185 – ʿAlī ibn al-Ḥasan ibn Abī Maryam related to me, from Abū Masʿūd al-Qabbān ʿAmr ibn ʿĪsā, from Ibn al-Simmāk, who said:

“Three devoted servants once gathered together. Someone asked the first, ‘Why do you engage in worship?’ He replied, ‘In hope of the reward.’ The second was asked, ‘Why do you worship?’ He answered, ‘Out of fear of the punishment.’ When they questioned the third, ‘Why do you worship?’ he said, ‘Out of shame at the prospect of standing before Allah.’”