Hazrat Abu Hurairah (R.A.) relates that he heard the holy Prophet (Peace be upon him) say, Allah tested three persons from amongst Bani Israel, a leper, a bald headed man and a blind person. An angel was sent down to them in the form of a human being.
He came to the leper and asked, “What is the thing you like the best?”, “a fine colour, neat skin and cure from this disease for which people hate me.” Came the reply. The angel ran his head over his body, his disease vanished and his body got a fine colour. Then the angel asked him what property he would like the best? The man said, “Camels or cows,” (the writer is doubtful). The man was given a she camel ten months pregnant and the angel said, “May Allah bless it for thee.”
Then the angel went to the bald headed man and asked the same. The man replied, “Beautiful hair and cure for the ailment, for which people hate me.” The angel ran his hand over his head and his disease was cured leaving him with beautiful hair. Then the angel asked him what property he would like the best? The man replied, “A cow.” Thus he was given a cow carrying a calf and the angel said, “May Allah bless it for thee.”
Then the angel came to the man that was blind and asked the same. He asked that Allah restore his sight so that he may see the people around him. The angel ran his hands over his eyes and his sight was restored. Then the angel asked him what property he would like the best? The man replied, “A goat.” Thus he was given a she goat carrying a kid.
These animals in due course gave birth to their kids multiplying very soon so that one had a valley full of cows, bulls and a third of the valley full of goats.
After some time the angel visited the leper in his original form and said to him, “I am a poor and needy person, having spent all my means of sustenance in the course of my journey, I beg you, in the name of Allah, who has given you a decent colour and a neat skin and much wealth, to furnish me with a camel to enable me to complete my journey.” The man expressed his inability to oblige the angel and said, “I have many obligations to fufill. The angel said, “It appears as if I have seen you before. Are you not a leper, who shunned people and was poor, whom Allah enriched? The man said, “I have inherited this property from my ancestors. The angel said, “If you are speaking a lie, may Allah return you to the condition in which you were.”
This unfortunately occurred in the same manner with the bald man. Then the angel came to the man who was blind man repeating his request once more. The man said, “Indeed I was blind and Allah restored my eye sight. You may take what you will and leave what you like. By Allah I will not refuse you anything you may wish to take in the name of Allah, the Lord of honour and glory.
The angel said, “Keep all you have. All three of you were being tried. Allah is indeed pleased with you and is angry with your companions.” (Sahih Bukhari: Volume 4, Book 56, Number 670)
May ALLAH make us be thankful for what HE has bestowed and grant us the ability to SPEND in charity for the Pleasure of ALLAH to those that are in NEED. Aameen
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