She said, It hath reached me, O auspicious King, that the Wazir Dandan continued to Zau al-Makan:—The old woman bespake thy sire, saying, "The Imam Al-Shafi'i was wont to remark, I love to see folk profit by this learning of mine on condition that nothing of it be attributed to me. He also said:—I never disputed with any one, but I would that Almighty Allah should give him the knowledge of the Truth and aid him to dispread it: nor did I ever dispute with anyone at all but for the showing forth of the Truth, and I reck not whether Allah manifest it by my tongue or by His. He said also (whom Allah accept!), if thou fear to grow conceited of thy lore, then bethink thee Whose grace thou seekest and for what good thou yearnest and what punishment thou dreadest. It was told to Abu Hanífah that the Commander of the Faithful, Abú Ja'afar al-Mansúr, had appointed him Kazi and ordered him a salary of ten thousand dirhams; but he would not accept of this; and, when the day came on which the money was to be paid him, he prayed the dawn-prayer, then covered his head with his robe and spoke not. When the Caliph's messenger came with the money, he went in to the Imam and accosted him, but he would not speak to him. So the messenger said, Verily this money is lawfully thine. I know that it is lawfully mine, replied he: but I abhor that the love of tyrants get a hold upon my heart.[371] Asked the other, If thou go in to them canst thou not guard thyself from loving them. Answered Abu Hanifah, Can I look to enter the sea without my clothes being wet? Another of Al-Shafi'i's sayings (Allah accept him!) is:—
Oh soul of me, an thou accept my rede, ✿ Thou shalt be wealthy and of grace entire: Cast off ambitious hopes and vain desires; ✿ How many a death was done by vain desire!"