44. THE STORY OF THE THREE MEN: THE BLIND, THE LEPER AND THE BALD
Al-Bukhari and Muslim narrated from more than one source on the authority of Abu Hurairah (May Allah be pleased with him) that he heard the Messenger of Allah (Peace and Blessings of Allah be upon him) say, “Allah willed to test three men from the Children of Isra’eel, who were a leper, a blind man and a baldheaded man. So He sent them an angel who came to the leper and said, “What thing would you like most?” He replied, “Good color and good skin, for the people have a strong aversion to me.” The angel touched him and his illness was cured, and he was given a good color and beautiful skin. The angel asked him, “What kind of property do you like best?” He replied, “Camels (or cows – the narrator is in doubt, for either the leper or the bald headed man demanded camels and the other demanded cows).” So he (i.e. the leper) was given a pregnant she-camel and the angel said (to him), “May Allah bless you in it.” The angel then went to the baldheaded man and said, “What thing would you like most?” He said, “I would like good hair and wish to be cured of this disease, for the people feel repulsion for me.” The angel touched him and his illness was cured, and he was given good hair. The angel asked (him), “What kind of property do you like best?” He replied, “Cows.” The angel gave him a pregnant cow and said, “May Allah bless you in it.” The angel went to the blind man and asked, “What thing would you like best?” He said, “(I would like) that Allah may restore my eyesight to me so that I may see the people.” The angel touched his eyes and Allah gave him back his eyesight. The angel asked him, “What kind of property do you like best?” He replied, “Sheep.” The angel gave him a pregnant sheep. Afterwards, all the three pregnant animals gave birth to young ones, and multiplied and brought forth so much that one of the (three) men had a herd of camels filling a valley, and one had a herd of cows filling a valley, and one had a flock of sheep filling a valley. Then the angel, disguised in the shape and appearance of a leper, went to the leper and said, “I am a poor man, who has lost all means of livelihood while on a journey. So none can satisfy my need except Allah and then you.” In the Name of Him Who has given you such a nice color and beautiful skin, and so much property, I ask you to give me a camel so that I may reach my destination. The man replied, “I have many obligations (so I cannot give you one).” The angel said, “I think I know you; were you not a leper to whom the people had a strong aversion? Were you not a poor man, and then Allah gave you (all this property)?” He replied, “(This is all wrong), I got this property through inheritance from my forefathers.” The angel said, “If you are telling a lie, then let Allah make you as you were before.” Then the angel, disguised in the shape and appearance of a bald man, went to the bald man and said to him the same as he told the first one, and he too answered the same as the first one did. The angel said, “If you are telling a lie, then let Allah make you as you were before.” The angel, disguised in the shape of a blind man, went to the blind man and said, “I am a poor man and a traveler, whose means of livelihood have been exhausted while on a journey. I have nobody to help me except Allah, and after Him, you. I ask you in the Name of Him Who has given you back your eyesight to give me a sheep, so that with its help, I may complete my journey.” The man said, “No doubt, I was blind and Allah gave me back my eyesight; I was poor and Allah made me rich; so take anything you wish from my property. By Allah, I will not stop you from taking anything (you need) of my property which you may take for Allah’s sake.” The angel replied, “Keep your property with you. You (i.e. three men) have been tested and Allah is pleased with you and is angry with your two companions.”
By Ibn Katheer
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