80 – Yaʿqūb ibn Isḥāq ibn Dīnār narrated to us; Qutham ibn ʿAbd Allah ibn Wāqid narrated to me; my father narrated to me, from Ṣafwān ibn ʿAmr, from Shurayḥ ibn ʿUbayd al-Ḥaḍramī, from Kathīr ibn Murrah al-Ḥaḍramī, from ʿAbd Allah ibn ʿAmr, who said:
“Adam, peace be upon him, has been granted by Allah a standing place in a spacious area beneath the Throne. He is clothed in two green garments and rises like a lofty palm tree. From there he watches his descendants: those who are led to Paradise and those who are led to the Fire.
“While Adam is in that state, he sees a man from the community of Muhammad—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—being taken toward Hell. Adam calls out, ‘O Aḥmad! O Aḥmad!’ He answers, ‘At your service, O father of mankind!’ Adam says, ‘This man is from your community and he is being carried to the Fire.’
“Then I tighten my waist-cloth and hurry after the angels, saying, ‘O messengers of my Lord, halt!’ They reply, ‘We are the stern, mighty ones who never disobey Allah in what He commands us; we do only what we are ordered.’
“When the Prophet, blessings and peace be upon him, loses all hope, he grasps his beard with his left hand, turns his face toward the Throne and says, ‘My Lord, did You not promise me that You would not disgrace me concerning my community?’
“A herald then calls out from beside the Throne, ‘Obey Muhammad, and return this servant to the Station!’
“So I take from the fold of my garment a white slip no larger than a fingertip, cast it into the right pan of the scale and say, ‘In the name of Allah.’ Instantly the good deeds outweigh the bad, and a voice proclaims: ‘He has prospered, and so has his forefather! His scales are heavy—take him to Paradise.’
“Then I say, ‘O messengers of my Lord, stop! Let me question this servant whom Allah has honored.’ The man exclaims, ‘May my father and mother be your ransom! How beautiful your face and how excellent your form! Who are you? You have overlooked my stumble and taken pity on my tears.’
“I reply, ‘I am your Prophet Muhammad, and these are the prayers you used to send upon me; today I have requited you when you needed them most.’”