any recompense.” (1)

Abu Bakr Muhammad ibn ‘Abd Allah ibn Abi Tawbah informed us; Abu Tahir Muhammad ibn Ahmad al-Harithi informed us; Abu al-Hasan Muhammad ibn Ya‘qub al-Kisa’i informed us; ‘Abd Allah ibn Muhammad ibn Mahmud informed us; Ibrahim ibn ‘Abd Allah al-Khallal informed us; ‘Abd Allah ibn al-Mubarak informed us from Haywah ibn Shurayh; al-Walid ibn Abi al-Walid, Abu ‘Uthman al-Mada’ini, informed me that ‘Uqbah ibn Muslim told him that Shufayy al-Asbahi told him that he entered Medina and found a man around whom the people had gathered. He asked, “Who is this?” They replied, “Abu Huraira.”

So I drew near to him until I sat before him while he was speaking to the people. When he fell silent and was alone, I said to him, “I implore you by Allah to relate to me a hadith that you heard from the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him.” He said: “I heard the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, say: ‘When the Day of Resurrection comes, Allah will descend to His servants to judge between them, while every community will be kneeling. The first to be summoned will be a man who had memorized the Quran, a man who was killed in the cause of Allah, and a man of great wealth.

“Allah will say to the reciter, “Did I not teach you what I revealed to My Messenger?” He will say, “Yes, my Lord.” 47/b He will say, “Then what did you do with what you learned?” He will say, “I used to stand in prayer with it during the hours of the night and the day.” Allah will say to him, “You have lied,” and the angels will say to him, “You have lied.” Allah Most High will say, “Rather, you wished it to be said, ‘So-and-so is a reciter of the Quran,’ and that was said.”

“The man of wealth will then be brought, and Allah will say to him, “Did I not grant you such abundance that I left you in need of no one?” He will say, “Yes, my Lord.” He will say, “What, then, did you do with what I gave you?” He will say, “I maintained ties of kinship and gave charity.” Allah will say to him, “You have lied,” and the angels will say, “You have lied.” Allah Most High will say, “Rather, you wished it to be said, ‘So-and-so is generous,’ and that was said.”

“Then the one who was killed in the cause of Allah will be brought, and He will say to him, “For what were you killed?” He will say, “My Lord, You commanded fighting in Your cause, so I fought until I was killed.” Allah will say, “You have lied,” and the angels will say, “You have lied.” Allah Most High will say, “Rather, you wished it to be said, ‘So-and-so is bold,’ and that was said.” Then the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, struck my knee and said, “O Abu Huraira, those three are the first of creation by whom the Fire will be kindled on the Day of Resurrection.”’ (2)