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THE PEOPLE OF PARADISE

75

“I was shown many people (in a vision). I saw a prophet who had but a small group with him, some prophets had only one or two people with them, others with none at all. Then suddenly I saw a huge assembly and I thought they were my people, but I was informed: ‘This is Moses and his nation, but look at the horizon.’ I looked and saw a great multitude. Then I was told: ‘Now look to the other horizon.’ There too was a great multitude. Whereupon I was told, ‘These are your nation and of them there are seventy thousand who will enter Paradise without being taken to account or suffering.’

Then the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, stood up and went to his rooms and the Companions began to speculate about those who would enter Paradise without being taken to account or suffering. Some said, ‘Perhaps they were his Companions.’ Others said, ‘They may be the ones who were born Muslims and never associated anyone with Allah and so forth.’ Then the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, came out and asked them what they were discussing so they told him. He answered, ‘They are those who made neither charms nor amulets, nor did they want them. They did not believe in omens rather they trusted in their Lord.’ Then, Ukasha son of Muhsin stood up and requested, ‘Supplicate to Allah that He makes me one of them.’ The Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, said: ‘You are one of them.’

Then another stood up and asked the same. To this the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, answered, ‘Ukasha has beaten you to it.’

Bukhari and Muslim with a chain up to Ibn Abbas who related that the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, said