One night Gabriel was on the Sidrah, when he heard God utter words of assent. “A servant of God,” said Gabriel to himself, “is invoking the Eternal at this moment; but who knows who he is? All that I can understand is that this servant must surely possess eminent merit, that his concupiscent soul is dead and his spirit alive.” Nevertheless, Gabriel wished to know this happy mortal; but he did not find him among the seven climes. He traversed the whole earth and the islands of the sea; but he found him whom he sought neither in the mountains nor in the plains. He hastened back to God, and again heard a favourable answer to the same prayers. In his utmost anxiety he traversed the world anew. This time, too, he did not catch sight of this servant, and he said: “O God! show me, then, the way that must lead me to this servant.” — “Go,” God replied, “to the land of Rûm; enter a certain Christian convent, and you will find him there.” Gabriel went there, and plainly saw the man who was the object of heavenly favour. Now, at that very moment, this man was invoking an idol. Then Gabriel opened his mouth and said to God: “O Master of the world! lift far from me the veil of this mystery. How canst Thou graciously answer one who invokes an idol in a convent?” God replied: “His heart is darkened; he knows not that in so doing he strays from the path. Since he has strayed through ignorance, and I know it, I forgive his error. My goodness excuses him, and I grant him access to the most distinguished rank.”
Thus spoke the Most High, and He opened the way to this man’s spirit; He loosed his tongue so that he might utter the name of God, that Thou mayest know that this is the true religion, and that Thou hast no excuse for not entering upon this path. Since of Thyself Thou hast nothing that can bring Thee to this heavenly court, the smallest thing in this regard must not be neglected. Renunciation of all worldly things is not easily purchased; indeed, nothing can be purchased with regard to this court.