There was a time when I became accustomed to withdraw into cemeteries to isolate myself. I heard that my master Yūsuf b. Yakhlaf al-Kumi had announced: 'So-and-so [and he referred to me by name] has given up the company of the living because he prefers the company of the dead!' I sent someone to tell him: 'If you join me you will soon see whose company I keep!' 

He performed the dawn prayer and came out alone to meet me; he searched for me and found me sitting between the tombs with my head lowered, talking with the spirits who kept me company. He came and sat beside me, full of respect. I turned towards him to look at him and saw that he had changed colour and seemed ill at ease. He was unable to raise his head because of the weight that was pressing down on him; I looked straight at him but he was unable to look at me because he was so disturbed.

When I had finished my conversations and the perception of the spirits had come to an end, the shaikh relaxed and, relieved, turned to me and kissed me between the eyes. I said to him: 'Well, master, who is it who keeps company with the dead - you or I?' He replied: 'Certainly not, by God; it is I who keep company with the dead!'

— 12th century, by Ibn Arabi, from: Helmut Ritter, Das Meer der Seele