The Kurdish caliphal ambassador, Suhrawardi, was on an official mission in Ayyubid land. However, when the routine work was completed, what did Suhrawardi do? According al Khazraji (13th century), he met with Ali Kurdi.
Al Khazraji (13th-century):
When the shaykh and imam al-Suhrawardī came to Damascus on a mis-sion from the caliph to invest al-Malik al-'Adil with the robe of honor, neckband, and so forth, he said to his companions, 'I want to visit 'Alī al-Kurdi,' but the people said, 'O' master, do not do that for you are the imam of existence and that man does not perform the canonical prayers and walks around naked most of the time!', to which he replied, 'It is necessary for me to do so.' Now, shaykh 'Alī al-Kurdī used to inhabit the Grand Mosque of Damascus, but when a muwallah called Yāqūt entered it, by sunset the very same day 'Alī had already left Damascus and set up residence in the cemetery near Bāb al-Şaghir. He remained there until his death and Yāqūt prevailed in the Grand Mosque. I saw this Yaqūt in the Grand Mosque after 'Alī's departure. When the shaykh Shihab al-Din al-Suhrawardī searched the Grand Mosque for 'Alī, Yāqüt told him that he was now living in the cemetery and so he mounted his donkey and with a guide set off to find 'Alī. Upon reaching the place, he dismounted and walked towards him. When 'Alī al-Kurdī saw him drawing near, he defiantly displayed his nudity, but the shaykh Shihab al-Dīn said, 'This is not a thing which will stop me, for you must see me as I am your guest!" And so he approached and sat with him. Later, some porters came bear-ing savory food, and they were asked, 'who do you want?', to which they replied, 'the shaykh 'Alī al-Kurdī'. He said, 'put it before my guest!', and then turning to the shaykh Shihāb al-Dīn said, 'Did you not say that you were my guest? In God's name, eat! This is your reception.' And so the shaykh ate and he held him ['Alī al-Kurdī] in great esteem.
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