Arabic (Original)
حَدَّثَنَا مُحَمَّدُ بْنُ عُبَيْدٍ، حَدَّثَنَا هَاشِمٌ يَعْنِي ابْنَ الْبَرِيدِ، عَنْ إِسْمَاعِيلَ الْحَنَفِيِّ، عَنْ مُسْلِمٍ الْبَطِينِ، عَنْ أَبِي عَبْدِ الرَّحْمَنِ السُّلَمِيِّ، قَالَ أَخَذَ بِيَدِي عَلِيٌّ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ فَانْطَلَقْنَا نَمْشِي حَتَّى جَلَسْنَا عَلَى شَطِّ الْفُرَاتِ فَقَالَ عَلِيٌّ رَضِيَ اللَّهُ عَنْهُ قَالَ رَسُولُ اللَّهِ صَلَّى اللَّهُ عَلَيْهِ وَسَلَّمَ مَا مِنْ نَفْسٍ مَنْفُوسَةٍ إِلَّا قَدْ سَبَقَ لَهَا مِنْ اللَّهِ شَقَاءٌ أَوْ سَعَادَةٌ فَقَامَ رَجُلٌ فَقَالَ يَا رَسُولَ اللَّهِ فِيمَ إِذًا نَعْمَلُ قَالَ اعْمَلُوا فَكُلٌّ مُيَسَّرٌ لِمَا خُلِقَ لَهُ ثُمَّ قَرَأَ هَذِهِ الْآيَةَ {فَأَمَّا مَنْ أَعْطَى وَاتَّقَى وَصَدَّقَ بِالْحُسْنَى} إِلَى قَوْلِهِ {فَسَنُيَسِّرُهُ لِلْعُسْرَى}.
English Translation
It was narrated that Abu ‘Abdur-Rahman as-Sulami said: `Hadrat Ali (may Allah be well pleased with him) took me by the hand and we set out walking until we sat down on the banks of the Euphrates `Hadrat Ali (may Allah be well pleased with him) said: The Beloved Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him) stated: `There is no living soul but Allah has already decreed whether it is doomed or blessed.` A man stood up and said: O Beloved Messenger of Allah (blessings and peace of Allah be upon him), why should we strive? He said: `Strive, for each person will be helped to do that for which he was created.” Then he recited this verse: `As for him who gives (in charity) and keeps his duty to Allah and fears Him. And believes in Al-Husna, We will make smooth for him the path of ease (goodness). But he who is greedy miser and thinks himself self-sufficient, and belies Al-Husna, We will make smooth for him the path for evil` . Al-Husna: The Best (i.e. either La ilaha illAllah : none has the right to be worshipped but Allah) or a reward from Allah (i.e. Allah will compensate him for what he will spend in Allah`s way or bless him with Paradise)