Khalid ibn al-Walid (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated the following: “A Bedouin came one day to the Messenger of Allah (peace be upon him) and said to him: “O Messenger of Allah! I have come to ask you a few questions about the affairs of this life and the Hereafter.” The Prophet of Allah replied: “Ask what you wish.”
Their exchange continued as follows:
Bedouin: I would like to be the most learned of men.
Prophet (pbuh): Fear Allah, and you will be the most learned of men.
Bedouin: I wish to be the richest man in the world.
Prophet (pbuh): Be contented, and you will be the richest man in the world.
Bedouin: I would like to be the most just man.
Prophet (pbuh): Desire for others what you desire for yourself, and you will be the most just of men.
Bedouin: I want to be the best of men.
Prophet (pbuh): Do good to others and you will be the best of men.
Bedouin: I wish to be the most favored by Allah.
Prophet (pbuh): Engage much in Allah’s praise, and you will be most favored by Him.
Bedouin: I would like to complete my faith.
Prophet (pbuh): If you have good manners you will complete your faith.
Bedouin: I wish to be among those who do good.
Prophet (pbuh): Adore Allah as if you see Him. If you don’t see Him, [know that] He sees you. In this way you will be among those who do good.
Bedouin: I wish to be obedient to Allah.
Prophet (pbuh): If you observe Allah’s commands you will be obedient.
Bedouin: I would like to be free from all sins.
Prophet (pbuh): Bathe yourself from impurities and you will be free from all sins.
Bedouin: I would like to be raised on the Day of Judgment in the light.
Prophet (pbuh): Don’t wrong yourself or any other creature, and you will be raised on the Day of Judgment in the light.
Bedouin: I would like Allah to bestow His mercy on me.
Prophet (pbuh): If you have mercy on yourself and others, Allah will grant you mercy on the Day of Judgment.
Bedouin: I would like my sins to be very few.
Prophet (pbuh): If you seek the forgiveness of Allah as much as you can, your sins will be very few.
Bedouin: I would like to be the most honorable man.
Prophet (pbuh): If you do not complain to any fellow creature, you will be the most honorable of men.
Bedouin: I would like to be the strongest of men.
Prophet (pbuh): If you put your trust in Allah, you will be the strongest of men.
Bedouin: I would like to enlarge my provision.
Prophet (pbuh): If you keep yourself pure, Allah will enlarge your provision.
Bedouin: I would like to be loved by Allah and His messenger.
Prophet (pbuh): If you love what Allah and His messenger love, you will be among their beloved ones.
Bedouin: I wish to be safe from Allah’s wrath on the Day of Judgment.
Prophet (pbuh): If you do not lose your temper with any of your fellow creatures, you will be safe from the wrath of Allah on the Day of Judgment.
Bedouin: I would like my prayers to be responded to.
Prophet (pbuh): If you avoid forbidden actions, your prayers will be responded.
Bedouin: I would like Allah not to disgrace me on the Day of Judgment.
The Prophet (pbuh): If you guard your chastity, Allah will not disgrace you on the Day of Judgment.
Bedouin: I would like Allah to provide me with a protective covering on the Day of Judgment.
Prophet (pbuh): Do not uncover your fellow creature’s faults, and Allah will provide you with a covering protection on the Day of Judgment.
Bedouin: What will save me from sins?
Prophet (pbuh): Tears, humility, and illness.
Bedouin: What are the best deeds in the eyes of Allah?
Prophet (pbuh): Gentle manners, modesty, and patience.
Bedouin: What are the worst evils in the eyes of Allah?
Prophet (pbuh): Hot temper and miserliness.
Bedouin: What assuages the wrath of Allah in this life and in the Hereafter?
Prophet (pbuh): Concealed charity and kindness to relatives.
Bedouin: What extinguishes hell’s fires on the Day of Judgment?
Prophet (pbuh): Patience in adversity and misfortunes.
