498 – ʿAbd Allah narrated to us; my father narrated to me; Sayyār narrated to us; Jaʿfar narrated to us; and Thābit al-Bunānī narrated, saying:

“A man devoted himself to worship for seventy years. In his supplications he would say, ‘My Lord, recompense me according to my deeds.’ When he died he was admitted to Paradise, where he remained for seventy years. When that period was complete, he was told, ‘Leave, for you have now received the full reward of your deeds.’

“He then reflected on his situation, asking himself: What in the life of this world had ever inspired greater confidence in me? He found nothing more reliable than his supplication to Allah and his earnest yearning toward Him. So he turned to prayer, saying: ‘O Lord, I heard while I was still in the world that You pardon slips; so pardon my slip today.’ Thereupon he was allowed to remain in Paradise.”