60 – Al-Hasan ibn al-Junayd narrated to us; Mansur ibn ʿAmmar narrated to us; al-Hiql ibn Ziyad, from al-Awzaʿi, from Bilal ibn Saʿd, who said:

“It will be commanded that two men be taken out of the Fire. When they have been brought out and made to stand, Allah will ask them, ‘How did you find your resting-place and that evil end of yours?’

They will reply, ‘The worst resting-place and the most wretched end ever reached by any of Your servants.’

He will say, ‘That befell you because of what your own hands sent ahead, and I am never unjust to My servants.’

Then He will order that they be returned to the Fire. One of them will race back in his shackles and chains until he throws himself headlong into it, while the other will hesitate and hang back. He will then command that the two be brought before Him again.

To the one who hastened back in his shackles and chains He will say, ‘What made you do that after you had already experienced it?’

He will answer, ‘I had already tasted the bitter consequences of sin, and I would not expose myself to Your wrath a second time.’

Then He will say to the one who held back, ‘And what made you act as you did?’

He will reply, ‘My good opinion of You when You rescued me from it—that You would not return me to it.’

Thereupon He will show mercy to both of them and command that they be admitted to Paradise.”