- ʿAbd Allah related to us—Saʿīd ibn Sinān al-Ḥimṣī reported:
Allah revealed to a prophet from among the prophets that punishment was about to encompass his people. The prophet informed his people of this and told them to bring forth their most virtuous members so that they might repent. They went out, whereupon he instructed them to send three of their best as a delegation to Allah—or, he said, to represent the people in their appeal to Allah. So the three stepped forward at the head of the assembly.
The first of the three said, “O Allah, in the Torah You sent down to Your servant Moses You commanded us not to turn away beggars when they stand at our doors. We are beggars from among Your beggars, standing at one of Your doors; so do not turn away those who ask of You.”
The second said, “O Allah, in the Torah that was sent down to Your servant Moses You commanded us to pardon those who wrong us. We have wronged ourselves, so pardon us.”
The third said, “O Allah, in the Torah You sent down to Your servant Moses You commanded us to free our slaves. We are Your slaves and bondsmen, so decree our freedom for us.”
Then Allah revealed to the prophet that He had accepted their plea and pardoned them.