Trapped and Delivered

Abdullah ibn Umar, may Allah be pleased with them both, said.

I heard the Messenger of Allah, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, say

Three men set out from among those who were before you.

Until they took shelter for the night in a cave and entered it.

Then a rock slid down from the mountain.

Then the cave was sealed over them.

They said, "He will not save you from this rock."

Unless you call upon Allah with your righteous deeds.

Then one of them said.

O Allah, I had two elderly parents.

And I would not leave them without household provisions or money.

Then he went away from me one day to look for something.

So I did not let them rest until they both fell asleep.

So I milked for them their pail.

So I found them both sleeping, and I disliked to shut them out from family or from wealth.

So I remained, and the cup was upon my two hands.

I waited for their awakening until the dawn brightened.

Then they both woke up and drank their sips.

O Allah, if I did that seeking Your pleasure.

So relieve us from what we are in from this rock.

Then it opened something; they were not able to get out.

The Prophet, may God bless him and grant him peace, said.

And the other said, "O Allah, I had a paternal cousin; she was the dearest of people to me."

So I made her change her mind.

So she refused from me until a year of hardship befell her.

Then she came to me, so I gave her one hundred and twenty dinars.

On condition that you leave between me and between her self.

So she did until when I was able upon her.

She said, "I do not permit for you to remove the ring except by his right."

So I was ashamed to have sexual relations with her.

So I turned away from her, although she was the person dearest to me.

And I left the gold that I had given to her,

O Allah, if I have done that seeking Your face.

So relieve us of what we are in.

The rock split open, but they could not get out of it.

The Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, said.

And the third said, "O Allah, indeed I hired laborers and gave them their wages."

All but one man left what belonged to him and departed.

So I let his wage grow until it multiplied into wealth.

After a while, he came to me.

He said, "O Abdullah, pay me my wages."

So I said to him, "Take all that you see of your pay from the camels, the cattle, the sheep, and the slaves."

He said, "O Abdullah, do not mock me."

So I said, "I am not mocking you."

So he took it all and then drove it away.

So he left nothing of it.

O Allah, so if I did that seeking Your pleasure.

So relieve us from what we are in it.