men. Then they learned it from the Quran, and then they learned it from the Sunnah. He also told us how it would be removed. He said, ‘A man will sleep, and trust will be taken from his heart, leaving a trace like a small discolored spot (1). Then he will sleep again, and it will be taken away, leaving a trace like a blister (2)—like an ember rolled over your foot, causing it to blister (3). You will see it swollen (4), although there is nothing inside it. Then people will rise in the morning and transact with one another, yet hardly anyone will fulfill a trust. It will be said, “Among such-and-such a clan there is a trustworthy man.” And it will be said of a man, “How intelligent he is! How refined he is! How resolute he is!” Yet his heart will not contain even a mustard seed’s weight of faith.’ There was indeed a time when I did not care which of you I dealt with: if he was a Muslim, Islam would compel him to restore my right; and if he was a Christian, his governor would compel him to restore my right. Today, however, I would deal only with so-and-so and so-and-so.” (5)
(1) *Al-wakt* is the plural of *wakta*, meaning a mark on something, like a spot of a different color. Hence, when a spot of ripening appears on an unripe date, it is said to have *wakata* (developed a spot). See *al-Nihāyah fī Gharīb al-Hadīth*, vol. 5, p. 218.
(2) *Al-majl* is a blister-like mark that forms on the palm through working with hard, coarse objects. See *al-Nihāyah fī Gharīb al-Hadīth*, vol. 4, p. 300; and *Sahīh al-Bukhārī*, Book of Heart-Softening Narrations, chapter “The Removal of Trust,” vol. 11, p. 333 (with *Fath al-Bārī*).
(3) *Nafita* means “it blistered,” with an *a* after the *n* and an *i* after the *f*. The expression *nafitat yaduhu* means that his hand became sore from work. A *nafta* is a fluid-filled blister that forms on the hand through work. See *Lisān al-Arab*, vol. 7, pp. 416–417.
(4) *Muntabiran* means “raised” or “swollen.” *Al-muntabir* denotes anything elevated, and *minbar* (pulpit) is derived from the same root. A wound is said to *intabara* when it swells and fills with fluid. See *al-Nihāyah fī Gharīb al-Hadīth*, vol. 5, pp. 7–8; and *Fath al-Bārī*, vol. 13, p. 39.
(5) *Sahīh al-Bukhārī*, Book of Heart-Softening Narrations, chapter “The Removal of Trust,” vol. 11, p. 333 (with *Fath al-Bārī*); and Book of Tribulations, chapter “When Only the Dregs of the People Remain,” vol. 13, p. 38 (with *Fath al-Bārī*).