67 – My father narrated to us. He said: Ismāʿīl ibn Ibrāhīm related to us, and Ibn ʿAwn related to us, who said: “I have never seen anyone who entertained greater hope for those who affirm Allah’s oneness than Muḥammad ibn Sīrīn (may Allah have mercy on him). He would recite these verses:

‘Indeed, when it was said to them, “There is no god but Allah,” they grew arrogant’ (Q 37:35);

and he would recite, ‘“What led you into Saqar?” They will say, “We were not of those who prayed, nor did we feed the poor. We used to plunge with those who plunge, and we used to deny the Day of Recompense until certain death came to us”’ (Q 74:42-47);

and he would recite, ‘None will enter it except the most wretched—he who denied and turned away’ (Q 92:15-16).”