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CONCEPTION AND PREDESTINATION

397

“Each one of you; his creation is determined when he is in his mother's womb, forty days as a drop, then it becomes a clot for the same (forty days) then it becomes a chewed (piece of flesh) for the same (forty days), then the angel is sent who breathes into it the soul then he is ordered with four words: His provision, his life span, his deeds, and whether he is unfortunate or happy. Then by He who there is no god except Him, one of you (example of the hypocrite) behaves like a dweller of Paradise until there is left between him and it the distance of only the length of an arm and then that which is recorded overtakes him and he begins to behave like the inhabitants of the Fire and eventually enters it. Then there is the one amongst you (who is not a hypocrite) who behaves like the inhabitants of the Fire until there is only left between him and it the length of an arm; then what is recorded overtakes him and he begins to behave like the dwellers of Paradise and eventually enters it.”

Bukhari and Muslim with a chain up to ibn Mas'ud who related that the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, the confirmed, the truthful, told us this.

FAVORITISM

H 1822

“I (Bashir) took my son (Nu'man) to the Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, and told him, ‘I have given one of my slaves to this son.’ The Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, asked, ‘Did you give a similar gift to each of your children?’ Whereupon I replied, ‘No.’ The Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, said, ‘Then take this gift back.’”

We are also informed:

“The Prophet, praise and peace be upon him, asked, ‘Did you do the same for all your children?’ I answered, ‘No.’ The Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, then told me, ‘Be mindful of your obligation to Allah and be just among your children.’ Whereupon my father took back his gift.

We are also informed:

“The Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, asked, ‘Bashir, do you have other children than this one?’ To this I replied, Yes.’ The Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, asked me, ‘Did you give them all a gift like this?’ I replied, ‘No.’

Whereupon the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, said, ‘Then do not make me a witness because I will not be a witness to a wrong.’ Then he asked, ‘Wouldn't you like it if each one of them behaved well towards you?’ I replied, ‘Indeed.’ The Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, advised, ‘Then why don't you?’"

Bukhari and Muslim with a chain up to Nu'man, the son of Bashir who related that the Messenger of Allah, praise and peace be upon him, said this.