Hadith #554

Arabic Text

English Translation

It was narrated from Abu Hurayra (رضي الله عنه) — via 'Abd al-Razzaq, from Ma'mar, from al-Zuhri, from 'Ata' ibn Yazid al-Laythi — that people asked: 'O Messenger of Allah, will we see our Lord on the Day of Resurrection?' the Prophet ﷺ said: 'Do you have any difficulty seeing the sun when there is no cloud before it?' They said: 'No, O Messenger of Allah.' He said: 'Do you have any difficulty seeing the moon on a full-moon night when there is no cloud before it?' They said: 'No, O Messenger of Allah.' He said: 'You will see Him likewise on the Day of Resurrection.' [Then he described the Gathering:] Allah will assemble the people and say: 'Whoever used to worship something, let him follow it.' Those who worshipped the moon will follow the moon; those who worshipped the sun will follow the sun; and those who worshipped false gods [tawaghit] will follow them. This community remains — with its hypocrites among it. Allah (عز وجل) comes to them in a form other than the one you recognize and says: 'I am your Lord.' They say: 'We seek refuge in Allah from you! This is our station until our Lord comes — when He comes, we will recognize Him.' Then Allah (عز وجل) comes to them in the form they recognize and says: 'I am your Lord.' They say: 'You are our Lord' — and they follow Him. A bridge is then laid over Jahannam. the Prophet ﷺ said: 'I will be the first to cross it. And the supplication of the Messengers that day will be: "O Allah, save! O Allah, save!" It has hooks like the thorns of the sa'dan plant — have you seen the thorns of the sa'dan?' They said: 'Yes, O Messenger of Allah.' He said: 'They are like the thorns of the sa'dan — except no one knows their size except Allah (تعالى). They snatch people according to their deeds: some are destroyed by their deeds, and some are mangled [mukharddal] — then they escape.' Until, when Allah (عز وجل) finishes judging between the servants and wishes to bring out from the Fire those He wills to show mercy to — from among those who testified that there is no god but Allah — He commands the angels to bring them out. They recognize them by the mark of the traces of prostration — for Allah has forbidden the Fire from consuming the trace of prostration on the son of Adam. They are brought out charred, then water called 'the water of life' is poured over them, and they grow as seeds grow in the silt of a flood. One man remains, facing the Fire, saying: 'O Lord, its smell has overwhelmed me and its blazing heat has scorched me — turn my face away from the Fire!' He keeps supplicating until [Allah] says: 'Perhaps if I give you that, you will ask for something else?' He says: 'No, by Your glory — I will not ask for anything else.' So He turns his face away from the Fire. Then he says: 'O Lord, bring me close to the gate of Paradise!' [Allah] says: 'Did you not claim you would ask for nothing else? Woe to you, O son of Adam — how treacherous you are!' He keeps calling until He says: 'Perhaps if I give you that, you will ask for something else?' He says: 'No, by Your glory.' He gives his covenants and pledges. So He brings him close to the gate of Paradise. When he draws near, Paradise opens wide before him. When he sees what is in it of bliss and joy, he falls silent for as long as Allah wills. Then he says: 'O Lord, admit me to Paradise!' He says: 'Did you not claim you would not ask for anything else? You gave your covenants and pledges!' He says: 'O Lord, do not make me the most wretched of Your creation!' He keeps calling until Allah laughs — and when He laughs at him, He grants him entry. When he enters, it is said to him: 'Wish for such-and-such.' He wishes. Then: 'Wish for such-and-such.' He wishes — until his wishes are exhausted. It is said: 'This is for you, and the like of it with it.' Abu Sa'id (رضي الله عنه) was sitting with Abu Hurayra and did not contradict him at all — until [Abu Hurayra] reached the words 'this is for you and the like of it.' Then Abu Sa'id said: 'I heard the Prophet ﷺ say: "This is for you and ten times the like of it."' Abu Hurayra said: 'What I memorized was: "the like of it with it."' Abu Hurayra said: 'That man is the last of the people of Paradise to enter it.'