Page:Selections from Muhammadan Traditions - tr. William Goldsack (1923).djvu/137

 Rh will say, 'O Lord, why is this (dignity) for me?' He will reply, ' On account of the prayers of thy son for thee for My forgiveness.'"'—Aḥmad.

It is related from ʿAbduʾlláh bin ʿAbbás that, 'The Apostle of God said, "There is no dead person in the grave, but he is like one immersed in water and crying for help. He expects the prayer of his father or mother or brother or friend may reach him; and when it reaches him, it is more pleasant to him than the world and all that is therein. And verily God Most High certainly causes to enter the tombs, on account of the prayers of the people of the earth, (rewards) like mountains. Verily the gifts of the living to the dead are asking forgiveness for them."'—Al Baihaqi.

It is related from ʿÁyesha that, 'Verily the Prophet used to say, "O God, make me one of those who, when they do good, rejoice; and when they do evil, pray for forgiveness.'"—Ibn Májah.

It is related from Al Ḥárith bin Suaid that he said, 'ʿAbduʾlláh bin Masʿúd related to us two traditions; one of them from the Apostle of God, and the other from himself. He said, "Verily a believer sees his sins as if he were sitting beneath a mountain, and fearing that it would fall upon him. And the sinner sees his sins as if they were a fly that had passed over his nose; and he says concerning it, 'Thus!' that is, he drives it away from him with his hand." After that (Ibn Masʿúd) said, 'I heard the Apostle of God say, "God rejoices at the repentance of one of His believing servants more than a man who alights on the ground in a destructive desert, with whom is his camel laden with his food and water. And he lays down his head and sleeps for a while, and then awakes to find that his camel has gone. Then he searches for it, until when the heat and thirst oppress him—or whatever else God wills—he says 'I will return to the place where I was, and there I will sleep until I die.' Then he places his head upon his forearm in order that he may die. And he awakes, and lo! his camel stands beside him, and on it his food and drink. Verily God rejoices more at the repentance of a believing servant, than this man at the return of his camel and food."'—Muslim.

It is related from Abú Dharr that, 'The Apostle of God said, "Verily God Most High will certainly forgive His servant,