Chapter 41: Agriculture
Narrated 'Abdullah bin 'Umar: The Prophet (ﷺ) said, "While three men were walking, It started raining and they took shelter (refuge) in a
cave in a mountain. A big rock rolled down from the mountain and closed the mouth of the cave. They
said to each other, "Think of good deeds which you did for Allah' s sake only, and invoke Allah by
giving reference to those deeds so that He may remove this rock from you."
One of them said, 'O Allah! I had old parents and small children and I used to graze the sheep for
them. On my return to them in the evening, I used to milk (the sheep) and start providing my parents
first of all before my children. One day I was delayed and came late at night and found my parents
sleeping. I milked (the sheep) as usual and stood by their heads. I hated to wake them up and disliked
to give milk to my children before them, although my children were weeping (because of hunger) at
my feet till the day dawned. O Allah! If I did this for Your sake only, kindly remove the rock so that
we could see the sky through it.' So, Allah removed the rock a little and they saw the sky.
The second man said, 'O Allah! I was in love with a cousin of mine like the deepest love a man may
have for a woman. I wanted to outrage her chastity but she refused unless I gave her one hundred
Dinars. So, I struggled to collect that amount. And when I sat between her legs, she said, 'O Allah' s
slave! Be afraid of Allah and do not deflower me except rightfully (by marriage).' So, I got up. O
Allah! If I did it for Your sake only, please remove the rock.' The rock shifted a little more.
Then the third man said, 'O Allah! I employed a laborer for a Faraq of rice and when he finished his
job and demanded his right, I presented it to him, but he refused to take it. So, I sowed the rice many
time till I gathered cows and their shepherd (from the yield). (Then after some time) He came and said
to me, 'Fear Allah (and give me my right)." I said, 'Go and take those cows and the shepherd.' He said,
'Be afraid of Allah! Don' t mock at me.' I said, 'I am not mocking at you. Take (all that).' So, he took all
that. O Allah! If I did that for Your sake only, please remove the rest of the rock.' So, Allah removed
the rock."
Sahih al-Bukhari 2333