Qatādah, from Abū Qilābah, from Khālid ibn al-Lajlāj, from ‘Abd Allāh ibn ‘Abbās, may Allah be pleased with them both.

Bundār and Abū Mūsā narrated this to us, saying: Mu‘ādh narrated to us: My father narrated to me, from Qatādah, from Abū Qilābah, from Khālid ibn al-Lajlāj, from Ibn ‘Abbās, that the Prophet, may Allah bless him and grant him peace, said:

“I saw my Lord in the most beautiful form. He said, ‘O Muhammad!’ I replied, ‘At Your service and ready to obey.’ He said, ‘What are the highest assembly disputing about?’ I replied, ‘My Lord, I do not know.’ Then He placed His hand between my shoulders, and I felt their coolness between my breasts. I then knew what lay between the east and the west. He said, ‘O Muhammad!’ I replied, ‘At Your service, my Lord, and ready to obey.’ He said, ‘What are the highest assembly disputing about?’ I replied, ‘My Lord, about expiations: walking on foot to the Friday prayers, performing ablution thoroughly despite hardship, and awaiting prayer after prayer. Whoever faithfully observes these will live well, die well, and be as free of sins as on the day his mother bore him.’”

This is Abū Mūsā’s wording. Bundār related that he said, “My Lord came to me in the most beautiful form.” He also related: “I replied, ‘About ranks and expiations.’” And he related: “Awaiting prayer after