Three Men

Three Men


Narrated Abu Huraira (ra):
that he heard Allah's Apostle saying, "Allah willed to test three Israelis
who were a Leper, a blind man and a bald-headed man. So, he sent them an angel
who came to the leper and said, 'What thing do 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 bald-headed man and said, 'What thing do you like
most?' He said, 'I 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 bests' 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 do you like best?' He said, '(I like) that Allah may restore my
eye-sight to me so that I may see the people.' The angel touched his eyes and
Allah gave him back his eye-sight. 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 will
satisfy my need except Allah and then you. In the Name of Him Who has given
you such 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).' The angel said, 'I think I know
you; were you not a leper to whom the people had a strong aversion? Weren't
you 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 fore-fathers'
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 yourself. I ask
you in the Name of Him Who has given you back your eye-sight 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 eye-sight; I was poor
and Allah made me rich; so take anything you wish from my property. By
Allah, I will not stop you for 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 3 men) have been tested and Allah is pleased with you
and is angry with your two companions."