in cordoba this place was a gathering place for women. he saw a slave girl who had captured his heart and whose love had permeated all his limbs. he turned away from the mosque and followed her as she rose towards the bridge. she crossed it to the place known as alrabdh. when she was among the gardens of the banu marwan may god have mercy on them built over their graves in the cemetery of alrabdh behind the river she looked at him alone from the people with no concern other than him. she turned to him and said to him why are you walking behind me? he told her of his great affliction with her. she said to him leave this and do not seek to disgrace me for you have no hope in me at all and no way to what you desire. he said i am content with looking. she said that is permissible for you. he said to her my lady are you free or a slave? she said a slave. he said to her what is your name. she said privately. he said to whom do you belong? she said to him by god your knowledge of what is in the seventh heaven is closer to you than what you asked about so leave the impossible. he said to her o my lady where will i see you after this? she said because you saw me today at this time every friday. she said to him either you get up or i get up. he said to her get up in…
بقرطبة ، وهذا الموضع كان مجتمع النساء، فرأى جارية أخذت بمجامع قلبه وتخلل حبها جميع اعضائه، فانصرف عن طريق الجامع وجعل يتبعها وهي ناهضة نحو القنطرة ، فجازتها إلى الموضع المعروف بالربض. فلما صارت بين رياض بني مروان رحمهم الله المبنية على قبورهم في مقبرة الربض خلف النهر نظرت منه منفردا عن الناس لا همة له غيرها، فانصرفت إليه فقالت له مالك تمشي ورائي فأخبرها بعظيم بليته بها. فقالت له دع عنك هذا ولا تطلب فضيحتي فلا مطمع لك في البتة ولا إلى ما ترغبه سبيل، فقال إني أقنع بالنظر، فقالت ذلك مباح لك، فقال لها يا سيدتي، أحرة أم مملوكة قالت مملوكة، فقال لها ما اسمك. قالت خلوة، قال ولمن أنت فقالت له علمك والله بما في السماء السابعة أقرب إليك مما سألت عنه، فدع المحال، فقال لها يا سيدتي، وأين أراك بعد هذا قالت حيث رأيتني اليوم في مثل تلك الساعة من كل جمعة.. فقالت له إما تنهض أنت أو انهض أنا ، فقال لها انهضي في