The Shaykh’s remarks on some of the illness that afflicted his eye due to excessive reading and repairing watches.

The Shaykh : While I was working in my shop on one hand, and visiting the al-Zahiriyyah library on the other in order to consult the printed books and manuscripts I needed, it seems I overexerted myself more than necessary. I felt a black spot in my vision; when I looked at the wall, I would see it imprinted on the wall, moving back and forth. I then consulted a specialist doctor, who called it a flying fly and told me this after asking me what I did for a living. I told him, “Watches.” He said, “This is a natural condition, because a watchmaker always uses a magnifying glass, especially for the right eye.” I said to him, “In addition to that, I have a passion for reading and studying, especially manuscripts.” So he gave me eye drops and advised me to stop working entirely, whether in repairing watches or in reading and studying, for six months.