287—Ali ibn Muhammad ibn Ahmad ibn Bakran informed us; he said: al-Hasan ibn Muhammad informed us; Ya‘qub narrated to us; he said: Muhammad ibn Bashshar narrated to us; he said: Muhammad ibn Ja‘far narrated to us; he said: ‘Awf ibn Abi Jamilah narrated to us, ⦗161⦘ from Khalid ibn Thabit al-Rab‘i, who said:
“It reached me that among the Children of Israel there was a young man who had read the Scripture and acquired knowledge, yet he was obscure. Through his recitation, he sought prestige and wealth. He then devised an innovation, by which he attained prestige and wealth in this world. He remained as he was until he reached old age.
“One night, as he lay asleep in his bed, he reflected upon himself and said, ‘Suppose these people do not know—does Allah not know what I have innovated? My appointed term has drawn near. If only I would repent!’”
Such was his exertion in repentance that he pierced his collarbone, passed a chain through it, and fastened it to one of the pillars of the mosque. He said, “I shall not leave my place until Allah grants me repentance, or until I die the death of this world.”
Revelation was not considered strange among the Children of Israel, so Allah revealed concerning him to one of the prophets: “Had you committed a sin solely between Me and you, I would have accepted your repentance, no matter how great it had become. But what of those of My servants whom you led astray, who then died, and whom I cast into Hell? I will not accept your repentance.”