48. Abu ´l-`Abbás Aḥmad b. Masrúq.
He was one of the great men of Khurásán, and the Saints of God are unanimously agreed that he was one of the Awtád. He associated with the Quṭb, who is the pivot of the universe. On being asked to say who the Quṭb was, he did not declare his name but hinted that Junayd was that personage. He had done service to the Forty who possess the rank of fixity (ṣáḥib tamkín) and received instruction from them. It is related that he said: “If anyone takes joy in aught except God, his joy produces sorrow, and if anyone is not intimate with the service of his Lord, his intimacy produces loneliness (waḥshat),” i.e., all save Him is perishable, and whoever rejoices in what is perishable, when that perishes becomes stricken with sorrow; and except His service all else is vain, and when the vileness of created objects is made manifest, his intimacy (with them) is wholly turned to loneliness: hence, the sorrow and loneliness of the entire universe consist in regarding that which is other (than God).
49. Abú `Abdalláh Muḥammad[[94]] b. Ismá`íl al-Maghribí.
In his time he was an approved teacher and a careful guardian of his disciples. Both Ibráhím Khawwáṣ and Ibráhím Shaybání were pupils of his. He has lofty sayings and shining evidences, and he was perfectly grounded in detachment from this world. It is related that he said: “I never saw anyone more just than the world: if you serve her she will serve you, and if you leave her she will leave you,” i.e. as long as you seek her she will seek you, but when you turn away from her and seek God she will flee from you, and worldly thoughts will no more cling to your heart.