Dhun-Nun al-Misri was a very talented person. He was famous far and wide. A man went to his house to see him due to his fame and loudly called his name. Someone from the house responded, ‘God knows where he is gone. He may have gone to the market.’
The man went to the market looking for Dhun-Nun who was shopping dressed in a simple ordinary manner. The man asked around for him and was pointed to Dhun-Nun.
The person noticed that Dhun-Nun was a dark, short person wearing very simple clothes, non commanding standing in the market like an ordinary man.
The person who had come to meet Dhun-Nun lost all his enthusiasm and said to Dhun-Nun that he looked like an ordinary man. Dhun-Nun asked him, ‘Why did you come to see me while you were thinking only about the looks?’
Dhun-Nun had figured out visitor’s intentions and said, ‘You are looking for outward conditions and nothing beyond.’
Faith is protected when one keeps an eye on the soul.
(Malfuzat, Vol. 8, p. 71–72)