2791 – ʿAlī ibn ʿUmar narrated to us; he said: Ismāʿīl ibn Muḥammad narrated to us; he said: ʿAbbās narrated to us; he said: Muḥammad ibn Bishr al-ʿAbdī narrated to us; he said: Ismāʿīl, from Qays, reported:

Muʿāwiyah fell ill with a sickness so severe that people came to visit him. He kept turning his forearms over, thin like the rib of a palm-frond, and saying, “What is this world but what we have already tasted and experienced? By Allah, I would love not to remain among you more than three (days) before I meet Allah.”

Those present said, “(May you depart) to Allah’s forgiveness and mercy.”

He replied, “Rather, to whatever Allah wills of His decree concerning me. Allah knows that I have not approached Him with anything He detests—nothing whatsoever.”