Muhammad.com collection in 109 languages

Thereupon, perceiving my impotence and having altogether lost my
power of choice, I sought refuge with Allah Most High as one who is driven
to Him, because he is without further resources of his own. He answered
me, He who `answers him who is driven (to Him by affliction) when he calls
upon Him‟ (Koran 7, 63). He made it easy for my heart to turn away from
position and wealth, from children and friends. „ I openly professed that I
had resolved to set out for Mecca, while privately I made arrangements to
travel to Syria. I took this precaution in case the Caliph and all my friends


should oppose my resolve to make my residence in Syria. This stratagem
for my departure from Baghdad I gracefully executed, and had it in my mind
never to return there. There was much talk about me among all the religious
leaders of Iraq, since none of them would allow that withdrawal from such a
state of life as I was in could have a religious cause, for they looked upon
that as the culmination of a religious career; that was the sum of their
knowledge.