يابنَ حُنيف، فقد بلغني أنَّ رجلًا من فتيةِ أهلِ البصرةِ دعاكَ إلى مأدبةٍ، فأسرعتَ إليها، تُستطابُ لكَ الألوانُ، وتُنقلُ إليكَ الجفانُ، وما ظننتُ أنّكَ تُجيبُ إلى طعامِ قومٍ، عائلُهم مجفوٌّ، وغنيُّهم مدعوٌّ. ألا وإنَّ لكلِّ مأمومٍ إمامًا يقتدي بهِ ويستضيءُ بنورِ علمهِ، ألا وإنَّ إمامَكم قدِ اكتفى من دنياهُ بطِمريهِ، ومن طُعمِهِ بقُرصيه.
Ibn Hunayf, I have learned that a young man in Basra invited you to a banquet, and you were quick to accept. Delicacies of every kind were served to you, and platter after platter was brought before you. I never thought you would sit down at a table where the poor are turned away and only the wealthy are welcomed. Remember that every follower has a leader from whose knowledge they take light. Your leader has made do with two pieces of cloth and two loaves of bread.