I heard the Prophet of Allah ﷺ say, "There was once a servant from among the servants of Allah, the Mighty and Majestic, to whom Allah had granted wealth and children. He never observed any obligation toward Allah . He continued in this state until much of his life had passed, or only a little remained, when he reflected and realized that he had stored up no good with Allah
. So he called his sons and asked, 'What kind of father have you found me to be?'They answered, 'The best of fathers, dear father.'He said, 'By Allah, I will not leave any of you holding any of my wealth without taking it back from him, and you must do with me what I command you.' He took a solemn covenant from them, by my Lord. Then he said, 'When I die, throw me into the fire until I am reduced to charcoal, then crush me.'"It is as though I can see the Messenger of Allah ﷺ now, striking his thigh with his hand as he said, "'Then scatter me in the wind. Perhaps I may escape Allah
.'By the Lord of Muhammad, they did exactly that with him when he died. Then he was brought forth in the finest form he had ever been in and presented before his Lord
, who asked him, 'What drove you to do this with the fire?'He replied, 'Fear of You, my Lord.'Allah said, 'Indeed, I find you to be one in awe of Me,' and He forgave him."
حدثنا إسماعيل حدثنا
سمعت نبي الله ﷺ يقول إنه كان عبد من عباد الله جل وعز أعطاه الله مالا وولدا فكان لا يدين الله تبارك وتعالى دينا فلبث حتى إذا ذهب منه عمر أو بقي عمر تذكر فعلم أنه لن يبتئر عند الله تبارك وتعالى خيرا دعا بنيه فقال أي أب تعلموني قالوا خيره يا أبانا قال والله لا أدع عند أحد منكم مالا هو مني إلا أنا آخذه منه ولتفعلن بي ما آمركم قال فأخذ منهم ميثاقا وربي فقال أما لا فإذا أنا مت فألقوني في النار حتى إذا كنت حمما فدقوني قال فكأني أنظر إلى رسول الله ﷺ وهو يقول بيده على فخذه ثم اذروني في الريح لعلي أضل الله تبارك وتعالى قال ففعلوا ذلك به ورب محمد حين مات فجيء به في أحسن ما كان قط فعرض على ربه تبارك وتعالى فقال ما حملك على النار قال خشيتك يا رباه قال إني أسمعك لراهبا فتيب عليه