The days laughed at one of the misers, and he became a governor. This governor, despite his miserliness, was hated. People didn’t befriend him, didn’t love him, and couldn’t tolerate his company. Every night, he would send for Ashab to keep him company and make him laugh. But Ashab would flee from him or hide at one of the neighbors because he would stay with this governor all night, talking to him and making him laugh without finding at the end of the night a morsel to satisfy his hungry stomach or a dirham to buy something for his children.
The Governor Orders Ashab to Be Brought:
This governor learned over time that Ashab was fleeing from his meeting and inventing excuses not to attend his gathering. So he would send his soldiers and charge them with bringing him, even if he were in the depths of the earth or in the heights of the sky. Ashab was in severe hardship and terrible suffering from this catastrophe that had befallen him due to this governor.
Ashab and the Governor:
One evening, the soldiers brought Ashab to the governor. He said: “It has reached me that you flee from meeting me and don’t love my gathering.” Ashab replied: “And who among people hates meeting you, my lord? It’s a meeting for the soul.” The governor seized this opportunity and said: “If you are serious, the Hajj season has arrived! I want you to travel with me so I find comfort in your company. Don’t forget that the Hajj season is a season of kindness and favor!”
Ashab coughed and felt he had been trapped. He tried to apologize, saying: “By my father and mother, I am sick, and I don’t intend to perform Hajj this season.” Then he added: “And be assured that our hearts are with you.” The governor’s expression changed, and evil appeared in his eyes. He said threateningly: “By God, if you don’t come with me, I will certainly put you in prison until I return.” Prison was better for Ashab than the company of the hated governor, but he feared this punishment might develop into something worse, especially since this governor was famous for recklessness and haste. So Ashab agreed reluctantly to go out with this governor. He traveled with him unwillingly, and a tear fell from his eyes. He said in a voice no one heard: “Destruction of my soul in his company, and destruction of my body in prison. There is no power or strength except in God.”
Ashab and the Governor on the Way to Hajj:
On the way, a long dialogue took place between the governor and Ashab. Ashab answered reluctantly, while the governor poured out his questions without interruption. The governor asked Ashab: “How do you see the people of this time, Ashab?” In cunning and deceit, Ashab replied: “By God, their affair is a wonder. They ask me about kings’ tales, and give me the payment of slaves.” The governor smiled a foolish smile and proceeded to ask Ashab heavy questions with no meaning.
The governor said: “Ashab, have you seen anyone more greedy than you?” Ashab answered sarcastically: “Yes, I saw a dog following me for four miles while I was chewing gum, thinking he would find something in the end.”
Provocative Questions from the Governor to Ashab:
The governor’s questions to Ashab were of this provocative type, which meant nothing but contempt and lack of concern for his feelings, causing him self-harm. But he would suppress his anger and remain silent despite himself. The governor and Ashab reached the city of Medina. Throughout the way, Ashab had not eaten a morsel to satisfy his hunger. Hunger reached its limit, and he was no longer able to stand on his feet.
The Fasting Governor:
He turned to the governor, saying: “Come, send your servant to bring us food! I no longer have the ability to bear hunger.” The governor smiled and said: “I am fasting today, Ashab. If you want, I will send the servant to bring food for you, I will do so.” But Ashab said to himself: “There’s no doubt that the food the servant will bring me will be dry bread and some salt. But no harm in waiting to eat with this governor after sunset; his food will be excellent.”
The Governor Rests from Travel Fatigue:
The governor looked at Ashab and found him distracted in thought. He asked him: “Where is your wandering, Ashab? Doesn’t it please you that I bring you food?” But Ashab, despite his fatigue, answered: “I prefer to eat with you rather than each of us eating alone.” The governor laughed, then patted Ashab’s shoulder and said: “No harm, but I will enter my room to rest a little from the fatigue of travel.”
