one will speak that Day except the messengers, whose words that Day will be, ‘O Allah, grant safety! Grant safety!’ In Hell there will be hooks like the thorns of the sa‘dān plant. Have you seen the thorns of the sa‘dān plant?”

They replied, “Yes.”

He said, “They resemble the thorns of the sa‘dān plant, but none knows their immense size except Allah. They will snatch people according to their deeds. Some will be ruined by their deeds, while others will receive their recompense until they are delivered. When Allah wishes to show mercy to whomever He wills among the people of the Fire, He will command the angels to bring out those who used to worship Allah. They will bring them out, recognizing them by the marks of prostration, for Allah has forbidden the Fire to consume the marks of prostration. They will emerge from the Fire charred, and the water of life will be poured over them. They will then grow as a seed grows in the debris carried by a flood.

“Then Allah will finish judging between His servants, and a man will remain between Paradise and the Fire—the last of the people of the Fire to enter Paradise. Facing the Fire, he will say, ‘My Lord, turn my face away from the Fire! Its stench has tormented me, and its fierce heat has burned me.’

“He will say, ‘If this is done for you, can you be expected to ask for nothing else?’

“He will reply, ‘I will ask for nothing else, by Your might!’ He will give Allah whatever pledges and covenants He wills, and Allah will turn his face away from the Fire. When He turns him toward Paradise and he sees its beauty, he will remain silent for as long as Allah wills him to remain silent. Then he will say, ‘My Lord, bring me close to the gate of Paradise.’

“Allah will say to him, ‘Have you not already given pledges and a covenant that you would ask for nothing beyond what you had requested?’

“He will reply, ‘My Lord, let me not be the most wretched of Your creation.’

“He will say, ‘If I grant you that, can you be expected to ask for nothing else?’

“He will reply, ‘No more! By Your might, I will ask for nothing else.’ He will give his Lord whatever pledges and covenants He wills, and He will bring him close to the gate of Paradise. When he reaches its gate and sees its splendour and the beauty and joy within it, he will remain silent for as long as Allah wills him to remain silent. Then he will say, ‘My Lord, admit me to Paradise.’

“Allah will say, ‘Woe to you, son of Adam! How treacherous you are! Have you not already given pledges and a covenant that you would ask for nothing beyond