أشنان ٨ وأربع بيضات ليس منها بد، ومعه خلال. ومضى وحده، حتى يدخل بعض بساتين الكرخ ٩ ، وينظر موضعا تحت شجرة، وسط خضرة، وعلى ماء جار. فاذا وجد ذلك جلس، وبسط بين يديه المنديل، وأكل من هذا مرة، ومن