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THE VALUE OF GOOD DEEDS

13

“I (Abu Abdur Rahman) heard the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, say: ‘There were three people, amongst a people who lived before you. They were traveling and found a cave, and entered it in order to spend the night. Then, a rock slid down from the mountain and blocked the entrance to the cave. They said to each another: 'Nothing will save you from this rock except that you supplicate to Allah, the High, with your good deeds.' One of them said: 'O Allah, I had two aged parents and I did not serve a drink to any family member or servant before them. One day I was drawn far away in search of greenery (to feed his cattle) and did not return until after my parents had gone to sleep. After I finished the milking I brought them their drink and found them sleeping, I hated to wake them, nor would I give any part of the milk to my family or servants before serving them. So I remained with the jug in my hand waiting for them to wake until the break of dawn and the children were crying from hunger by my feet. So they awoke and drank their evening drink. O Allah, if I did this seeking Your Face, so relieve us from that which we are in on account of this rock.’ Thereupon the rock moved a little but they were unable to emerge from the cave.

Another said: 'O Allah, I had a female cousin, who was to me the most beloved person of all people. I wanted her, but she denied me. Then she was stricken by a barren year, so she came to me, and I gave her a hundred and twenty dinars (gold coins) on condition that she surrender herself to me, so she did. When I was in control, above her, she said: 'Fear Allah, and do not break the seal except with its rights,' so I left her although she was to me the most beloved person, and I left the gold I had given her. O Allah, if I did this seeking Your Face, so relieve us from that which we are in.' Thereupon the rock moved again, but they were still unable to emerge from the cave.

Then the other said: 'O Allah, I hired some laborers and paid them all their wages except for one man who left what was due to him and went away. I nurtured his wage in business and his wealth increased. After a time he came to me and said: ‘O worshiper of Allah, give me my wage’" So I said: ‘By Allah, all that you see is from your wage: camels, cows, sheep and youths.’ He said: ‘O worshiper of Allah, do not mock me.’ I replied: ‘I do not mock you.’ So he took it all and drove it, leaving nothing of it. O Allah, if I did this seeking Your Face, so relieve us from that which we are in.' Thereupon the rock moved and they emerged, walking, from the cave."

Bukhari and Muslim with a chain up to (Abu Abdur Rahman) Abdullah son of Omar al-Khattab said this.