three successive stages. In the first stage, there was no one on earth I hated more than the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, and nothing pleased me more than the thought of gaining power over him so that I could kill him. Had I died in that condition, I would surely have been one of the people of Hell.

Then Allah placed Islam in my heart. I went to the Prophet, peace and blessings be upon him, and said, “Stretch out your right hand so that I may pledge allegiance to you.” He stretched out his hand, but I drew mine back. He asked, “What is the matter, O ʿAmr?” I replied, “I wish to stipulate a condition.” He said, “What condition?” I said, “That I be forgiven.” He answered, “Do you not know that Islam erases everything that came before it, that the Hijrah (emigration) erases everything that came before it, and that the Hajj (pilgrimage) erases everything that came before it?”

After that, there was no one dearer to me than the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, and none greater in my eyes. Out of reverence I could not gaze at him directly; had I been asked to describe him, I would have been unable, for I never filled my eyes with his image. If I had died in that state, I would have hoped to be among the people of Paradise.

Later we were entrusted with certain responsibilities, and I do not know what my situation regarding them will be. Therefore, when I die, let no professional mourner or fire accompany me. When you place me in the grave, scatter the earth over me lightly, little by little. Then remain by my grave for the time it takes to slaughter a camel and distribute its meat, so that I may feel at ease with your presence and consider what answer I shall give to the messengers of my Lord.

Related by Muslim.

The word shinnū (scatter) is reported with both the dotted shīn and the undotted sīn and means “to pour or sprinkle gradually, a little at a time.” Allah, exalted is He, knows best.