each of you call upon Allah by an act that he knows he performed sincerely.’ One of them said, ‘O Allah, You know that I once had a hired laborer who worked for me in return for a measure of rice, but he went away and left it behind. I took that measure, sowed it, and eventually bought cattle with its proceeds. He later came to me asking for his wages, so I told him, “Go to those cattle and drive them away.” He said, “All you owe me is a measure of rice.” I replied, “Go to those cattle, for they came from that measure.” So he drove them away. O Allah, if You know that I did this out of fear of You, then grant us relief.’ The boulder shifted away from them.

“The second man said, ‘O Allah, You know that I had two elderly parents and that every night I would bring them milk from my sheep. One night I was late returning to them, and when I arrived, they had fallen asleep. My family and dependents were crying out from hunger, but I would never give them anything to drink until my parents had drunk. I was unwilling to wake them, yet I was also unwilling to leave them lest they grow weak for want of their milk. I continued waiting until dawn broke. O Allah, if You know that I did this out of fear of You, then grant us relief.’ The boulder shifted away from them until they could see the sky.

“The third man said, ‘O Allah, You know that I had a female cousin who was among those dearest to me. I sought to seduce her, but she refused unless I brought her one hundred dinars. I strove to obtain the sum until I succeeded, then I brought it to her and handed it over. She yielded herself to me, but when I sat between her legs, she said, “Fear Allah, and do not break the seal except lawfully.” I immediately rose and left her the hundred dinars. O Allah, if You know that I did this out of fear of You, then grant us relief.’ Allah granted them relief, and they emerged.”1.