on the Day of Resurrection, and he will be dipped (1) into the Fire once. Then it will be said to him, “Son of Adam, did you ever see any good? Did any bliss ever come your way?” He will answer, “No, by Allah, my Lord.”

Next the person who was the most miserable in worldly life among the people of Paradise will be brought; he will be dipped once in Paradise, and it will be said to him, “Son of Adam, did you ever see any misery (2)? Did any hardship ever befall you?” He will reply, “No, by Allah. No misery ever came my way, nor did I ever experience any hardship.” Reported by Muslim.

467 – Al-Mistawrid ibn Shaddād (may Allah be pleased with him) reported that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ said, “The life of this world, compared to the Hereafter, is like one of you dipping his finger into the sea (3); let him see with what it comes back.” Reported by Muslim.

468 – Jābir (may Allah be pleased with him) narrated that the Messenger of Allah ﷺ passed through the marketplace while the people were on either side of him. He came upon a dead kid with small ears, picked it up by its ear and said, “Which of you would like to have this for a dirham?” They replied, “We would not like it for anything—what would we do with it?” He then asked, “Would you like it to be yours?” They said, “By Allah, even if it were alive it would be defective, for it has small ears; so how about now that it is dead!” He said, “By Allah, this world is more insignificant in Allah’s sight than this is to you.” Reported by Muslim.

The phrase “kanafatayhi” means “at his two sides,” and “al-ask” denotes an animal with small ears.

469 – Abū Dharr (may Allah be pleased with him) said: I was walking with the Prophet ﷺ on a stony plain (4) outside Medina when Mount Uhud faced us. He said, “O Abū Dharr.” I replied, “At your service, O Messenger of Allah.” He said, “I would not like to possess gold equal to this Mount Uhud if three days were to pass over me while a single dinar of it remained, except something I set aside to pay a debt. I would rather distribute it among Allah’s servants like this, like this, and like this,” pointing to his right, his left, and behind him. He then walked on and said, “Indeed, those who have much are the ones who will have little on the Day of Resurrection—except those who spend wealth like this, like this, and like this,” again pointing to his right, his left, and behind him, “and few …”