English Translation

Abdullah told us, my father told me, Abu Sa'id, the freedman of Banu Hashim, told us, Jahdam - that is, al-Yamami - told us, Yahya - that is, Ibn Abi Kathir - told us, Zayd - that is, Ibn Abi Sallam - told us, from Abu Sallam, who is Zayd ibn Sallam ibn Abi Sallam, named thus after his grandfather, that Abd al-Rahman ibn A'ish al-Hadrami narrated to him, from Malik ibn Yakhamir, that Mu'adh ibn Jabal said: The Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, was delayed from us one morning for the dawn prayer until we nearly could make out the edge of the rising sun. Then the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, came out quickly, the call to prayer was given, and he prayed, shortening his prayer. When he gave the closing salutation, he said, "Stay as you are, in your rows." Then he turned to us and said, "I will tell you what kept me from you this morning. I rose in the night and prayed as much as was decreed for me, then I dozed in my prayer until I fell into a deep sleep, and there I was before my Lord, Mighty and Majestic, in the most beautiful form. He said, 'O Muhammad, do you know what the exalted assembly are disputing about?' I said, 'I do not know, my Lord.' He said, 'O Muhammad, what are the exalted assembly disputing about?' I said, 'I do not know, my Lord.' Then I saw Him place His palm between my shoulders, until I felt the coolness of His fingertips in my chest, and everything became clear to me and I came to know. He said, 'O Muhammad, what are the exalted assembly disputing about?' I said, 'About the expiations.' He said, 'And what are the expiations?' I said, 'Walking on foot to the Friday prayers, sitting in the mosques after the prayer, and performing the ablution thoroughly in unpleasant conditions.' He said, 'And what are the degrees of honor?' I said, 'Feeding the hungry, speaking gently, and praying at night while people are asleep.' He said, 'Ask.' I said, 'O Allah, I ask You for the doing of good deeds and the abandonment of evil deeds, and for love of the poor; and that You forgive me and have mercy on me; and when You intend a trial for a people, take my soul without my being tried by it; and I ask You for Your love, and the love of those who love You, and love of deeds that draw me nearer to Your love.'" And the Messenger of Allah, peace and blessings be upon him, said: "It is true, so study it and learn it."