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OUR WEALTH IS ON LOAN TO US

66

“Allah desired to test three people from the Children of Israel. One was a leper, another bald-headed and the other blind. So Allah sent to them an angel. First, the angel went to the leper and asked him, ‘What would you like best?’ He replied, ‘A good complexion with clear skin and the removal of my affliction because people dislike me on account of this.’ The angel passed his hands over him and his affliction left him and his skin was good. Then the angel asked, ‘What would you like most to possess?’ The man replied, ‘Camels’ and was given a camel ten months pregnant and the angel said, ‘May Allah bless it for you.’

Then the angel went to the bald-head man and asked, ‘What would you like best?’ He replied, ‘A fine head of hair, and the removal of my affliction because people dislike me on account of this.’ The angel passed his hands over him and his affliction was removed and he had a fine head of hair. Then the angel asked, ‘What would you like most to possess?’ The man replied, ‘Cows’. So he was given a pregnant cow and the angel said, ‘May Allah bless it for you.’

Next the angel went to the blind man and asked, ‘What would you like best?’ He replied, ‘That Allah restores my sight so that I may see people.’ The angel passed his hands over his eyes and Allah restored his sight. Then the angel asked, ‘What would you like most to possess?’ The man replied, ‘Goats’ and so he was given a pregnant nanny goat and the angel said, ‘May Allah bless it for you.’ The animals multiplied greatly, so that one had a valley full of camels. Another had a valley full of cattle and the other had a valley full of goats.

Later, the angel returned disguised as a leper to the man who had once been a leper and said, ‘I am a poor man in need and have nothing to help me to continue my journey (pilgrimage) except Allah. I ask you in the Name of Allah who has given you a good complexion, clear skin and great wealth to give me a camel that might help me to reach my destination.’ The man replied, ‘I have many obligations.’ The angel said, ‘It seems that I recognize you. Aren't you the leper once disliked by people whom Allah enriched?’ The man replied, ‘I inherited my wealth from my forefathers.’ To this the angel said, ‘If you are lying, may Allah restore you to the condition in which you were.’

Then the angel returned disguised as a bald-headed man to the man who had been bald-headed and asked for help and he gave the same reply as the first. The angel turned to him and said, ‘If you are lying, may Allah restore you to the condition in which you were’.

Next the angel returned to the man who had been blind disguised as a blind man and said to him, ‘I am a poor man and have nothing to help me to reach my destination (pilgrimage) except the help of Allah. I ask you in the Name of He who restored to you your sight to give me a goat so that I may reach my destination.’ The man replied, ‘Indeed, I was blind and Allah restored my sight to me. Take what you will and leave what you will, I will not restrict you – take whatever you wish in the Name of Allah, the Mighty, the Glorified.’ Upon this the angel said, ‘Keep all you have. All three of you were being tried. Indeed, Allah is pleased with you but He is angry with your companions.’"

Bukhari and Muslim with a chain up to Abu Hurairah who related that he heard the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, say this.