Ashab and Hunger:
Then the governor entered his room and locked the door on himself, and began devouring types of food, meat, and fruit that his servant had prepared for him. Time passed slowly for Ashab. Hunger had torn his insides. When sunset time was about to arrive, he began looking for the governor everywhere in the house, but found no trace of him. He found the servant handing him two dry loaves and a piece of cheese that time had eaten and drunk.
Ashab Wonders at the Governor:
Ashab wondered and said: “And where is your master, the governor?” He answered: “He has been eating his food since noon, and ordered me to give you this food so you can overcome your hunger.” Ashab found nothing before him but to eat these two loaves, otherwise he would sleep hungry.
Compensating Ashab:
The night passed over Ashab in bad condition. When morning came, he complained to the governor about his deed. But the governor was satisfied with cold apology words and said: “Excuse me, Ashab. I was tired, and I had permission to break my fast. I didn’t want to disturb you. I thought you were asleep.” Then he turned to his servant, handed him several dirhams, and said: “With these dirhams, bring roasted meat to compensate Ashab for the past night.”
Ashab and the Dream of Eating Roasted Meat:
Ashab smiled a wide smile and said to himself: “Finally, I will taste meat and broth. The days have laughed at you, Ashab.” The servant returned carrying the roasted meat and placed it before the governor, who began devouring the food greedily without turning to Ashab or inviting him to the food.
When he finished all the roasted meat and only broth and some crumbs of bread remained, he turned to Ashab and pretended astonishment, saying: “Believe me, Ashab, I didn’t feel your presence except this moment. Why didn’t you alert me?” Then he added: “In any case, there remains a lot for you. What a lucky person you are.”
Breaking the Tooth:
Because Ashab was hungrier than yesterday, he attacked the food like a deprived hungry person. He began dipping the dry bread in the remaining roasted meat broth in the pot. The governor took out some fruit seeds and began eating them. Ashab looked at him. In the end, the governor handed Ashab some almonds, whose shells were very thick. Ashab placed the almond under his tooth and tried to break its shell, hoping to get what was inside. But his tooth, which was accustomed to breaking the strongest things, shattered and turned into grains of sand that fell into his mouth.
Ashab and the Almond:
Ashab tried to find a stone to break the almond with. After effort, he found a stone at a great distance. As soon as Ashab struck the almond with it, it jumped far away. He ran after it as the owner of a stray camel runs after it in every direction, but he returned with empty hands and didn’t find the almond that had hidden in the dirt.
Save Me from Death:
While Ashab was searching for the almond, he saw a group of his closest friends. He felt that God Almighty had sent them as relief to save him from this catastrophe. As soon as Ashab approached them, he shouted: “Help! Help! Reach me, rescue me!” Ashab’s yellow face indicated severe fatigue. The friends said emotionally: “What’s wrong, Ashab? What has affected you?” Ashab answered, calling for help: “Take me with you, and thus you will save me from death. I will tell you my story later.”
Ashab and the Friends:
The friends carried Ashab with them. As soon as they moved away from the place, Ashab began flapping his hands like a chick does when seeking provision from his parents. They said: “What’s wrong with you, woe to you?” He said: “This is not the time for talk. Feed me from what you have. I have been dying of hunger for three days.” The friends placed food before Ashab, and he began eating greedily like a deprived person, then told them what had happened with this hated governor. He showed them his broken tooth. They began laughing and clapping with their hands, saying: “This man is the most miser of God’s creation. How did you fall into his hands!”
Ashab in the Land of the Waq-Waq:
Ashab swore he would not enter the city as long as this governor had authority over it. Then he returned to his home and told the story to his wife. As soon as Ashab placed his head on the bed, he heard knocking on the door. Behold, a messenger from before the governor saying to him: “My master, the governor, wants you immediately. He was impressed by your accompanying him on the Hajj journey. He decided to take you with him on a long journey to India, then to the mountains of the Waq-Waq!” The messenger didn’t finish his speech before Ashab went into a faint, muttering: “I never thought I would live to a time when I would be driven to the Waq-Waq.”