Chapter 56: The Book ofZuhdand Softening of Hearts

Abu Huraira, narrated that he heard Allah' s Messenger (ﷺ) as saying: There were three persons in Bani Isra' il, one suffering from leprosy, the other bald-headed and the third one blind. Allah decided to test them. So He sent an angel who came to the one who was suffering from leprosy and said: Which thing do you like most? He said: Beautiful colour and fine skin and removal of that which makes me detestable in the eye of people. He wiped him and his illness was no more and he was conferred upon beautiful colour and beautiful skin. He (the angel) again said: Which property do you like most? He said: Camels, or he said: The cow the narrator is, however, doubtful about it, but (out of the persons) suffering from leprosy or baldness one of them definitely said: The camel. And the other one said: Cow. And he (one who demanded camel) was bestowed upon a she-camel, in an advanced stage of pregnancy, and while giving he said: May Allah bless you in this. Then he came to the bald-headed person and said: Which thing do you like most? He said: Beautiful hair and that (this baldness) may be removed from me because of which people hate me. He wiped his body and his illness was removed and he was bestowed upon beautiful hair, and the angel said: Which wealth do you like most? He said: The cow. And he was given a pregnant cow and while handing it over to him he (the angel) said: May Allah bless you in this. Then he came to the blind man and he said: Which thing do you like most? He said: Allah should restore my eyesight so that I should be able to see people with the help of that. He wiped his body and Allah restored to him his eyesight, and he (the angel) also said: Which wealth do you like most? He said: The flock of sheep. And he was given a pregnant goat and that gave birth to young ones and it so happened that one valley abounded in camels and the other one in cows and the third one in sheep. He then came to the one who had suffered from leprosy in his (old) form and shape and he said: I am a poor person and my provision has run short in my journey and there is none to take me to my destination except with the help of Allah and your favour. I beg of you in His name Who gave you fine colour and fine skin, and the camel in the shape of wealth (to confer upon me) a camel which should carry me in my journey. He said: I have many responsibilities to discharge. Thereupon he said: I perceive as if I recognise you. Were you not suffering from leprosy whom people hated and you were a destitute and Allah conferred upon you (wealth)? He said: I have inherited this property from my forefathers. Thereupon he said: If you are a liar may Allah change you to that very position in which you had been. He then came to the one who was bald-headed in his (old) form and said to him the same what he had said to him (one suffering from leprosy) and he gave him the same reply as he had given him and he said: If you are a liar, may Allah turn you to your previous position in which you had been. And then he came to the blind man in his (old) form and shape and he said: I am a destitute person and a wayfarer. My provision have ran short and today there is no way to reach the destination but with the help of Allah and then with your help and I beg of you in the (name) of One Who restored your eyesight and gave you the flock of sheep to give me a sheep by which I should be able to make my provisions for the journey. He said: I was blind and Allah restored to me my eyesight; you take whatever you like and leave whatever you like. By Allah, I shall not stand in your way today for what you take in the name of God. Thereupon, he said: You keep with you what you have (in your possession). The fact is that you three were put to test and Allah is well pleased with you and He is annoyed with your companions.
Sahih Muslim 2964
Chapters
1 Introduction 2 The Book of Faith 3 The Book of Purification 4 The Book of Menstruation 5 The Book of Prayers 6 The Book of Mosques and Places of Prayer 7 The Book of Prayer - Travellers 8 The Book of Prayer - Friday 9 The Book of Prayer - Two Eids 10 The Book of Prayer - Rain 11 The Book of Prayer - Eclipses 12 The Book of Prayer - Funerals 13 The Book of Zakat 14 The Book of Fasting 15 The Book of I'tikaf 16 The Book of Pilgrimage 17 The Book of Marriage 18 The Book of Suckling 19 The Book of Divorce 20 The Book of Invoking Curses 21 The Book of Emancipating Slaves 22 The Book of Transactions 23 The Book of Musaqah 24 The Book of the Rules of Inheritance 25 The Book of Gifts 26 The Book of Wills 27 The Book of Vows 28 The Book of Oaths 29 The Book of Oaths, Muharibin, Qasas(Retaliation), andDiyat(Blood Money) 30 The Book of Legal Punishments 31 The Book of Judicial Decisions 32 The Book of Lost Property 33 The Book ofJihadand Expeditions 34 The Book on Government 35 The Book of Hunting, Slaughter, and what may be Eaten 36 The Book of Sacrifices 37 The Book of Drinks 38 The Book of Clothes and Adornment 39 The Book of Manners and Etiquette 40 The Book of Greetings 41 The Book Concerning the Use of Correct Words 42 The Book of Poetry 43 The Book of Dreams 44 The Book of Virtues 45 The Book of the Merits of the Companions 46 The Book of Virtue, Enjoining Good Manners, and Joining of the Ties of Kinship 47 The Book of Destiny 48 The Book of Knowledge 49 The Book Pertaining to the Remembrance of Allah, Supplication, Repentance and Seeking Forgiveness 50 The Book of Heart-Melting Traditions 51 The Book of Repentance 52 Characteristics of The Hypocrites And Rulings Concerning Them 53 Characteristics of the Day of Judgment, Paradise, and Hell 54 The Book of Paradise, its Description, its Bounties and its Inhabitants 55 The Book of Tribulations and Portents of the Last Hour 56 The Book ofZuhdand Softening of Hearts 57 The Book of Commentary on the Qur'an