506 – ʿAbd Allah narrated to us; my father narrated to us; Muhammad ibn Jaʿfar narrated to us; ʿAwf informed us, from Khalid ibn Thabit al-Rabʿi, who said:

“It has reached me that among the Children of Israel there was a young man who had read the Scripture and mastered it. Yet he was frowned upon in their community. Through his learning and recitation he sought prestige and wealth, and by introducing innovations he attained worldly honor and riches. He remained in that condition until he grew old.

“One night, while lying on his bed, he began to reflect and said to himself, ‘Suppose these people are unaware of the innovations I have invented—does not Allah already know what I have done? My appointed term is drawing near; what if I were to repent?’

“His determination in repentance reached the point that he pierced his own collarbone, threaded a chain through it, fastened the chain to one of the pillars of the mosque, and declared, ‘I shall not leave this spot until Allah sends down upon me acceptance of my repentance, or I die the death of this world.’

“Among the Children of Israel, revelation was not considered extraordinary, so Allah revealed concerning him to one of their prophets: ‘Had the sin been only between Me and you, no matter how great, I would have forgiven you. But what of those servants of Mine whom you led astray, who then died and whom I have consequently cast into Hell? For their sake I shall not forgive you.’”

ʿAwf said: “I think it was reported that his name was Barbariyyā.”