“It is not lawful for you to break the seal save in a lawful manner” — and in Muslim’s wording: “Servant of Allah, fear Allah and do not break the seal except rightfully.” So I shrank from touching her, left her although she was the most beloved of people to me, and I abandoned the gold I had given her. O Allah, if I did that seeking only Your Face, then lift from us the hardship we are in.’ The rock moved further, but they were still unable to get out.

The Prophet ﷺ continued: “Then the third man said, ‘O Allah, I once hired some laborers and paid them their wages, but one of them left without taking what was due to him. I invested his wage until it multiplied into a great fortune. After some time he returned and said, ‘Servant of Allah, give me my wage.’ I said, ‘Everything you see—camels, cattle, sheep, and servants—has grown from your wage.’ He replied, ‘Servant of Allah, do not mock me.’ I said, ‘I am not mocking you.’ So he took it all and drove it away, leaving nothing behind. O Allah, if I did that seeking only Your Face, then relieve us of what we are in.’ The rock split apart … and they walked out.” 1

It is clear from this hadith that when those three believing men were gripped by anguish, their circumstances tightened and they despaired of any relief coming from any direction except that of Allah alone. They therefore turned to Him, calling upon Him with sincerity, and they recalled righteous deeds they had performed, through which they had sought closeness to Allah in times of ease, hoping that their Lord would, in return, draw close to them in times of hardship—just as the Prophet ﷺ said: “Become acquainted with Allah in times of ease and He will know you in times of hardship.” 2 Thus they sought His favor through those deeds: the first through his dutifulness toward his parents and his tender compassion for them,