219 – Al-Ḥasan b. Maḥbūb narrated to me; he said: al-Fayḍ b. Isḥāq Abū Yazīd narrated to us; he said: I am Fuḍayl b. ʿIyāḍ, reporting from ʿAṭāʾ b. al-Sāʾib, who said: Abū ʿAbd al-Raḥmān al-Sulamī related:

We camped when only a farsakh (about three miles) separated us from al-Madāʾin. My father took me by the hand and led me to the Friday congregation. Hudhayfah was on the pulpit delivering the sermon, and he proclaimed:

“Indeed, the Hour has drawn near; the moon has split; this world has announced its departure; today is the training ground, and tomorrow is the race.”

I asked, “Father, will people really be racing tomorrow?”

He replied, “My son, how ignorant you are! He is speaking about deeds.”

When the next Friday came, Hudhayfah repeated the same words and added: “The finish line is the Fire, and the one who takes the lead is he who gains Paradise first.”