176 – Ishaq ibn Ismaʿil narrated to us; he said: Rawh ibn ʿUbadah reported to us; he said: Hisham ibn Hassan narrated from al-Hasan, who said: It has reached me that the Messenger of Allah—may Allah bless him and grant him peace—said to his Companions:

“My likeness, your likeness, and the likeness of this world are like a people who set out across a dusty, trackless wilderness ⦗85⦘. When they could no longer tell whether the distance they had already covered was greater or less than what still lay ahead, their provisions were spent, their mounts worn out, and they were left in the very heart of the desert—no food, no means of transport—and they were certain they were doomed.

While they were in that state, a man appeared before them wearing a splendid robe, water dripping from his hair. They said, ‘This man must have come from a well-watered land; he can only have journeyed from nearby.’ When he reached them he called out, ‘O people!’ They replied, ‘O sir!’ He asked, ‘What plight are you in?’ They said, ‘Exactly what you see.’ He said, ‘What would you do if I were to lead you to abundant water and lush meadows?’ They answered, ‘We would not disobey you in anything.’ He said, ‘Give me your pledges and solemn covenants before Allah.’ So they gave him their pledges and covenants by Allah that they would not disobey him in anything. Then he led them to refreshing water and verdant meadows.

“He remained with them for as long as Allah willed, then he said, ‘O people!’ They replied, ‘O sir!’ He said, ‘It is time to depart.’ They asked, ‘To where?’ He said, ‘To water unlike the water you now have, and to meadows unlike the meadows you now enjoy.’

“The greater part of the people, the majority of them, said, ‘By Allah, we did not reach this place until we thought we would never find it; what life could be better than the one we have here?’ But a smaller group said, ‘Did you not give this man your pledges and covenants before Allah that you would not disobey him in anything? He told you the truth at the beginning, and by Allah he will surely tell you the truth at the end as well.’ So that group set off with him, while the rest stayed behind.

“An enemy fell upon those who remained, and by morning they were either captives or corpses.”