Such was the level of passion for reading and the importance of time among the pious predecessors that they would continue reading books even while walking. Ibn al-Abnusi says that when Allama Khatib Baghdadi (RA) used to walk, he would be reading a book held in his hand. (Siyar A'lam al-Nubala, 18: 281) An unexampled scholar of grammar (Nahw), Allama Ahmad bin Yahya, who is famously known as Tha'lab, paid a very heavy price for this passion. He was deeply fond of reading and suffered from hardness of hearing, due to which he was hard of hearing. Once on Friday, after offering Asr prayer, he left the Jamia Masjid, opened a book as usual, and became engrossed in reading while walking. On the way, a horse kicked out; a deep ditch was nearby, and he fell into it. He suffered a head injury; he was taken home in this condition, but the next day, this lover of books passed away! (Ibn Khallikan, Wafayat al-A'yan, 1: 104) [Selection and Translation: Tahir Islam Askari]