The Day of Judgment has ended. The reckoning is complete. Some have entered Paradise, while others have been sent to Hell. But deep within Hell, there still remains one man, whose fate will be decided last of all.
He is burned by fire, exhausted, and wounded. At times he crawls, at times he stumbles, and at times the flames touch him. Finally, by the mercy of Allah, he manages to cross the boundary of Hell and come out. Turning back to look at Hell, he exclaims with emotion:
“Glorious is He who has saved me from you! Today I have been given something that neither anyone before me, nor anyone after me will be given.”
Suddenly, before him appears a tree, lush and green, with delightful shade and cool water flowing beneath it. His heart trembles. He says:
“O my Lord, bring me near to this tree so that I may rest in its shade and drink from its water.”
Allah ﷻ says:
“O son of Adam, if I grant you this, will you not ask for anything else?”
He swears:
“No, O my Lord, I will ask for nothing more.”
But Allah knows that he will not be able to resist what he sees. So Allah brings him close to the tree. He enjoys its shade and drinks its cool water.
After some time, another tree appears, more beautiful than the first. His heart is drawn to it again. He says:
“O my Lord, bring me near to this one as well. This time, I will not ask for anything more.”
Allah again says:
“Did you not promise Me that you would not ask for anything else?”
Yet Allah, knowing his weakness, permits him once again.
Then a third tree appears, more splendid than the previous two, and located at the very gate of Paradise. Once more, his heart races towards it. Allah brings him close to it.
Now, from inside Paradise, he hears the laughter and joy of its people. A deep longing fills his heart. He says:
“O my Lord, admit me into Paradise.”
Allah ﷻ says:
“O son of Adam, if I were to give you the world and the like of it again, would you be pleased?”
In astonishment and disbelief, he replies:
“O my Lord, are You mocking me, while You are the Lord of all worlds?”
The Messenger of Allah ﷺ, while narrating this, smiled, so much so that his back teeth were visible. He said:
“Allah Himself will smile when His servant says this. And Allah will say: ‘I am not mocking you, but I am able to do whatever I will.’”
Then Allah will admit him into Paradise. Whatever he asks for, Allah will give him and ten times more than that. For him there will be palaces, gardens, rivers, everything he could imagine.
Then two wives from among the ḥūr al-ʿīn will come to him and say:
“All praise is for Allah, Who created you for us and created us for you.”
In joy, he will say:
“No one has ever been more fortunate than I am.”
(Bukhari, Muslim, Tirmidhi)
