Nūri رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه has passed away.” The dervishes were saddened by the news and decided they would participate in the funeral having come this far.

When they reached the shaykh’s house, they were amazed to see Shaykh Abū al-Ḥasan Nūri رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه himself welcoming them into his home. They both were amazed and confused, as they had just heard cats mentioning he had passed away, yet he was alive and well. “What is the matter? Why do you look shocked?”, the shaykh asked. The dervishes explained what the cats had said. Shaykh Abū al-Ḥasan Nūri رَحْمَةُ الـلّٰـهِ عَلَيْه explained:

The cats spoke truly. I was inattentive to the dhikr of Allah for a moment. At that time an announcement was made in the heavens and earth - “Abū al-Ḥasan has passed away.” The entirety of creation except jinn and humans heard this. I was inattentive for a moment, but اَلْـحَمْـدُ لـِلّٰـه! I have been given the bounty of performing the dhikr of Allah again.^[1]

O devotees of the Messenger! This is what dhikr and negligence both mean. He who remembers Allah is truly alive, whilst a person negligent of this is like a dead body.

Devils are appointed upon the heedless

It is mentioned in the Quran:

وَ مَنۡ یَّعۡشُ عَنۡ ذِکۡرِ الرَّحۡمٰنِ نُقَیِّضۡ لَہٗ  شَیۡطٰنًا  فَہُوَ  لَہٗ  قَرِیۡنٌ (۳۶)

Translation from Kanz al-Īmān: And whoever has blinded himself from the remembrance of the Most Gracious, We appoint a devil upon him, that he stays (with him) as his companion.^[2]