Page:Selections from Muhammadan Traditions - tr. William Goldsack (1923).djvu/52

32 that hindered me from coming to you this morning. Verily I rose whilst it was yet night and performed my ablutions and prayed the prayer appointed for me, and I became drowsy in my prayers, so much so that I was overcome with sleep, and behold! my blessed Lord, the most High, in a most lovely form! And He said, 'O Muhammad.' I said, 'At Thy service, my Lord.' He said, 'Concerning, what do the highest angels dispute?' I said, 'I know not.' He said, 'They are three.'" Then Muhammad said, "I saw Him place the palm of His hand between my two shoulders, until I felt the cold of His finger-tips between my breasts. Then everything appeared clear to me, and I knew. Then He said, 'O Muhammad.' I said, 'At Thy service my Lord.' He said, ' Concerning what do the highest angels dispute?' I said, 'They dispute concerning atonement of sins.' He said, 'And what are they?' I replied, 'The going on foot to the assembly, and sitting in mosques after the prayers, and completing the ablutions under circumstances of difficulty.' He said, 'After that, concerning what do they dispute?' I replied, 'Concerning high ranks.' He said, 'And what are they?' I replied, 'The giving of food, the using of mild language, and prayers at night whilst people sleep.' He said, 'Ask!' I said, 'O God, I supplicate of Thee good actions and the abandonment of evil actions, and love of the poor, and that Thou forgive me and have mercy on me, and when Thou desirest a trial amongst the people, that Thou take me without being tried; and I pray Thee for Thy love and the love of those who love Thee, and I pray for the love of those actions which will bring me near to Thy love.'" Then the Apostle of God said, "Verily it (the dream) is true, therefore do ye study it and afterwards teach it."'—Aḥmad, At Tirmidhí.

It is related from Anas bin Málik that, 'The Apostle of God said, "The prayer of a man in his house is equal to one prayer, and his prayer in an adjacent mosque is equal to twenty-five prayers, and his prayer in a mosque in which men assemble is equal to five hundred prayers, and his prayer in the distant mosque (at Jerusalem) is equal to fifty thousand prayers, and his prayer in my mosque (at Madína) is equal to fifty thousand prayers, and his prayer in the holy mosque (at Mecca) is equal to one hundred thousand prayers."'—Ibn Májah