We shall, with Allah’s help, facilitation, and gracious support, cite whatever of the ḥadiths and reports is readily at hand.

Al-Ḥāfiẓ Abū Ḥātim Muḥammad ibn Ḥātim ibn Ḥibbān says in his Ṣaḥīḥ (1), under the heading “Moses, the one spoken to by Allah, questions his Lord about the least and the most exalted of the people of Paradise”:

‘ʿUmar ibn Saʿīd al-Ṭāʾī of Manbij related to us; Ḥāmid ibn Yaḥyā al-Balkhī related to us; Sufyān related to us; Muṭarrif ibn Ṭarīf and ʿAbd al-Malik ibn Abjar—two upright shaykhs—both heard al-Shaʿbī say: I heard al-Mughīrah ibn Shuʿbah say from the pulpit, transmitting from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him):

“Moses (upon him be peace) asked his Lord, Exalted is He: ‘Who among the people of Paradise will occupy the lowest rank?’ He replied: ‘A man who will come after the people of Paradise have already entered Paradise. He will be told, “Enter Paradise.” He will say, “My Lord, how can I enter when the people have already taken their dwellings and received their portions?” He will be told, “Are you pleased that you should have in Paradise the like of a kingdom belonging to one of the kings of the world?” He will say, “Yes indeed, my Lord.” He will be told, “That is yours, and the like of it, and the like of it, and the like of it.” He will say, “My Lord, I am content.” He will be told, “Indeed, you shall have that and ten times as much.” He will say, “My Lord, I am content.” Then he will be told, “Along with all of that you shall have whatever your soul desires and whatever delights your eye.”’

“Then Moses asked, ‘My Lord, who among the people of Paradise will hold the highest rank?’ He said, ‘I shall tell you about them: I planted their honor with My own Hand and sealed it; no eye has ever seen, no ear has ever heard, and it has never occurred to any human heart.’ The confirmation of this is in the Book of Allah, Most High: ‘No soul knows what comfort of eyes is kept hidden for them…’ (32:17).”

Muslim and al-Tirmidhī (2) have likewise transmitted this narration, both through Ibn Abī ʿUmar from Sufyān ibn ʿUyaynah.

Muslim’s wording is:

“It will be said to him, ‘Are you content to have the like of a kingdom of a king from the kings of the world?’ He will reply, ‘I am content, my Lord.’ He will say, ‘That and the like of it, and the like of it, and the like of it, and the like of it are yours.’ At the fifth time he will say, ‘I am content, my Lord.’ He will be told, ‘This is for you and ten times its like, and in addition whatever your soul desires and your eye delights in.’ He will say, ‘I am content, my Lord.’

“Moses then asked, ‘My Lord, who are the highest in rank?’ He said, ‘They are those I have chosen: I planted their honor with My own Hand and sealed it; no eye has seen, no ear has heard, and it has never crossed the heart of any human.’ He said, ‘And its confirmation is in the Book of Allah: “No soul knows what comfort of eyes is kept hidden for them as a reward for what they used to do”’ (32:17).”

Al-Tirmidhī remarked, “It is ḥasan ṣaḥīḥ,” and added, “Some have transmitted it from al-Shaʿbī on the authority of al-Mughīrah without attributing it to the Prophet, but the marfūʿ version (attributed to the Prophet) is more authentic.”

Ibn Ḥibbān (3) also said, under the heading “Moses’ question to his Lord about seven traits”: ‘ʿAbd Allāh ibn Muḥammad ibn Silm of Jerusalem narrated to us; Ḥarmalah ibn Yaḥyā narrated to us; Ibn Wahb narrated to us; ʿAmr ibn al-Ḥārith informed me that Abū al-Samḥ related to him from Ibn Ḥujayrah (4), from Abū Hurayrah, from the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) that he said: “Moses asked his Lord, Exalted is He, about six qualities which…”’